Taking care of business (travel): How to stay productive on the go

Remote working is most definitely here to stay.

It’s strange to think that back in 2019, many of us spent our working week solely in the office. This was the ‘norm’. It didn’t look like something as familiar as our basic workday would change so dramatically within a few months.

Fast forward to today, and remote working has become a global work perk sensation. In this post-pandemic world, working from home or on the go has firmly established itself as a staple in the modern business landscape – with many job seekers saying fully, on-site job vacancies are a ‘red flag’.

Thanks to rapidly evolving technology, you don’t have to clock in at the office every day to be a superstar employee anymore! From powerful video calling technology becoming more accessible and much easier to use to online collaboration tools and streamlined communication – remote working has even evolved to digital nomads, constantly travelling and working on the go!

Remote working doesn’t just mean WFH

Thankfully, unlike pandemic times, remote working doesn’t have to mean just working from home (or your kitchen table) anymore. Remote employees are now able to work from practically anywhere (with a good Wifi connection of course!). With ‘25% of Brits working remoting from a coffee shop at least once of week’, the idea of working on the go has continued to become hugely popular.

So whether you’re grinding through your to-do list in a co-working space, setting up camp in your favourite coffee shop or avoiding all distractions at your Travelodge SuperRoom desk, it’s important to keep productivity at the forefront of your remote working schedule.

How can we stay productive while remotely working?

As we all embrace the remote working revolution, it’s never a bad idea to ramp up your working-on-the-go productivity game. While the grey-walled, office cubicle might be a thing of the past, our determination to crush deadlines and complete to-do lists is stronger than ever.

Everyone works differently, so understanding how remote working can ‘work’ for you is essential. But how do you stay focused working outside the office? We’ve narrowed down 7 top tips to help you supercharge your productivity while working on the go. Let’s dive in!

1. Define your working boundaries

When working remotely, it can be easy to continue the grind late into the evening. Maybe finish off that one last task on your to-do list? However, setting clear boundaries for your remote working day can be essential to avoiding burnout and maintaining productivity.

The urge to reply to that nagging work email or make one last change to a lengthy spreadsheet can be tempting when your ‘doorway into work’ is just inside your work bag. But taking time away from work duties to switch off and relax will ensure you return to work productive and refreshed.

2. Optimise your setup 

Before you turn on your laptop, it’s vital to have your work environment set up perfectly for a productive day. Being slouched on a bed or confined to a tiny café table, while a temporary fix, won’t benefit your productivity.

Depending on the space you have available to you, aim to have a clear, well-lit area, which allows plenty of room for you, your laptop and/or monitors and any working resources. Ensuring you have or can easily access all the tools you need to do your job effectively is another great way to optimise your workspace. This might mean investing in a separate keyboard and wireless mouse for on-the-go working to reduce distractions or simply making sure your chosen workspace has an easy-to-reach plug to charge your devices.

3. Keep the communication going 

With less physical face-to-face time being the new reality, adjusting our communication styles has become essential for remote working. While often challenging, it’s important to be mindful of how your colleagues choose to work. And this, in turn, will help you communicate with them better.

Perhaps pitch a weekly, virtual meeting in the mornings to catch up on the week’s agenda? This could be as simple as sharing a list of priority team tasks and discussing how everyone can contribute. On the other hand, this could be a great opportunity to regroup as a team and discuss any important updates. Manage expectations, share their experiences, build a rapport and support everyone to find their own way to work effectively. If you’ve got important virtual meetings lined up, suggest recording these in case anything is forgotten later.

4. Practice self-care 

Looking after yourself while working remotely is just as important as the work itself. Unfortunately, remote working can put pressure on our mental health for a multitude of reasons. Whether it’s the challenge of an unclear work/life balance or a feeling of isolation only interacting with colleagues through a screen. These common factors can impact our productivity and, importantly, our mental well-being.

Thankfully, there are many remote working tips and tricks to combat this. Firstly, make sure you allocate yourself a proper lunch break. This may seem obvious but setting aside time to refuel will ensure you come back feeling refreshed and ready to smash through that to-do list. Also, setting a relaxing pre and post-work routine can be vital for productivity. Going for a morning or evening walk can assist in getting you ready for the day or help unwind from the busy day. Equally, getting an early night can help massively prepare you for the next day.

Why not fuel your productivity? Check out our 10 favourite energy-boosting foods to power through your workday here.

5. Be realistic and prioritise! 

Keeping your task list achievable is the best way to remain focused, motivated and productive. Therefore, understanding yourself, and how and when you work best is a great place to start when planning your daily tasks. If you’re generally a morning person, it might suit you better to schedule those bigger tasks earlier in the day. Taking your time to focus and complete a priority task well is better than burning yourself out trying to be the remote-working superhero!

Also, remember that it is okay to say ‘no’ to any tasks that will disrupt you from prioritised work. You know your workload more than anyone else, meaning it’s alright to turn down a low-priority task from the top of your to-do list. Equally, letting your manager know a realistic time frame as to when you’ll get to the task ensures transparency while still showing your commitment to your work.

6. Reduce distractions

There’s no denying that distractions can be a big hindrance to productivity. Unfortunately, distractions are very common when working remotely. It could be the shrieking sound of a café coffee machine breaking your concentration or a poor WiFi connection making you stop and start with your task. But there are a few things you can do…

Firstly, invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones – these are great for setting boundaries with people around you and eliminating all that background noise. Also, do your research and check Wifi is available at your chosen remote working spot ahead of time. If you’re using a free WiFi network, you might want to invest in a VPN to ensure full security. Finally, consider using productivity tools on your phone to reduce any social media, text or personal email distractions. Apple devices have great ‘focus’ features to avoid all social pings and vibrations.

7. Make time for exploration!

Remote working in a new city? Making time to explore your new surroundings is a great way to escape from your screen and recharge. As mentioned earlier, taking a stroll can be super rewarding after a long workday and beneficial to keeping you inspired and focused with new ideas and energy.

Taking time to explore a city can also open up new remote working locations that you might not have found otherwise.