Master Remote Work Through Preparation and Planning

The Gig economy has many facets.  One of the big positives for many people is the option of remote work.  There is a freedom that comes from being able to get away from a desk and an office outside of the home.  This goal is achievable.  However, some planning is required to be productive while working remote and making this your regular routine.

A Good Workspace

We have discussed your workspace in a recent episode and touched on a home office.  That is a good starting point, but remote work requires some tools as well as an eye for comfort.  For example, you need to have a reliable Internet connection, a way to be reached (cell phone is ordinary), and general office tools like a printer. These items are not all requirements but will help you be productive and get more out of your opportunity.  When you first try out remote work, the lack of these tools and items will slow you down.  Thus, you can note the need for them and adjust before your next time.  Of course, it is best if you know what you need before you get started.  Make a list of the items you use in a typical workday.  Once that is complete, make sure you can use or replace each of those items while working remotely.

Support, Information, and References

The most negative impact to productivity with remote work is a lack of handy reference material.  Although the Internet has reduced this problem, there are still bits of information you have within reach at work that may not be around at a remote location.  If your job requires regular reference material like a phone or who to contact list, then make sure you put these in digital form on your device. The help desk number or email address is almost critical to have available if you work in a corporate setting.  This contact information is data you need to have from the start.  In fact, it is most valuable when you first start on the path to remote work.  It is common to run into issues like firewall access, VPN credentials, and other data that only applies to remote staff.  Thus, you may not know what you do not know until you try to get some work done at a remote location.