Five Tips for Working Remotely

Remote work isn’t 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 you’re 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, you’re primed and prepped to work anywhere!

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 — which means it’s up to you to create your new routine! Not every day is the same, but here's my routine for reference 🙌

You’ll 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 isn’t compromised! Here are a few essentials you might need to thrive in a remote work setting ⤵

A laptop sleeve — A laptop sleeve is helpful in keeping your precious electronics protected! It’s also a great way to keep your charging cables and any other electronics in one place. Baggu Laptop Sleeve

Ergonomic… everything — 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 Stand

A portable monitor — If you’re the type of person who works with multiple windows and feel like you don’t ever have enough space, a portable monitor could be the solution! Lenovo ThinkVision M14

If you’re 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 environment— 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. ✨

The realities of remote work can feel very daunting, and sometimes lonely, but it isn’t 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 freelancers and the Contra team!

Here are some of our favorite communities ⤵

There will be times when you’ll be indoors on your computer working on a project for long periods of time. Ensure that you’re taking the breaks you need, and explore outside of your remote workspace! Maybe peek into that shop you’ve been meaning to visit, or even bring your laptop into a new café for a change in scenery. You never know where you’ll find inspiration for your next project. ✨

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