The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed upended the job market.
While more and more companies are leveraging technology to their advantage, the emerging work-from-home setup is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Remote work is here to stay, and some challenges come along with it.
Virtual work setup has been making its fair share of popularity within the corporate industry since modern tech dawned upon us. One of the most popular work-from-home job opportunities is becoming a Virtual Assistant.
This setup is nothing new for virtual assistants, but how do we maintain normalcy and productivity despite the external challenges?
Many businesses still question its effectiveness to this day since home and office are two completely different, if not opposite, environments.
Indeed, maintaining productivity while stuck at home can be a daunting prospect. Flexibility is one thing but overcoming distractions in a remote work practice is another.
If working from home has found you distracted and unable to finish tasks, here are five practical ways that virtual assistants need to know to improve productivity at work, even while at home:
Communication is key
Conveying messages in a remote setup can be grueling and complicated. Some virtual assistants think that asking too many questions is a bad thing. However, it is a kick start in finishing any tasks.
You need to make sure that you can interpret your client’s points and get messages across timely and correctly.
Automated messages and email tools are effective messages prompts for clients. Being able to respond right away can alleviate the mood into a face-to-face presence.
Gizmos and gadgets -- the essentials!
Having gadgets to use as work tools wouldn’t come off as a surprise to any digital nomad. Thanks to the advent of technology, virtual assistants can get paid at almost the click of a mouse.
In the same way, gizmos and gadgets are great gear towards productivity.
Besides having a good laptop, Wi-Fi, PC, headset, and the likes, familiarity with the usage of work-related programs and applications can also give you that hassle-free experience.
Knowing the ins and outs of troubleshooting can be a significant skill in this setup. This way, you can start kicking in with work smoothly.
The importance of continued professionalism
You may not realize this enough, but the joy of a work-from-home setup is having the flexibility and autonomy of working independently.
However, this doesn’t mean that no interpersonal problems could arise. Miscommunications are often dealt with in this kind of setup.
Having the resilience and patience in solving problems will surely get you and your client a long way.
Remember that bringing productivity also means maintaining professionalism at work despite the invisible wall in such settings.
Build your network
Digital nomads usually get the idea that remote working does not require connections at all.
However, if you want to expedite your career, setting up virtual connections could pave the way for your career.
Setting up video conferences, emails and reaching out using popular social media platforms are the best way to build your network virtually!
Time and workload management
Creating an effective plan for the day will surely boost your productivity, and there are numerous apps out there to help you.
Time Doctor, Rescue Time, Toggl, Timely, and Tick are some of the computer-based management tools that can alleviate your productivity throughout the day.
These apps can do voice commands and quick reminders that can help you manage your workload.
Final thoughts
Every virtual assistant has a way of dealing with work slumps.
It’s natural to experience these aspects of your job; taking these five easy steps will improve your overall life and work productivity.
After a day’s work, set the stage for tomorrow --- it’s never too late to adopt healthy habits!
You can check some of our FREE resources to assist job seekers in finding virtual jobs:
