Remote work, also known as telecommuting, is a work arrangement where an employee does not work in a traditional office environment. Remote workers can typically dial in from anywhere, whether it be their home, a shared coworking space, or coffee shop. The future of work is remote, with 18% of employees in the U.S. already working remotely full time. 

In order for you to achieve maximum capacity when working remotely, we’ve identified eight remote work tips and tricks. This study from Fundera also lists the top 10 best cities for remote workers in the U.S. based on data such as WiFi speeds, coworking spaces, median rent, and public WiFi spaces.

5 Remote Work Tips and Tricks 

1. Communicate With Your Team: 

Even if you aren’t in the office, you can still connect with your team members. Utilize technology such as chat apps and video conferencing to stay dialed in, and regularly update your status when you take a short break, go on lunch, or head to an appointment so your manager and team knows when you’re offline.

2. Reduce Distractions:

Working at home comes with its own set of distractions, especially if you have pets, kids, or a roommate. Stay focused by setting goals for yourself throughout the day, time-blocking your schedule, snoozing email notifications, and silencing your text alerts. 

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3. Utilize Your Most Productive Time of Day:

A lot of remote work success comes from self-discipline. When working remote, take notice of when you feel most energized and when you feel fatigued. What settings get you in a flow that makes you work harder and smarter? Finding out when your peak work time is daily can yield great results. Knowing when you are unproductive can be a strength too – for example, on average, 2:55 p.m. is the least productive time of day. Rather than trying to accomplish big tasks then, consider instead taking a 15-minute break to rejuvenate. 

4. Visit a Nearby Coworking Space:

You can still get the benefits of a traditional office environment when you’re working remote by taking advantage of a nearby coworking space! By 2022, 5.1 million people will be coworking. This collaborative space typically comes with access to fast WiFi, upscale amenities, and more. It’s also a great way to expand your network and meet other remote workers. 

5. Factor in Remote Work Costs:

Remote work does come with expenses, and more than likely, your employer won’t cover them all. While it varies depending on your company and employee agreement, 78% of employers won’t pay for their employees home internet and 76% won’t pay for coworking spaces. While that number can seem defeating, there are plenty of ways to work around these costs, with the best way being to negotiate these added expenses into your salary! That way, you can get a return on your remote work investment and a higher salary to boot. Also consider the costs you get to skip as a remote worker: you save time and money on a daily commute, you don’t have to purchase a traditional office work wardrobe, and you can make your lunch at home rather than eating out.