Crafting the Ideal Remote Work Environment: A Guide to Unlocking Your Productivity and Wellbeing
In 8 years of working remotely, I have tested a number of locations in the search for my ideal, optimised remote office.
I started on the sofa (admittedly in pyjamas), graduated to the kitchen table and eventually a home office which I thought would solve all the challenges I was encountering. Wrong.
As our desire for freedom and flexibility expands, our ability to delivery top-notch work must still be prioritised which can be difficult to achieve when you have a young family or a neighbour’s dog barking all day.
At this rate, both work and our personal life suffer.
I’m sharing my ideal, optimised remote work office solution that has helped me increase my productivity (and mental wellbeing) after 8 years of testing.
Warning: this is just what has worked for me. You’ll need to tweak my suggestions to suit your workflow and personal preferences.
Home Office Personalisation and Protection
As a remote worker, we will always need an efficient and supportive base of operations. A sanctitity we can always rely on for our most important work.
While I don’t work exclusively from my home office, and far from it, I’ve learned it must be prioritised as our main place of business.
The Space:
My home work space must :
Be clean and tidy
Minimalistic (as few cables and objects as possible)
Have lots of fresh air and natural light
Possess plants and some greenery
A view is ideal
Quiet or sound-proofed
Lockable door / Separate from the main house if possible
Space to do pushups or laying meditation
Possess a few meaningful objects (I have a sandtimer, Father’s Day gift, photo with my mentor)
Tools:
Wirless devices..
High-quality Headphones..
Ergonomic chair, (standing) desk, keyboard, mouse..
Mini-fridge / cooler, Easy access to water and coffee
Strong internet connection
Magnetic white/glassboard for big-picture thinking and brainstorming
Top Considerations:
Ensure it’s noise-free
Ensure it’s distraction-free (people coming in or knocking on the door)
The space must inspire you
Limit to every-other day
Nature
My next go-to location when I want to produce creative work is nature, my favourites being the beach or local park.
The Space:
Beach, park or moutain
Expansive view
Tools:
Powerbank
Blanket / Towel
Foldable chair if necessary
Top Considerations:
Must be weather appropriate
Must have comfortable seating
How important is (good) wifi?
Access to bathroom
Prepare food and beverage in advance
Charge all your devices
Co-Working
I’ve enjoyed a few co-working spaces. My number 1 reason for using this type of environment is for human connection. Work is just more fun when we’re around others and when we’re feeling great, we produce higher quality output.
Caveat: Stay away from the co-working when you require deep focus. I limit my co-working attendance to once per week, usually at the end of the week.
The Space:
Must be easy to reach on foot or by cycling.
Choose a spatious desk or work area that inspires you.
Communal or social areas are a must.
Outdoor areas for short breaks.
Tools:
Laptop
Headphones
Top Considerations:
Check they have soundproof booths for private calls.
Check whether they offer social activities
Check if they have back-up wifi connection
Do they provide lockers to keep your devices safe?
Private Office
This option is great if you have a lot of private calls (like my personal coaching sessions) as you have your own (soundproof) space but does have an elevated cost and the other downside can be isolation over longer periods.
The Space:
Similar to the home office characteristics
Tools:
Laptop
Ergonomic chair / desk
Window / View
Excellent Wifi
Top Considerations:
Limit use to 2-3 times per week or for private calls only.
Can you easily access more sociable spaces?
Leverage the space and welcome prospects and clients for in-person work.
Coffee House
This was a favourite of mine when starting out on my entrepreneurial journey but it wasn’t effective for deep work (noise and movement) or sensitive work like online banking or similar when using a public connection.
I use this option when I’m looking to mix things up, brainstorm and only for a few hours.
The Space:
Find a place with comfortable seating and table.
Ensure you have a power source nearby.
A chain is usually easier to work from than independent retailer.
If it’s closer to home, better.
Tools:
Laptop
Headphones
Window / View (optional)
Excellent Wifi
Great coffee
Top Considerations:
Limit use to once per week for more creative or light work.
You can stay as long as you like
Leverage the space to connect with others
Go there regularly and befriend the staff
We’ve just reviewed my prime remote work locations and how they have worked best for me over the last 8 years.
You may have noticed that I haven’t chosen any one model as my favourite. What I’ve found works best for me is combining some or all of them each week.
Mixing up my environment according to the type of work I’m doing keeps me motivated, focused and keeps work fun.
Stefano