It wasn’t that long ago when working remotely wasn’t even a thing. Yet thanks to the ever-evolving connected world we live in, it’s never been a better time to work remotely. However, being a productive and efficient remote worker is often easier said than done. So today, I come to you with some of the best tools for when you work remotely.
The Cloud
“The Cloud” should be one of the first things you start utilizing when you work remotely. This will allow you to easily access documents across multiple devices, share documents with others and edit them from anywhere. A number of cloud storage and file sharing services are available, of which Dropbox, Google Drive and Box are among the most popular. Before you sign up for cloud storage, I’d recommend finding out what others who you’ll be working with use and choosing cloud storage based on that. If you’re like me, then you’ll probably end up using multiple cloud storage programs. The differences between programs and pricing often have to do with the amount of storage space and what that gets you. For example, Google Drive starts you off with 15 GB of free storage, while Dropbox begins with 2 GB.
Web-Based Project Management
If you’re working on multiple projects with multiple people, you’ll likely want a project management system to manage it all. Many companies you work with may have existing project management software, but if they don’t, there are a number of great web-based project management programs. One such project management program, Asana, even integrates easily with Dropbox, Box and Google Drive. Other programs include Basecamp, Podio, Trello and Wrike.
Evernote
Evernote may just be my favorite, most practical app of all time. At its core, Evernote is a note-taking app. However, Evernote’s strength is in how functional it is. Once you’ve created a to-do list, written down a reminder or taken a photo of something, you can then share it with others, receive feedback and even access your notes across multiple devices. It even integrates seamlessly with Google Drive. Some of the paid plans include bells and whistles like annotating PDFs, scanning and digitizing business cards, and forwarding emails into Evernote.
Mobile Hotspot
What’s perhaps the biggest challenge for working remotely is reliable Wi-Fi, especially if you’ll be working abroad. A mobile hotspot helps solve that in part by providing a Wi-Fi signal as long as there’s cell service. As such, you can often simply get a hotspot through your cell phone provider. If you’re traveling abroad, however, this can get expensive quickly. That’s where XCom Global comes in, which operates in nearly 200 countries for less than $10 per day.
Workfrom
Workfrom is one of a number of services that helps you find a place to work from, be it just for a couple hours or daily. While many of these services exclusively feature office buildings and co-working spaces, Workfrom features those, plus cafes, coffee shops and bars that are work-friendly. On each business page you can find out information about Wi-Fi, amount of plugs, noise level and more. Workfrom is currently in more than 700 cities around the world.
Written By:
SPENCER SPELLMAN
Spencer is a seasoned food, drink, and travel writer who has written for publications from Outside Magazine to Travel + Leisure and Los Angeles Times. When he’s not traveling, he’s perfecting his favorite cocktails in his home bar. He chronicles his adventures (and cocktails) on his travel site, Whiskey Tango Globetrot.
