What Is Remote Work? A Complete Guide

Working remotely, also known as telework or telecommuting, was largely seen as a mystical and rare practice that only few people were able to do before 2020. Who would let employees work from home?

However, that vision of not having to physically go into the office suddenly became the norm after the pandemic. In fact, Forbes predicts that remote work opportunities will increase in 2023 and continue for the foreseeable future. Many freelancers and full-time workers now work from anywhere with an internet connection. There are now fully remote companies with no physical office locations, making remote work even more essential.

Discover the keys to working from home below:

Office work, as we typically think of it, famously depicted in the TV show “The Office,” has been the status quo for decades. Having everyone in the same space theoretically allows for better cooperation, team building, and oversight.

This kind of thinking has been challenged, however, since the pandemic forced the vast majority of office workers to work from home. Through communication technology like video conferencing apps, people can collaborate from almost anywhere, leading to the rise of work-from-home jobs. Maybe working on-site isn’t necessary after all.

People have been working as full-time remote employees from the comfort of their homes for ages, so it really isn’t a new concept. Doctors in the late 1800s often worked their practices out of their houses instead of in-office. They typically had a dedicated office space inside their home, with a door that opened up directly to the patio that served as a makeshift waiting room.

Some doctors and other types of wealthy professionals owned Wooton desks. These were extraordinarily high-quality desks able to close up like a cabinet and had wheels from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. The “traditional office space” of the age featured this desk or something similar.

Wooton desks were popular not only for their high functionality and mobility but also because of how customizable they were. Depending on the person’s profession, they may want certain compartments and drawers in specific places.

The desks could also be closed and locked up for security reasons, as many people would have access to them. These design qualities of organization and productivity would echo through the ages into modern home offices and workstations.

From the Wooton desk to today, a lot has changed…

The work-from-home model is an exciting way to change how you work and increase your productivity. Some challenges go along with a remote work arrangement, but we are here to get you on the right track for success and get all of the perks of a work-at-home job.

If you’ve never worked a job or career that had you working from your home before, there are some things you’ll need to consider before getting started. The first thing to think about is where to set up your workspace in your home.

The bedroom should probably not be high on the list of possible spaces. Working from the bedroom may have you start associating stress with sleep. For some of us, it may be our only option, though.

The last place to consider working from is your bed. It’s incredibly tempting to simply roll over and grab the laptop in the morning, but it'll make it harder to disconnect from work when you need to after the day is done. If you’re going to work in the bedroom, eliminate as many distractions as possible before work.

Instead, do your best to work in a room that has enough space for a small workstation, natural light, and a little bit of privacy. Clear your desk of the non-essentials like desk toys, knick-knacks, and that stack of receipts that you’ve been meaning to throw away that you forget about every time you leave the room. We can’t get distracted as easily if the distractions are out of sight and out of mind.

There will be distractions out of your control, but you can deal with the ones in your control in advance. One of the most daunting challenges is our phones; they are specifically designed to capture our attention and keep it for as long as possible.

Most phones these days have controls that allow you to place your phone not just on “Do Not Disturb” but also on work modes that block off certain applications that don’t involve your job.

There are a few things that you will need for an effective home office, and we have the perfect list to get you started. The very first thing to consider is a quality desk. Like the Wooton desks of old, a good desk should be able to conform to you and not the other way around.

A quality standing desk will metaphorically and literally elevate your workflow. Our very own Standing Desk comes in two distinct sizes, so it’s perfect for those who either need a large surface area for projects and collaboration, or those who may want to save a bit of space in the home or only need it for specific tasks.

Standing desks allow for more ergonomic options than standard desks. Not only do they allow you to be free of your chair, but they can also help you adjust to chairs with limited ergonomics. Some desk chairs don’t have ergonomic adjustments, and Standing Desks allow you to fine-tune your desk height for optimal workstation comfort.

Paired with one of the desk chairs below, your looming deadline will be a breeze.

As attractive as it is reliable, the Ergonomic Chair has become a crowd-favorite since the WFH era began.

With six seat colors and two frame choices, this chair can uplift the decor of any home office. The Ergonomic chair has met the rigorous standards of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA), not to mention earned accolades from top-tier publications like WIRED, Gear Patrol, and more.

The lumbar support is adjustable and can be removed entirely if you want. For extra support, you can add a Headrest in a comfortable mesh for support that conforms to your body.

If you’re looking for a desk chair with a timeless design but modern materials and ergonomic features, look no further than the Verve Chair. Designed in California, the Verve Chair evokes a feeling of practicality and craftsmanship at the same time.

The base is crafted from powder-coated aluminum, and the frame is made with glass-reinforced polyamide for a max capacity of 300 pounds. The 3D knit fabric is remarkably soft and comes in three statement-making colors (vibrant Coral, dramatic black Galaxy, and airy Mist). With natural spine support, high-density molded foam, and adjustable lumbar rest, this chair stays comfy even after an eight-hour workday.

