Six Apps for Remote Work

Getting out of the office and setting up shop remote is becoming more and more common, especially when it comes to the fight against COVID-19. Whether you're working from home or working from an RV traveling across the country, getting away from the office can be a productive and calming, or in times like these, absolutely necessary. You don't have to worry about an exhausting commute in uncomfortable work clothes or distractions that come with a fast-paced office. Remote work allows you the flexibility to work at your own pace in an environment of your choosing.

Although working remote has benefits, it can also present challenges. It requires self-discipline, even more communication, and proper time management. Luckily there are apps out there that will help you overcome these challenges and make remote work that much more effective. We've compiled a list of six must-have apps that will increase your productivity and efficiency for remote work.

Zoom is a video communication service that helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together. Zoom can connect with mobile devices, desktops, and room systems. You can join from your phone, laptop, desktop, etc. Zoom allows for meetings of up to 500 people, so don't worry, there is room for everyone. If you're working remotely, Zoom will let you join meetings via video or audio chat so that the whole team is on the same page. With Zoom, you'll never miss a beat. Bonus: if you are trying to schedule a remote happy hour, Zoom is the way to go!

Google Hangouts is another communication tool that allows teams to meet via video conference. If your company already uses Google Suite, this may be the most convenient video conferencing service. All you have to do is set up a meeting and email the link— it's that easy. No complicated logins are required. You can also sync Google Hangouts with your Google Calendar to schedule meetings. Their Android and iOS apps allow you to connect with your team from anywhere with easy-to-join video calls. If you're working remotely and already use Google Suite, Google Hangouts is a must-have app to ensure better communication with your team.

Zapier is an online automation tool that integrates all your apps into one place. It connects your most useful applications and syncs them up with one another. For example, you can use Zapier to translate your data from Facebook Ads into Google Sheets or assign emails into specific folders. There are endless ways Zapier can be used to automate your most tedious tasks. Zapier's easy-to-use software system doesn't require any extensive coding knowledge. Zapier is also great for building communication between teams that work remote. For example, here at Nomad we use Zapier to share notes. Whenever someone has an idea, they type a command into Slack, and their note is automatically pushed into a shared Airtable base via Zapier. That way no good ideas get lost, and everyone stays on the same page. If you're working remotely, Zapier will help you organize all your work tools to ensure you're as efficient as possible.

When you work remotely, having adequate time management and self-discipline is necessary for productivity. Todoist helps you organize your time by outlining your daily tasks and keeping track of all your responsibilities. You can prioritize more important tasks and set deadlines for them. You can also organize your tasks into specific categories to help you plan your day. Todoist also integrates itself with other applications such as Google Calendar, Gmail, Slack, and more. If you're like me and have trouble organizing your days, you'll need this app.

When you're working remotely, you're probably going to be focused on your screen for long periods at a time. Staring at your screen for hours isn't the healthiest thing to do. Take a Break, Please forces* you to step back from your desktop. You can schedule when your break is and how long your break will be. These break periods allow you to take advantage of your setting and enjoy the environment you are in. You'll have time to go for a walk, do some stretching, or eat some food. But don't get too comfortable. Take a Break, Please will notify you when it's time to get back to work. This app is another tool to help you manage your time, and make you the most efficient remote worker you can be.

Another great way to take a break: load up on some new music from the Nomadic crew. Check out our latest work from home playlist here. If you are looking for some new podcasts, check out these recommendations from our team here!

Whether it's at home or at your local coffee shop, more and more workplaces are seeing the benefits of remote work. These six apps are designed to support you and help your productivity while working away from the office. If you use any other apps while you work remotely, let us know at thenomadic@nomadgoods.com