September 26, 2019
How remote workers can stay productive & happy
With remote working comes freedom – and lots of it. Moving beyond the standard structure of a 9-5 office job means those who work remotely are empowered to choose their work time, location and can generally tailor their day to best fit their role. However, as with everything, there are some downsides. Without the motivation of a day-to-day routine or the support of a surrounding team, remote workers are more inclined to overwork and feel isolated whilst undertaking their daily duties. The good news is that when these issues are properly managed, working out of office looks to be the liberated future of work in our tech-enhanced world. Read on to discover the essential tips every remote worker should practice to stay connected, productive and healthy:
Build a routine
If you’re working remotely, you likely enjoy all the perks that come with working outside of an office environment; a morning and afternoon free from busy commute times, home-cooked food for lunch and the flexibility to work wherever suits you. However, if there is one thing you do miss about the more conventional 9-5, I bet it’s the structure and routine offered by that 8-hour framework. Working outside of your home means the two spaces are clearly distinct in your mind – however, when you move away from the office environment, the lines can start to blur. That’s why building a routine you can stick to is essential for remote workers – not only will you be more efficient, you’ll be able to maintain a healthier work-life balance.
All good routines begin with organization. You have to know what tasks need doing and when they need doing by. Creating your work schedule in Ayoa goes far beyond your run-of-the-mill to-do list or task management system. Input your upcoming priorities into your Planner, filtering individual tasks onto Now, Next and Soon boards based upon their urgency. Start your day by checking your Daily Summary email from Ayoa and you can work with structure, knowing exactly what the day ahead holds.
Connect to your colleagues
Remote work can be lonely work. Many home workers complain of feeling isolated – and this is only worsened for those who are in distant locations, and even different time zones. Communication is key to combating the feeling of alienation faced by many remote workers and, applied correctly, will foster a much-needed sense of comradery. An overflowing email inbox often feels less like communication and more like an added drain on energy – but in Ayoa, discussions are both timely and easy to manage.
Being able to discuss tasks within context means remote workers are saved the stress of trying to connect each email to the relevant task. The addition of emojis inject fun into work exchanges and the Congratulations feature will shower your colleagues’ completed tasks with confetti, so you can celebrate successes together, even when you are miles apart.
Get out and about
We know a routine is crucial for remote workers, but it is equally important that your daily schedule doesn’t stagnate your workflow. With so many benefits to flexible working, make sure you’re enjoying the perks and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. That means building time spent working out of the house into your routine and practicing healthy habits outside of work hours, whether that’s making time for meditation or an exercise class. Changing your surroundings will refresh your creativity and ultimately make you more productive. The foundation of good remote working is trust – you must learn to trust yourself and your team to complete work, without the need for micromanagement.
The Ayoa apps give you the freedom to take your work with you when you’re on the move. Ayoa will automatically update when connected to the internet, so you’re never disconnected from your team or priorities. Canvas View gives an instant visual overview of your projects and the tasks within them, while Progress Percentages indicate how everything is coming along within a project. The unique ability to see the status of ongoing work at a glance is invaluable for remote workers – and perfectly facilitates the foundation you need to trust yourself to stay on top of your work.
Discover the potential for positive, connected remote working with Ayoa – so you can stay on top of your work and become a productivity whizz, in or out of the office. Sign up for FREE today!
Caragh Medlicott
Caragh Medlicott is a freelance writer and interim Editor of Wales Arts Review. After graduating with a First-Class Honours degree in English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University she began a full-time writing career in Wales. She is the author of several published short stories and was shortlisted for the Lunate 500 award in December 2020, and a finalist in Narrative’s 30 Below competition in 2021. She is a regular contributor to BBC Wales' The Review Show.