According to Pew Research, a whopping 55% of adults say their job can be mostly done from home. Forbes estimates that 65% of those working remotely want to work remotely full-time post-pandemic, and another 33% prefer a hybrid work arrangement. It would appear that we are on the verge of a huge work revolution, as many prefer to work from home after the pandemic proved that they could. In today’s tech influenced economy, we can do almost everything from home. All we need to have to do our jobs are apps for remote work, a way to connect, and an internet service provider. Given that home based jobs are growing in demand, I thought I’d share some work from home tips and tools, to help you make the most of your (home) office hours.
Work From Home Tips and Tools
While I do own my own website, I don’t proclaim to be an expert on working from home. These work from home tips and tools are not an exhaustive list. Rather, they are tips and tools that I’ve found to be helpful, or my colleagues have found to be helpful. I hope one (or all) of them will help you achieve the work-home-life balance that you came here looking for!
Work From Home Tips
First, here are some tips for staying focused when working remotely.
- Establish and follow a work routine. Get up, get dressed, and get busy. If you apply make-up before going to the office, do the same at home. If you go for a job before going to work, do it. Maintaining a work routine while working remotely will help you stay focused and improve your work mood.
- Set a schedule and stick to it. Whether you work from 6 to 2 or from 9 to 5, having a set schedule will help you maintain balance between work and home when working from home.
- Establish a dedicated work space. Whether you have a corner in the basement or a home office, you need space that can be dedicated to work that you can get up and leave at the end of the work day.
- Set ground rules for your work space at home. Let others know when it’s okay to interrupt you, and when it is definitely not okay.
- Find and use apps that streamline your work day and improve your productivity.
- Mute notifications on apps that may lend to wasting time while you are working.
- Be intentional about work breaks. Get up and move every hour. Be sure to stay hydrated, as well.
- Do not, I repeat, do not skip lunch.
- Keep your home work space aesthetically pleasing and clean.
- Remember to be positive. If you’re a grump, those around you will be grumps, too.
Work From Home Tools
There are many tools that can help you maximize your productivity at home. I’ll focus on just a few key areas, including communication, security, screen recording, video conferencing, planning, and task management.
COMMUNICATION
When working from home, communication is at the top of the priority list. Often times, your employer will determine which email and messenger services are suitable for the workflow. That said, you may be able to offer suggestions on platforms that will improve your workflow. Slack is one platform that is suitable for many kinds of communication: including work-related and personal. It is a tool that allows you to create open or closed groups and personal chats to talk with your coworkers. You can use the free version of Slack with some limitations, or upgrade to a paid plan to access more features. RingCentral offers cloud-based business communications, should you need a call center software. Microsoft Teams also offers a free version that includes chat messages and search.
SECURITY
If you’re working from home, security is also a top priority. You may want to consider using a VPN to prevent intrusive interruptions and protect your personal and work related sensitive information from theft. A VPN acts as a security blanket on the internet because it prevents your data from floating around the web. VPNS generally have really similar functionality, which can make choosing one difficult. Check out the list of the best 2021 VPN services for ratings and choose the one that best suits your needs.
You’ll also want to be sure to protect your device from viruses. Using an antivirus software is crucial. PCMag lists the best antivirus protection for 2022. For free basic protection, you can install Avast. If you need to protect multiple devices, McAfee AntiVirus Plus lets you install protection on all your Windows, Android, Mac OS, and iOS devices. Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Bitdefender Antivirus Plus are also highly rated.
VIDEO CONFERENCING
Become familiar with various video conferencing platforms. While Zoom is the most popular tool for video conferences, vendors or clients may prefer to use another platform. Other popular video conferencing options include Webex, Google Meet, Skype or Viber.
Another awesome free tool for video conferencing is Google Hangouts. It can serve up to twenty-five participants, and as an added bonus, you can add the meeting time and date into your Google Calendar to keep you from forgetting it! You can also use Facebook Messenger for audio and video calling, and Messenger Rooms allows users to create group video calls of up to 50 people.
SCREEN RECORDING
Some video conferencing platforms have a built in record feature, but for those that don’t, using a screen recorder for meetings is important. Recording meetings will help keep you from missing anything as well enable those who missed the meeting to catch up. Of course, you should always disclose that you are recording. There are many options for screen recorders. You can find a free or paid one to get a screen record on Windows 10 or macOS, and start with tools like Screencast-o-Matic or TinyTake.
PLANNING
Focusing on work can be really hard when working remotely. You’ll need a good planner to achieve results. It goes without saying that planners can be one of the most effective business tools in your toolbox. If you struggle with organization, or if you need to manage multiple tasks throughout the day, you will absolutely need a good planner. Google Calendar is a great option for simple planning. There are many great options if you prefer a printed weekly planner. The Erin Condren Life Planner collection is a place to start when combining life and work planners.
TASK MANAGEMENT
Once you’ve planned your days, you need to stay stay productive and remember the details and deadlines of all the things. Using a task manager can be a huge benefit. Task managers differ from simple planners since they are about task progress, not just to-so-lists. There are many different task managers to choose from. One of the most popular task managers on the market is Todoist. A great task list manager for teams is Trello. Looking for a free option? Google Tasks is a great free task manager. If you’re looking for a calendar with task lists, check out Cozi. If you’re looking for a task list for home needs, once your work day is over, check out the Motivated Moms App.
