In the era of the digital nomad, smart tips for working remotely can help you to earn a living while you travel. Remote work sounds glamorous, but it isn’t all palm-lined beaches and chic coffee houses – it takes discipline and commitment. Here’s how to make the most of the remote working lifestyle:
The Smartest Tips for Working Remotely
1. Create a Remote Work Schedule
It’s important to manage your time when working from a remote location. Commit to a set number of hours per day or week that allow space for flexibility, or set specific goals to complete every day or week.
During your work hours, minimise distractions. If you struggle to focus in a noisy environment, ditch the coffee shop and find a quiet spot with good connectivity. Put your phone away so you won’t be tempted to check your social media feeds. You can also wear noise-cancelling headphones, or use a work playlist that helps to improve your focus.
2. Join a Community in Your Location
Interacting with other remote workers in your area can help to keep you motivated. It also provides some great opportunities for networking and collaboration. Look for meetups and events happening in your current city, or find a local coworking space.
Coworking spaces are shared, flexible offices spaces where entrepreneurs from all over the world can come together to complete their daily tasks. This combines the stability and focus of an office environment with the flexibility that remote workers value. Simply rent a fixed desk or a hot desk for however long you need it, without the commitment of an office lease.
Take it one step further, and set off on a coliving & coworking retreat – all the logistics are taken care of, so you can explore a new environment and meet new people in luxurious, fully-equipped surroundings.
3. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!
This is one of the most crucial tips for working remotely. Good communication is key, and issues like connectivity and time zone differences can make it tricky.
It’s important to keep the channels of communication open, so your clients know they are a priority and don’t feel “forgotten”. Make sure you understand the time differences and consider factors like Daylight Savings too. Then decide on the most convenient “overlap” and commit that time to communicate with your clients.
There are many time zone apps and world clock apps you can use to help you keep track. You can also make yourself more easily available to clients with video chat and online chat tools, like Slack, Zoom, Google Hangouts and good old Skype.
NB: Do your research and watch out for any restrictions on apps like this when you’re travelling, to make sure you’re not using them illegally. For example, Skype and some other popular video call platforms are currently illegal in the UAE.
4. Make Sure You Stay Connected
There are few things more frustrating than a slow or patchy Internet connection! Do your research on each location ahead of time, to make sure you’ll have access to a stable WiFI connection wherever you go.
Your minimum recommended Internet speed will depend largely on the type of work you’re doing. As a general guideline, here’s what you’ll need:
- E-mail and basic laptop operations: 3 to 4 Mbps
- Group video calls: 10+ Mbps
- Large file uploads and downloads: 40+ Mbps
You can use tools like Fast.com and SpeedSmart to check your Internet speed.
5. Set Daily Goals & Work Limits
You know what they say about “all work and no play” – what’s the point of working remotely if you don’t give yourself time to enjoy your location? Set goals for yourself every day, and once you reach them, allow yourself to take some time off.
Remote work is all about flexibility. Add some time to your schedule for exploration. See the sights! Learn more about the new culture you’re immersing yourself in, and check some items off your bucket list.
With these handy tips for working remotely, every day at the office can be an adventure! Before you know it, conventional corporate life will become a thing of the past!
The post 5 Tips for Working Remotely While Traveling was first published on Work Wonderers and shared here in partnership with Coworkaholic.