Admittedly, adjusting to remote work can be unfamiliar at first. Suddenly, your kitchen table is your desk, and your coworkers are just faces in little boxes on your screen. But after a few years of adjusting to this new normal, I’ve discovered a few tricks and tools that keep things running smoothly and help you feel less isolated.
My Go-To Collaboration Tools
- Video Calls (Zoom, Google Meet): There’s something about seeing people’s faces—even if it’s just once a week—that makes a team feel like a team. We usually do a quick Monday morning check-in, sometimes with pets or kids making an appearance (which, honestly, is half the fun). For more tips on effective video meetings, check out Harvard Business Review’s guide to remote meetings.
- Chat Apps (Slack, Teams): Email threads get messy fast. Chat is so much easier for quick questions, sharing memes, or even just saying “good morning.” We have a #random channel for jokes and a #help channel for, well, help.
- Task Boards (Trello, Asana): Ever tried to remember who’s doing what without writing it down? Doesn’t work. We keep a shared board where everyone updates their tasks—so there are fewer surprises.
- File Sharing (Google Drive): I used to lose track of files in my inbox. Now, everything’s in one spot, and the “suggesting” mode is a lifesaver for editing. For more on cloud collaboration, see Google Workspace’s remote work resources.
Staying Connected (Seriously, It Matters)
Here’s what’s worked for our remote team:
- Establish Ground Rules: Our team agreed to respond to Slack messages within a couple of hours, except if they arrive after 5pm, in which case they would be ignored.
- Frequent Check-ins: Not just about work—sometimes we just chat about movies or what we had for lunch. Those little moments matter.
- Be Mindful of Time Zones: Our team’s spread across three countries, so we try to schedule meetings in everyone’s “okay” window. Not always easy, but people appreciate the effort.
- Share Progress Often: A quick “Hey, I finished the draft!” message can spark feedback and keep projects moving.
Tips for Not Going Stir-Crazy
- Set Boundaries: It’s tempting to keep working late, but I try (not always successfully) to close my laptop at 5.
- Move Around: I set an hourly reminder to stretch or walk around the block. Helps me refocus.
- Schedule Fun Stuff: Sometimes we’ll have a 10-minute trivia game on Fridays. It’s silly, but it breaks up the week.
- Ask for Help: If you’re overwhelmed or just lonely, say something. Chances are, someone else feels the same way.
- You may also like to read: How to Create a Perfect Morning Routine with Apps
Final Thought
Remote work isn’t perfect, and some days are harder than others. But with a few handy tools and some intentional habits, you’ll find your rhythm—and maybe even enjoy the flexibility that comes with working in your slippers.
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