Working from a remote or mobile office offers greater flexibility and business agility. Yet it’s not without challenges. Self-motivation is critical. Discover how these other top tips can help boost productivity too.
Top productivity tips for your remote or mobile office
Mobile office basics
A mobile office setup can help you get work done on the go or in a temporary work location. There are many different types of mobile offices. One person may use his car, where another might prefer to do her work at the kitchen table. People may even make a mobile or temporary office in the hotel room.
Gallup reported 43% of all U.S. employees work off-site at least part of the time. Benefits of a mobile office include:
- Greater flexibility
- Better work-life balance
- Company cost savings
- Improved employee engagement
One big reason people use mobile offices, though, is to get done. There are more opportunities to do work. Time saved by eliminating your commute, a mobile office lets you work wherever you are, whenever you want. Even if it’s just 30 minutes, that’s time you don’t need to spend working later.
Working remotely from a mobile office, you’ll want to have a decent laptop, a phone, chargers, and a reliable internet connection. Also, you want the ability to access your business documents and software when not in your normal work environment.
Keeping things streamlined can enhance your productivity. It can also minimize distractions to increase your focus.
To enjoy all these time-saving, simplifying, and life-improving benefits, you need an effective mobile or remote office. Here are several ways to boost productivity.
Boosting productivity
Wherever your workspace, try these strategies to increase your efficiency and motivation.
Get organized
Don’t waste time and effort lugging around non-essentials. Step back and determine what you always need on hand to do your job. Store anything else for occasional access somewhere else.
Next, organize essentials in a streamlined way. A cloud computing solution can pull together different applications in a single dashboard. Any important electronics and files should fit in one piece of rolling luggage.
More to life, more to Outlook
A smart way to stay on top of what's new in your inbox. Get time back in your day with Play My Emails in Outlook of iOS
Leverage technology
With a virtual desktop, you can enjoy consistent access to the tools you use the most from wherever you are. Even on a mobile device, you can access the same desktop you’d see in a cubicle in HQ.
Business collaboration software lets you voice and video call or chat with colleagues or customers. You can also revise documents, brainstorm with whiteboards, share calendars, schedule meetings and more.
Use an assistant
You don’t need to hire someone else to work out remotely. Get the advantages of a virtual assistant with artificial intelligence integrated with your Outlook software.
Cortana is a virtual productivity assistant. Play My Emails in Outlook for iOS uses Cortana to manage your email and time commitments. Cortana can read inbox messages to you on the move or when you’re eyes and hands may be busy doing other things. You can also delete, flag, respond, and unread messages hands-free. Perfect for the remote office worker!
Integrated with your Outlook calendar and contacts, Cortana also checks your schedule for conflicts or to create new events based on your emails. The interface is designed to help people stay organized, on top of what matters.
You can also have Cortana talk as a man or a woman. That may help combat the isolation of remote office work. At least there’s another human-like voice talking. It’s unlikely your dog or cat is holding up its end of the conversation!
Manage expectations
Speak with supervisors and colleagues about what to expect. You’ll want to know in advance:
Some people enjoy the mobile or remote office because they can work on the fly, at odd hours. Others love their set-up but want to work set office hours.
Some people enjoy the mobile or remote office because they can work on the fly, at odd hours. Others love their set-up but want to work set office hours.
- How you’ll demonstrate progress
- When and how you’ll check in with managers
- Expectations for team collaboration
- How flexible you can be in terms of business hours
Some people enjoy the mobile or remote office because they can work on the fly, at odd hours. Others love their set-up but want to work set office hours.
Embrace time management
Remote workers are on their own to motivate themselves to get things done. Take time management seriously:
- Set clear objectives for the day
- Use a shared calendar or project management software
- Establish a set time when you will be available for calls
- Focus on results to gauge success
Seek natural light
Lighting might not be the first thing that comes to mind. Still, moving to an area with natural light makes a difference. Or get away from your computer and walk outside. The movement can inspire a fresh perspective. Getting some sunshine improves mood and helps you sleep better.
Make the most of your mobile or remote office with these top tips to boost productivity. The more efficient you are, the more likely your employer is to keep your work from anyway options open.
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Business Insights and Ideas does not constitute professional tax or financial advice. You should contact your own tax or financial professional to discuss your situation.
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