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💻 Remote Work Essentials: Tips to Stay Focused and Happy 🧘‍♂️

Working remotely can be a rewarding shift, but it’s not without its challenges. I’ve been working from home for two years now, and like many others, I was initially concerned about staying productive and maintaining strong connections with my colleagues.

But with the right approach, remote work can be highly productive and enjoyable. Here are my top tips for making remote work a success:

 

1. 🌟 Set Up a Dedicated Workspace

Creating a designated workspace at home is a great first step for productivity. While it may be tempting to work from the couch, setting up a workspace where you can "clock in" and "clock out" mentally helps reinforce work-life boundaries. A comfortable chair, desk, good lighting, and minimal distractions can really boost focus.

For pet lovers out there—beware! My cat is often my biggest distraction, and it takes discipline to keep from spending the whole day in cuddle mode.

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2. ⏰ Stick to a Routine

Remote work often means added flexibility, but establishing a routine is crucial. Without the structure of an office, it’s easy to start and end at inconsistent times. To maintain a work-life balance, try to stick to regular hours, and don’t skip breaks or lunch. Having a routine helps build a rhythm that keeps productivity steady.

 

3. ☀️ Start Your Day Right

A positive morning routine can set the tone for the day. Whether it’s a quick walk, light exercise, or even a few stretches, these small steps can help get you into a “work mode” mindset and energize you for the hours ahead.

 

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4. 🤝 Stay Connected with Colleagues

One downside of remote work is the potential for feeling isolated. Staying in touch with your team is key for morale and collaboration. Make an effort to check in regularly with colleagues, whether through your company’s intranet, emails, or virtual meetups. These social moments are the remote version of water-cooler chats and help keep team connections strong.

 

5. 💻 Embrace Your Perks

One of the great benefits of remote work is flexibility. Use it to your advantage! If you have a chance, squeeze in a quick yoga session, bake, or even consider a “workation”—working from a new location. Just make sure you have a stable internet connection and set clear expectations with your team.

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Read more about my workation in Venice or my workation in Nice, France.

6. 🌈 Practice Self-Compassion

Working from home can be challenging, and it’s easy to set high standards for yourself. If you occasionally get distracted or need a mental break, that’s okay. The same goes for your team; everyone has different home environments. Practicing kindness and understanding helps create a supportive remote work culture.

 

7. 📬 Prioritize Asynchronous Communication

When you’re working with colleagues across time zones, async communication is essential. Tools like Confluence or Jira help keep teams updated and collaborative, even if they’re not online at the same time. 

8. 🛑 Know When to Unplug

Without a clear “end of day” transition, remote work can sometimes spill into personal time. Make a habit of setting clear boundaries for when the workday ends. Log off from work apps, tidy up your workspace, and step away—anything that signifies the close of your day. Disconnecting is key to avoiding burnout.

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9. 🎯 Set Daily Goals

Setting clear priorities is helpful for remote work. Without an office structure, it’s easy to get sidetracked. Start each day by listing your main tasks and rank them. Breaking big projects into manageable steps will help you keep momentum and feel accomplished.

 

10. ⚙️ Use Reliable Technology

A dependable setup is essential. A stable internet connection, a good laptop, and noise-canceling headphones can make all the difference in virtual meetings. Platforms like Confluence keep files accessible and your workflow uninterrupted.

 

 

 

 

 

11 comments

Rune Rasmussen
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November 7, 2024

On the topic of cats, I can whole heartedly recommend having a tactically placed cat box.
Good placements could be somewhere a bit higher up, close to you, or maybe near a source of heat.
Cats can't resist a high up warm box close to you, and it'll keep them from lying across your mouse arm of keyboard.

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Andy Gladstone
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November 7, 2024

Great tips @Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_. I work from home at least one day a week and try to incorporate many of these tactics in my WFH environment just for that one day. 

I'll add one more - build in time hourly to stand up and stretch. Without the distraction of watercooler talk, colleagues and the natural movement that takes place in an office environment a WFH day or days can lead to too much time sitting in a single position - which can have long term negative health effects.

Stretch. Take a quick walk. Do 20 jumping jacks. Move your body so it can help feed your mind.

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Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_
Marketplace Partner
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November 7, 2024

Thank you so much for your tips with the cat box, @Rune Rasmussen ! 

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Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_
Marketplace Partner
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November 7, 2024

Thank you so much, @Andy Gladstone ! 🌟

Jumping jacks is a good tip as well! Amazing. I remember doing it last year - I somehow stopped doing it. Gotta try them again. 

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Stephen_Lugton
Community Leader
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November 8, 2024

Thanks for an informative article @Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_ 

Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_
Marketplace Partner
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November 11, 2024

Thanks for your words, @Stephen_Lugton 

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Stavros_Rougas_EasyApps
Marketplace Partner
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November 18, 2024

Splitting the day with something meaninglessly in the middle helps. A great one is a fitness class/gym. The beauty of working from home is that if you are more productive you are rewarded with time, and if you take a break and come back sharp not only do you get more done in less time, the quality is generally higher.

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Ted Nieblas
Contributor
November 25, 2024

Designate focus time on your calendar to give yourself heads down time to work on critical tasks.

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Teodora V _Fun Inc_
Community Leader
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December 2, 2024

Lovely article and important reminder @Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_ 

Having a routine and sticking to it is one of the most significant challenges of remote work. People often associate remote with freedom and flexibility, but sometimes it turns out to be the exact opposite. 

I dare say that since I have been fully remote (3+ years now), my routine is more strict than when I was going to the office. I also have my 'mandatory' gym times and walks throughout the day to make sure I am staying sane and in good health.

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Stephen_Lugton
Community Leader
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December 2, 2024

@Teodora V _Fun Inc_ during school term time certain activities are definitely mandatory; take daughter to school & collect daughter from school.  I give myself a bit of extra time for both of these so I can take a longer walk without her.  It's school holiday time that it's harder to keep up with mandatory activities as there's no crying 8 year old saying 'where were you?' if she comes out even 10 seconds early.

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Patricia Modispacher _appanvil_
Marketplace Partner
Marketplace Partners provide apps and integrations available on the Atlassian Marketplace that extend the power of Atlassian products.
December 2, 2024

Thank you so much for your insights, @Teodora V _Fun Inc_ ! 😊

Agreed. I also love to hit the Gym the same time every day, fitting in my schedule and to see something else than the home office. 

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