Your home office decor is an opportunity for you to have some fun with your work environment. The beauty of working from home is that you can make everything as comfortable as you want. You can throw out all the rules and carve out your own vision for your workspace.

While the only rule is that your work area should work for you, we have a few recommendations. For instance, when it comes to organization, there are a few things to consider: One of them is a filing cabinet.

The Small Filing Cabinet is a significant upgrade if you’re currently using a sock drawer or a loose collection of folders for your work papers. This filing cabinet is as functional as it is stylish with its slick design and practical wheels.

The cabinet features a locking drawer that comes in handy for locking away sensitive documents and other private work files that you don’t want prying eyes to gain access to.

If you’re in the market for even more office storage with a stylish flair, the Credenza has your back. Storage can be fun and personalized to your own tastes: Add a small plant or a lamp with a few of your favorite books on the Credenza. The spacious shelving allows easy access to daily work necessities and can also act as a display case.

A Desktop Organizer can help organize the productive chaos by adding a restricted space for your keys, pens, or other small things that would otherwise be scattered around. This organizer comes in a range of pastel-like colors that give your desk a pop of color without being distracting.

We can help you put together the right set of gear to get you through a full workload while you are traveling. You and your laptop need support gear that will get you through any remote work challenge.

Working from home is a real treat if you’re able to do so, but it can also be challenging due to the lack of physical separation between your work and home life. An amazing way to break up the monotony is to go on a workation, which makes the most of a flexible work schedule.

A workation is when you travel to a new place while maintaining your remote work schedule. It’s like a vacation except for the fact that you still bring everything you need to work (and you ideally choose a location that is conducive to peaceful focus).

Since you will be working on this trip, choosing a calm location is crucial; busy places like outdoor seating at a popular cafe are probably not the best ideas. Try going to a cabin in the woods with a view and outdoor patio space. Alternatively, a quiet coffee shop or coworking space in a new city can be equally as refreshing.

Workations are an opportunity to mentally reset, cultivate greater work-life balance, and rethink how work makes you feel. Your environment could profoundly affect your productivity. Being in the same exact place every day might make you feel stuck or feel more susceptible to burnout.

These types of trips are great for anyone who may not have much PTO available or have people in their lives who want to go places without getting anchored by someone's busy work schedule.

You could take mini workations by going somewhere for the day to work that you normally wouldn't, like a friend’s house or an outdoor space like a public park or garden.

Whether you’re on a workation or just need to travel for work, you’ll need some mobile workstation tools that can travel easily with you. A Wireless Charging Dock can charge your phone when standing upright for easy viewing.

If you need to be on a video call with your remote team and want to have a better camera other than the one built into your laptop, your phone could be the answer. The charging dock is perfect for mounting your phone up and charging it at the same time.

Another must-have item in your productivity arsenal is a quality Desk Mat that you can roll up and easily pack away in a backpack or bag. Desk mats do a fantastic job of providing a clean, comfortable workspace.

This particular mat is durable, water-repellent, and is made from premium vegan leather. Need to keep a particular document or note in a more discrete spot away from wandering eyes? The top layer of the mat opens up to a convenient space for it!

Other things to keep in your mobile office kit might include a dedicated notepad, battery bank for all your electronics, and foldable angled mount for your laptop. Angled mounts allow you to place your laptop at a more ergonomic angle for long work hours, and they fold up pretty flat, so they don’t take up much space in a bag.

Hybrid office schedules are becoming more and more common because of the slowing of the pandemic and the benefits of remote work mixed with going into the company’s office for a few days a week. Remote collaboration with team members doesn’t always work for everyone. The hybrid style of scheduling allows those people to get that needed face-to-face time in the office with coworkers on top of Zoom calls.

Your home office or workspace still needs to be separate and have the proper furnishings for a successful workday. The key to a hybrid work routine is consistency.

It doesn’t matter if it's a spare room, a reading nook, or even your bedroom; you need a comfortable place to work that you can keep separate from the rest of your home. Try setting up a place to work outside on your patio or in your backyard if you can because the fresh air and sunlight will help you feel fresh and energized.

Working outdoors, even for a couple of hours a day, can help you reset your mind and is simply good for you.

When it comes to setting up a personal office environment, the world is your oyster. You can set up a grand WFH office or slip a desk into a common space. With a lean and minimalist setup, you can work from the living room in your pajamas just as easily as by a resort’s pool.

The era of remote work is promising and is paving the way for happier, healthier work zones across every time zone.

Sources:

Wooton Patent Desks | Encyclopedia of Indianapolis

6 Reasons Working from Bed Isn’t a Good Idea | Healthline

5 Data-Backed Ways Working Outdoors Can Improve Employee Well-Being | Forbes

Remote Work Is Here To Stay And Will Increase Into 2023, Experts Say | Forbes

First empirical study on how users pay visual attention to mobile app designs shows larger and brighter elements don't catch our eyes after all | ScienceDaily

Workcations: The travel trend mixing work and play | BBC Worklife