For some, working remotely (or ‘working from home’ as it is popularly called) is not a strange concept, as technology companies have long adopted this style of working for their employees. Remote working styles are effective and increase productivity.
The recent worldwide outbreak of the Coronavirus is forcing many companies to adopt the remote working style for their employees. So if things don’t improve quickly (hopefully they do) and the virus continues to spread, you’ll find yourself working from home, which for many is the first time working remotely.
For those new to the concept of working remotely, the switch may be a little strange and overwhelming. Especially if you are not prepared and do not have the right tools to work with.
This article highlights the tools you need to ensure it is distraction-free and productive while you work from home.
Best Tools for Working Remotely From Home
Our best picks:
For chat / collaboration
1. Slack
Just like we have WhatsApp and Telegram groups,Slack is also a chat group, but this time designed for organizations and companies. It is a tool that allows employees to communicate online, both as a group and in personal one-to-one conversations.
It is a perfect tool for remote work as it offers features including permanent chat rooms (channels) for staff that can be organized by topic, private groups and direct messaging.
Slack integrates with many third-party services, including services such as Google Drive, Trello, Dropbox, Twitter, Mailchimp, GitHub, Stripe, Google Calendar and many more.
For video conferences
2. Zoom
Zoom is a remote meeting tool that allows users to meet online. Since its launch in 2011,Zoom has helped companies and organizations bring their teams together throughvideo conferencing,online meetings, chats and mobile collaborations to get work done.
When Zoom launched, it launched with the ability to host conferences with up to 15 video partners, but that has since grown to 500 attendees, allowing you to connect with as many company employees as you like.
3. Google Hangout
Google Hangout, a product of Google, is another means of communication that allows members to participate in text, voice or video chats (one-on-one or in a group). The service is accessible via Gmail or the website.
4. Skype
Perhaps the most popular video conference service first released in 2003,Skype is anotherVideo Conferencing App that enables video chat and voice calls between two or more individuals (teams) from their computers, tablets and smartphones.
For productivity
4. EverNote
EverNoteis a cloud-based note taking app. Aside from taking notes, Evernote supports capturing images from your smartphone camera, recording and saving voice notes. It also supports touchscreen and tablet screens with handwriting recognition.
The Pro (read: paid) version of Evernote integrates directly with Google Drive, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams and Slack. Also readBest Notepad Apps for iPhone and iPad
6. Google Docs
One of the components of the Google Office suite, Google Docs, is an online alternative to Microsoft Word.
Google Docsallows you to create, edit and even share your documents online with other users with Google accounts. It stands out in that it allows users to share their documents with others online and even work on them together online.
7. Trello
Trellois a task management collaboration tool that organizes your projects into boards and tells you which project is being worked on and who is working on what.
The service works just like the normal bulletin boards we use, where you paste notes to remind you of tasks and projects. It also integrates directly with Google Drive and Slack.
For the convenience
8. Headset with microphone
Working from home means that you occasionally experience distractions from the TV, roommates or even neighbors. To avoid this, you need to have a good noise canceling headset to block out noise while you work. This is one of the most important tools for working from home.
We also recommend buying one with a microphone. This is useful when you need to meet other employees of your company through a voice or video conference service. Read also Apple AirPods 2 review, the good the bad and the ugly
9. Laptop stand / desk / chair
Working from home means working for hours and you don’t want that from your bed or couch. You need a good workplace environment.
To ensure that you feel comfortable during your working hours, you should purchase a comfortable chair and desk. Instead of a desk, you might as well get a laptop stand (if you use a laptop).
Others
10. MiFi / router
This is important. Without it, you will not be able to use most of the tools we have listed in this article. Since you’re not going to work from your office, where you normally get access to Wi-Fi, you will need to purchase a MiFi or router.
The choice between a MiFi and a router depends, among other things, on the number of devices at your disposal that need the Internet, the availability of the power supply. Also read differences between Wi-Fi and Mi-Fi
It all comes down to productivity
I’ve been working remotely for almost a decade now and I can say with confidence that all the benefits associated with it require you to do one thing: maximize productivity. Once you do this, everything starts to fall into place and you begin to realize the full benefits of working remotely.
You get more done, feel better about your job and have more time to name your own. The domino effects of this are greater happiness, reduced stress and stronger relationships with the people who matter most to you.
However, this is not automatic. With the wrong approach, working remotely can eat your personal life, increase stress, and hinder your relationships in a way that a normal office job would never do – and I say this from experience, too.
Again, it all comes down to productivity.
These iPhone productivity tipsgive you the benefit you need to get more done faster. This allows you to develop healthy work habits (eg, turn off after work) because you can afford it knowing that you’ve already done enough today. As I said, maximize productivity and everything good for working remotely will fall into place.
Work productively from home
Have you ever worked remotely? How was the experience? What tools have helped you work productively at home? Which of the Home Work Tools Have Helped You Avoid Distractions? Please share it with us in the comments section, we would love to know.
And that covers everything about the best tools you should use while working from home.