5 Tricks To Successfully Working Remotely

For many working parents August is that month we all dread. Not only can you sense Summer slipping away…and you never did get to get that fishing trip in, but the kids are beginning to circle. Free from the routine of camp or structured activities, they lurk wondering what they are going to do today, and for two weeks it becomes a juggling act of being productive at work and being a good parent.

Thankfully many companies have embraced the idea of working remotely. Smart phones and wifi has made is easy to do work from just about anywhere, but for those who have not done it before there are tricks to staying productive when working outside the office. Here are just a few to help keep you sane.

1. Establish a routine  – Working remotely requires discipline. As many freelancers will tell you, it is easy to get sidetracked when working from home or vacation destination. The key to staying on top of your work is to establish a regular routine that works for you and then communicate this schedule to your office, as well as family members. This may require getting started an hour earlier in the AM or working a little later in the evening, but having a schedule keeps you accountable, and can be used as a great tool to get the kids back on track doing their own work, whether it be catching up on summer reading, piano practice or chores left undone.

2. Have a designated workspace –  Laptops & ipads make it easy to set up shop anywhere in the house, but it is important to create a dedicated space where you can remove yourself from the chaos around you, and feel that you are in a place where you can be productive. Ideally this includes having access to a desk, chair set at the proper height, access to wifi/internet, phone, printer, etc. And if this space does not exist in your home…create it or look into local (co-working) spaces  including your local library.

3. Check in with the office/boss regularly (by phone) – Communication is vital to successfully working remotely. While we have all become reliant on the ease of email & texts, nothing beats picking up the phone and having the opportunity to discuss matters in detail. Facetime, Skype or Google Hangouts are another way that you can connect with your work colleagues and even share documents that need to be discussed. Just be sure to change out of your PJs before calling in.

4. Use sharing tools & applications – With so many companies using Cloud-based software, it’s easier than ever to access and share documents remotely…. just be sure to know your company’s rule and protocols regarding access information outside the office!! Google Docs & DropBox have become the preferred platform for  file sharing, while Google Hangouts,  Basecamp, Producteev  and Teambox (and many others) are used for team collaboration. The trick is to have these systems in place before you leave the office, so it’s seamless. Want some other ideas on what applications & tools freelancers prefer? Check out this list.

5. Make yourself available – While you do not want to be tethered to your phone, when working remotely it is important that your boss & colleagues feel as though you can be reached. This does not mean taking your phone to bed, or ignoring the family that you’ve promised to spend time with…but it does mean having your phone set to alert you to any work related emails/calls or at least checking in on a frequent basis during normal business hours. From there you can assess what needs to be done when, but at least the connection has been made.

Have any other tricks for success? Share them with us!