Here's how you can effectively manage time for remote work or virtual teams.

Set clear goals. Use a calendar. Prioritize tasks. Limit distractions. Take regular breaks. Use time-tracking tools. Communicate clearly. Have regular check-ins. Delegate tasks. Keep a routine.

Managing time for remote work and virtual teams is like juggling, but with fewer dropped balls and more Zoom calls. I kick things off with a clear schedule and priorities, making sure everyone knows the game plan. Communication is key, so I keep those virtual doors open with regular check-ins and updates. Tools like Slack and Trello are my sidekicks, keeping tasks on track and everyone in the loop. Flexibility is crucial, so I encourage a healthy work-life balance and understand time zones like a pro. Staying organized, being adaptable, and fostering a strong team culture—these are my secret ingredients to keeping everything running smoothly, no cape required!

While working remotely it is very essential to prioritise tasks as per their criticality and delivery requirements. When we say prioritising tasks it also means analysing correctly as in which task needs prioritisation and the tasks that can be handled more tactfully with smarter techniques.

Setting boundaries is one of my greatest weaknesses—I’m definitely more of a “how can I help?” person than an “it’s not my job” person. I’m always eager to dive in and assist, but I’ve learned that saying no sometimes is essential for maintaining my own productivity and sanity. Balancing availability with focused work time is a work in progress, but I’m committed to improving, one respectful no at a time. With the emergence of AI, companies are looking to replace that human “team approach” with automated robots who find it easy to say no. This is unfortunate because while it may save money, if dehumanizes the working relationship, and in my mind, limits the development of employees to learn to properly prioritize work tasks!

Boundaries are essential in remote work. They help maintain focus while also providing that end-of-day feeling that signifies it's "life" time. I've found that having someone remind me "it's time to stop" helps me keep that boundary so I don't burn out. There are times I will work beyond my set time, but not often. I find it also helps to establish a set number of hour blocs so I can give my brain some time to just go blank and reset before I continue. I do this by stepping away for a few minutes and just stand in the sun, take a quick walk on my treadmill or just read some manga. Whatever that small activity is that helps you relax is, take a few minutes and do it. Overloading breaks boundaries.

Breaks are always difficult for me because I get engrossed in my work. However, I do find that taking a 5-10 minute break (when I remember to) really helps increase my focus. I've gotten better about it by setting my smart watch to remind me to stretch every hour, so little things that help remind you will be beneficial to your focus and your health.

Process improvement is a big deal for me. Many can find it daunting to think about because it can evoke a grand task, but it doesn't have to be. Improvements can be as simple as reworking your daily tasks (i.e. work the easy stuff first so you have time and bandwidth to focus on more difficult taks after). Sometimes you stumble on something that you hadn't noticed might be a redundancy when you make a small change.

Above all you need to be good at planning your day/week/month and are most of all able to execute against your plan. Try to eliminate distractions from the personal life and also ensure that even if you are remote or WFH you engage in visual contact with peers and stakeholders to feel some level of closeness.