How to Stay Productive When Working in a Remote Area

by Kristopher Samuels Writer

For some people, being able to work anywhere often means working in the middle of nowhere.

Their job can bring them to less-than-ideal places to work, such as an ocean-bound ship, a deep mine pit, or the middle of a dense forest.

Unavailable doesn’t always have to mean unproductive. Just because you’re miles and miles away from the nearest cell phone tower, doesn’t mean you need to be disconnected from your work.

With that in mind, here are a few tips on how to stay productive when working in a remote area.

1. Get the Right Equipment

In most cases, your day-to-day sees you getting wet and dirty. You need a laptop that can do the same.

You don’t have time to worry about dropping your laptop onto a hard surface, or worry about damp/ muddy air mucking things up. You also can’t just pop over to the local Staples store if something breaks.

Make sure you bring a rugged laptop that can stand up to the elements and the demands of your work. You may want to check out the laptops at Smallpc.com to find something rugged and customizable.

You want something with:

• A tough outer case

• No moving parts or fan

• A long battery life

• Waterproofing protection

You may also need something that is readable in high or direct sunlight.

2. Schedule Your Time

This may seem laughable to some workers who have to deal with frequent ad hoc tasks in a demanding environment.

However, in workplaces with so much beyond your control, it’s important to control what you can. Without structure, it’s easy for “small” tasks or steps to fall off of your radar.

3. Find a Dedicated Workspace

Again, you’re not exactly in a space with shared desks or conference rooms. However, you still need a (relatively) quiet and a (reasonably) distraction-free area to lock in and get some work done. You will likely be required to do some traditional white-collar work (data-entry, paperwork, or report-writing) in a no-collar setting.

Find a space that works for you. This can be your tent, a bench, or even a porta-potty. Find out what works best for you, and do your best work there.

4. Keep the Lines of Communication Open

This is more of a safety tip than a productivity tip. Your company likely has strenuous safety measures in place to protect their most remote and vulnerable workers. Follow these policies.

Ensure that someone else is aware of where you will be working, and ensure that the batteries in your 2-way radio/walkie-talkies are always charged.

5. Make Rest a Priority

This can be especially difficult if you’re in a new camp or worksite. Your sleep routine often suffers when you’re away from your own bed, while the stress of a new project is now on your plate.

Make sleep a priority. Be aware of how much more focused and productive you are when you’re rested. If you’re laboring over a tedious report when you’re tired, the task could stretch out over 2-3 hours. However, if you attacked it with fresh eyes in the morning, it could take less than an hour.

Not all of these tips will apply to you, your job, or your workplace. However, the underlying theme remains the same. You’re going to face constant barriers that stand between you and productivity.

Expect them and you will be in a better position to remove them.