Following the pandemic in 2020, remote working has become increasingly popular. Currently, in Nigeria, about 18% of employees work away from the office. Remote working has proved to be of immense benefit if appropriately maximized.

Remote working takes off the stress of traveling to work every day, as well as getting stuck in traffic. Remote workers tend to be happier, healthier, and more efficient because they have less downtime and no commute.

However, remote work isn’t all bliss. It might be difficult to reach team members when you work in different places. This is why it is important to create an environment that almost perfectly simulates the workplace.

Let’s take a quick look at four ways to make remote work more productive:

1. Plan your work and work your plan

It’s easy to get carried away with remote work, but you also have to plan your work and work your plan so you don’t get too off track. It can be easy to fall into the trap of watching Netflix between conference calls and typing up emails all day long, but that won’t get you anywhere. For the first few weeks of working remotely, plan out your days and highlight the times when you need to be focused on work. This will help you to stay on track and avoid falling into the trap of doing non-work tasks when you should be getting things done.

2. Establish healthy working habits

Remote working allows for work flexibility. Oftentimes, remote workers work at their own pace. This may cause them to overwork themselves and eventually burn out.

Office work has a more defined timeframe in contrast to remote work. It is important to set realistic deadlines for tasks so you don’t end up overworking yourself.

3. Learn how to communicate effectively

Communication is very key to working remotely. However, getting your point across virtually might not be as efficient as face-to-face interaction.

For effective communication, you should consider tools such as Zoom or Google Meet. These are recommended for presentations, illustrations, and video calls.

Tools such as Slack and Discord also come in handy to keep your team updated on your daily tasks and also communicate effectively.

You should learn to keep your emotions in check when communicating. You should also learn to state your feelings clearly without offending the receiver.

4. Set up a productive workspace[/b][b]

You might not be able to control the decor in the office, but you can control what goes on your desk at home. It might sound silly, but having a tidy workspace can help you to focus and be more productive. Working on a rowdy table with a lot of documents just lying around reduces productivity. It helps to have hard-copy documents filed and stacked properly in a dedicated space.

You should also ensure that you work in a quiet and serene environment. This is to avoid distractions from outside noise. You can use tools like noise-canceling headphones or a white noise machine to help you focus and block out background noise so you can work in peace.

Conclusion
Although remote working reduces the stress of commuting to and from the office, it is important to put certain things in place. Using appropriate communication tools, setting up a productive workplace, establishing healthy working habits, and exercising your plan are great ways to make remote working more productive.