Five Tips for Working Remotely
- Remote Working & Freelancing
What is remote work? đ
Remote work isnât a new concept, but it has become quite the norm during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote work gives you the flexibility to work away from a traditional office environment and allows you to work anywhere, anytime. Whether youâre working from home, in your own office space, cafe, co-working space or library, as long as you have an internet connection and a reliable device to work on, youâre primed and prepped to work anywhere!
Set the tone with a routine âš
Working in traditional settings, like an office, gave many a consistent routine: when they needed to get to work, go on lunch, take a break, and wrap up for the day. With remote work, things are a bit more flexible â which means itâs up to you to create your new routine! Not every day is the same, but here's my routine for reference đ

Your workspace and tools are important âïž
Youâll be spending a majority of your time either at your desk or on your computer, so having trusty gear that you can rely on is important to ensure your workflow isnât compromised! Here are a few essentials you might need to thrive in a remote work setting —
- A laptop sleeve â A laptop sleeve is helpful in keeping your precious electronics protected! Itâs also a great way to keep your charging cables and any other electronics in one place. Baggu Laptop Sleeveï»ż
- Ergonomic⊠everything â Working remotely has its perks, but it can be strenuous on your body long term! There are ergonomic chairs, keyboards, desks, mice, and so much more to help ease the pressure from your back and wrists while working. Logitech Lift Vertical Mouse - Ergonomic Kneeling Chair - Laptop Standï»ż
- A portable monitor â If youâre the type of person who works with multiple windows and feel like you donât ever have enough space, a portable monitor could be the solution! Lenovo ThinkVision M14ï»ż
Change your environment đł
If youâre working from one particular place everyday, work can start to seem daunting and a bit underwhelming, which is normal! During the days where you feel unmotivated to work on that next project, try changing your environmentâ there are so many areas you can work from. Our favorites include co-working spaces, cafes, and libraries. These areas will almost always have a wifi connection, and places to sit and charge your gear if needed. âš
The community is your bff đ«
The realities of remote work can feel very daunting, and sometimes lonely, but it isnât an adventure you have to go through alone! With the power of the internet, you can find communities scattered across social channels, Slack, Discord, and more! Most of these online communities host events, which allow you to learn + connect with people just like you (or who you aspire to be like!).
For example, our Community Operator, Olivia, runs Coffee Break sessions that bring different members of our community together to discuss their projects and services on Contra. There, they can get insight from other Independents and the Contra team!
Here are some of our favorite communities —
- ï»żContra Slackï»ż
- ï»żSuperpathï»ż
- ï»żThe Guildï»ż
Make time to explore đ„Ÿ
There will be times when youâll be indoors on your computer working on a project for long periods of time. Ensure that youâre taking the breaks you need, and explore outside of your remote workspace! Maybe peek into that shop youâve been meaning to visit, or even bring your laptop into a new cafe for a change in scenery. You never know where youâll find inspiration for your next project. âš
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Contra is the Independent-first community and commission-free hiring platform empowering the future of work. We match Independents with flexible opportunities, and Clients with the perfect Independent for any project â from content creation to coding and more.
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