7 Remote Working Tools That Simplify Your Work

When the world was forced into a pandemic last year, everyone had to resort to working from home. Remote work was no longer an option but mandatory to help slow down the spreading of a virus.

Some people enjoyed working remotely, but over time, many missed working with their colleagues in the office. Although remote working can be enjoyable, it can also be stressful due to several factors.

The three most significant challenges associated with remote work are unplugging after work, loneliness, and collaboration. For example, you might not communicate with your colleagues directly since virtual meetings and chats can only do so much. It might also be hard to tune out from work since your workspace is only a few steps away from your bed.

According to Findstack, 85% of managers believe that having teams with remote workers will become the new norm. So, we must adapt to the new standards. Thankfully, there have been a lot of improvements and innovations in remote working tools to make remote working less stressful. Today, we can work remotely without worrying about productivity and quality of work thanks to these tools.

#1. Asana

Working from home requires you to be more accountable for your tasks and productivity. With a lot of distractions at home, it can be easy to sink into procrastination and avoid doing actual work. So, it’s imperative to keep track of your projects, tasks, and progress within your team.

Asana is a project management tool that can make sure everyone on your team is on the same page and doing their tasks effectively as they should. It also allows you to set which tasks are considered high priority, set deadlines, assign tasks to your team members, and set dependencies.

Not to mention that it has a friendly interface that makes it easy to use for anyone -- whether for a complete beginner. Other than that, you can also look at other people’s tasks to see if they are taking on too much or missing deadlines.

In short, it’s similar to an in-office meeting minus the unnecessary small talk. It helps get your job done and keep track of the progress made by others.

#2. Pomodoro Timers

When you’re not in the office, you can lose track of time browsing hundreds of websites to complete your tasks, making it easy for you to work overtime without any proper breaks. With Pomodoro Timers, you can ensure that you get the right amount of breaks and work with more focus.

Pomodoro Timers use the Pomodoro Technique, a time management system that helps people work with their time. It breaks your day into 25-minute chunks, separated by 5-minute breaks. After four consecutive Pomodoros, you can enjoy a more extended break, usually around 15-20 minutes.

This timer is great because it helps you break down big tasks into smaller digestible chunks to avoid getting burnt out. This is especially useful in remote work because you can lose track of time. With the timer, you can ensure that you get the right amount of breaks without compromising your productivity.

#3. Zoom

Video conferencing during the pandemic was a staple. Everyone pretty much used Zoom to hold online meetings and conference calls. Nothing has worked as well as Zoom, and it has helped make remote working more manageable.

Zoom also has a lot of perks that come along with it. For example, you can record calls, chat with other participants, and integrate it with several platforms.

#4. Google Drive

Google Drive is essentially a cloud storage platform that helps keep all your files in a secure place. It also allows you to share files and documents with your team. Not only that, but Google Drive is also compatible with several devices, making it a perfect tool for collaborating in remote work.

Gone are the days we used to share files through emails. With Google Drive, all you have to do is store your files and share a link with your team so they can access it. They can also comment on the files, make suggestions, and edit them on the spot.

#5. Slack

Slack is one of the most well-known chatting programs for professionals. Almost every office and startup has resorted to Slack to help maintain communication throughout their time working remotely. It allows you to create channels for different teams or topics. This way, every piece of information has its place. You can simply use the search bar to search for information.

This communication tool can also be integrated with a lot of apps. Another fun thing you can do is write notes to yourself. Sometimes we can forget our ideas. With Slack, you can chat with yourself and treat the chat as a place to keep your notes. Other than a great program to help communicate with others remotely, it also has other uses.

#6. Spotify

Sometimes, remote working can get boring, especially if the creativity block hits and you’re all alone. If you want to liven up the atmosphere, instead of YouTube, Spotify might be the best thing you can invest in. They also have several podcasts you can listen to if you prefer that.

Spotify also has a bunch of playlists you can choose from. Some are created based on what you listen to, and some are curated according to moods and genres.

You can also stream music so others can listen in as well. This might be great for those who often listen to music together in the office. It’s a great way to bond with your team despite being in different places.

#7. Nord VPN

Ever since remote working became a mainstream, cybersecurity has become an enormous issue. With data breaches, scams, phishing, the Internet can become a dangerous place. So, it’s essential to take safety measures by securing your devices. Another way you can protect yourself is by installing a VPN to help you create secure connections to the Internet.

One of the most popular VPN service providers online is NordVPN. It’s easy to use, set up, and works on several devices. Nord VPN also ensures fast and stable connections anywhere.

Wrapping Up

Despite all the joys and advantages, remote working can sometimes be so daunting. Whether it’s because you can’t seem to get in touch with your team, or you haven’t been very productive. With those tools mentioned above, remote work has proven to become much more manageable.

According to Dimitar Karamarinov from Think Remote, transitioning from working in the office to working remotely can be a hassle, especially if you are used to dealing with many things in person. Thanks to tools such as Zoom, Asana, and Slack, you don’t have to worry about not being able to communicate clearly with your coworkers and maintain your productivity and quality of work.

Transitioning from working in the office to working remotely can be a hassle, especially if you are used to dealing with many things in person. Thanks to tools such as Zoom, Asana, and Slack, you don’t have to worry about not being able to communicate clearly with your coworkers and maintain your productivity and quality of work.

With remote working becoming a normal part of everyone’s routine, there may be more tools and programs in development to help make the experience more seamless and straightforward.