In the last few years, many professionals around the world have had to significantly adjust their working habits since the pandemic began, reducing or suspending travel to their place of work and moving to remote working from home instead. Whilst this has its advantages, it can also take some time to adjust to. Here are some of the best tools to help you make the transition to remote working easier.
Tech & Hardware
When it comes to working from home, having the right tech and hardware is essential. Here are the three most important items to ensure you have:
- A computer: Whether you choose a Mac or a PC, the choice is yours, but you’ll need something with enough power for you to work and run any necessary software. Desktops are preferred for their reliability and performance, but if you’re on the go, then a laptop could be the right choice for you.
- High-speed Internet: Chances are, you’re going to need an internet connection while working remotely. Look into getting a trustworthy provider who can deliver fast, reliable internet. It’s also important to be aware of any data usage restrictions and to make sure that everyone in your household or office is mindful of them.
- Other external devices: Depending on your profession and the tasks that you do, investing in external devices can be a great aid in remote working. This could be something like a high-resolution monitor, an external mouse, a printer, a scanner and even a router.
Whilst it may seem like a lot of effort and cost to invest in the right tech and hardware to make working from home easier, in the long run, it will be worth it.
Communication
In order to work remotely, you need to stay connected with your colleagues, or if you’re working for yourself, then with your clients. Keeping in touch with video conferencing and other communication software is vital for sustaining good levels of communication and collaboration between team members.
- Video conference: This can include free options such as Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts, depending on your requirements. Be sure to familiarise yourself with the features of whichever video conferencing platform you choose, such as screen sharing, document sharing and group chat.
- Instant Messaging: This can be great for quick conversations and updates. Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams and even WhatsApp can be helpful in remote working. They’re also great for file sharing or a spot of impromptu socialising over lunch hours.
- Email: This is still a really important communication tool in remote working. We recommend using an external email provider, such as Outlook or Gmail, that has plenty of space, is encrypted and secure.
With the right level of communication tools, remote working can be made much easier and more productive.
Software
The right software should make it much easier for you to complete tasks, collaborate with colleagues and organise your workload. Here are a few software packages that may come in handy for remote working:
-
- Project Management: Whether you’re managing an entire project or just one specific task, project management software will give you real-time data to track and supervise your team’s progress, as well as the ability to assign tasks and deadlines.
-
- Cloud Data Storage: Investing in cloud storage (such as OneDrive and Google Drive) can be key in remote working, as it allows you to easily access and share files with colleagues. Furthermore, you can also recover lost documents if you need to.
-
- Productivity Apps: Use to-do list and time-tracking apps to stay on top of your schedule, make sure you don’t miss any deadlines and to track your progress on tasks. Apps such as Trello, Asana and Todoist are great for this.
When it comes to software, it’s important to make sure you select the right tools that fit your needs and that they are secure, updated and reliable.
Conclusion
Working from home can be a great opportunity, allowing you to improve both your work-life balance and your home office environment. With the right tech and hardware, communication tools and software, remote working can become a much easier task – allowing you to stay productive and fully connected without having to leave the comfort of your own home.
