remote work – Page 3 – Philippians Virtual Assistance Services

How to Avoid Delaying Your Work Due to Absence

July 12, 2021Leave a comment

Working at home became a norm nowadays, particularly due to the pandemic. It is no longer a choice, but rather a system that has been pushed due to the incapability of people to return to their offices. Primarily, because of safety concerns and the unknown end of this worldwide crisis. With no questions asked, there is no business that would prefer to keep their operations stagnant.

Given the aforementioned facts, if you are a home-based worker, it only means that things are not literally different aside from your workspace setup. You are still an integral part of a company. Without you being at work, things could get affected. It may be a project due at a certain date or your co-workers getting the burden with your extra load.

How could you prevent this? Of course, before anything else, when it comes to getting ill, that is something that is uncontrollable. Even if you are following a healthy diet, there are certain times that you will be struck by a sickness unknowingly.

To give you a few tips on how to avoid delaying your work due to absence, here are the following:

Prepare internet connection backup. Being a virtual assistant means you should have a backup of one of the most important things you need to work from home – your internet connection. One source would never be enough. Disconnections can either be scheduled and often unannounced.

Though it is a great idea to subscribe to two internet service providers, backup in the form of mobile data can also work. As long as you can set up a hotspot and your applications are working just fine with your connection, then all is set. At times, it is all about the reception in your location.

Ensure your laptop is 100 percent charged always. If you are using a laptop, it is always best not to leave it low in battery. This is for the possibility of power outages. Some batteries may last up to eight hours or more, which gives you the assurance that even if there are blackouts, you can continue with your work.

Make sure your laptop or PC is pre-checked. Did you know that most home-based workers miss their work simply because of OS updates? There are updates that take hours. Due to that, virtual assistants can miss their reporting time or their entire shift (particularly, if they work for only a few hours for a certain client).

Instead of waiting for an update and unexpectedly face hours of processing it, schedule restart for updates at a time that would not interfere with your work.

On the other hand, there are also applications that take time to load before opening. Hence, make it a habit to open your laptop or PC at least an hour before your shift. This will help you avoid procrastination should your client require you to finish a task right after you started your shift.

The listed tips are just a few of the things you can do to prevent absences, resulting in delaying your pending tasks. Remember, being at home does not mean you are meant to be too comfortable, to the point that you will neglect your responsibility as an employee. It is always best to show that despite being in a convenient setting, your reliability remains intact.

Remote Work: The Future of Workplace as Shaped by the Pandemic

January 15, 2021Leave a comment

Pain. Struggle. Anxiety. Depression. Uncertainty. These are the words that could top the list of adjectives for what happened in 2020. No one anticipated the vastness of the COVID-19’s effect on the world and not just on a small community. At first, it was taken for granted, mocked even. People were dubious of the fact that there could be a virus, which is unseen by the naked eye, that could stop the world. Unfortunately, whatever doubts there are, all were mistaken. COVID-19 became a part of the history of mankind as one of the most destructive viruses in the world.

The virus did not simply detriment the health of the people, but even their livelihood. With the onset of the killer virus, lockdowns were implemented, which resulted in the unexpected and unfortunate closure of most companies in the world. The businesses that you thought to be highly lucrative and impregnable for years to come suffered unimaginable losses.

The jobs of the society being the focal point, you can clearly see that companies were not prepared for what took place. They have seen how they failed to create a shell for their businesses to keep further losses at bay. Most importantly, entrepreneurs realized and regretted the fact they could have at least saved more only if they have welcomed the idea of remote staffing. Nonetheless, this is no longer the time to keep on pressing the issue. This is the moment to open the possibility of welcoming home-based workers.

If you believe that your business would not operate effectively with virtual assistants or remote staff, then what occurred during the pandemic may convince you. Companies were able to continue their operations by deciding to set up remote workplaces for their people. Indeed, it is undeniable that cutting manpower has been far-flung. However, one cannot refute the fact that businesses managed to salvage their work by keeping their core employees functioning despite being at home.

From the given reality, you can see that establishing a team of remote workers could be your future defense. By simply setting up communication means and applications for your people to use, everything could be done as usual as it had been.

For instance, you are a restaurant owner, you could keep things in order by having your administrative work handled by your employees remotely while keeping just the right number of people in your physical store. This may be a partial setup, but still a good preparation for the possible extension of this “social distancing community.” On the other hand, if you have an accounting firm, then you should know that all of your functions in the business could be done from home. If everything has been all paper in your company, do not fret, for there are various software applications that could convert your company into a paperless one. The process may be tedious, but it is worth it.

It is not yet late to prepare your company for what is coming, and it is incontestable that the future is remote work. Do not let another unforeseen damaging force ruin your livelihood. Start making a change; a change that will not simply protect you and your people, but keep you in pace with what the world demands.

Desktop vs Laptop: Find Out Which One Is Best for Your Remote Work

August 13, 2020Leave a comment

Every one of us has different perceptions when it comes to working from home or doing remote work. Would it be wise to spend a lot to establish a work from home setup? Would your workstation be one that can be carried wherever and whenever you go? Would your PC be one that is based on performance over quality? To put it simply, for most of us, the question always stems out of whether to buy a desktop or a laptop.

To help you decide, given below are criteria to take into consideration when setting up your home office, which will also differentiate a desktop from a laptop consequently:

Budget-friendliness. A desktop’s price comes in as cheaper option compared to that of a laptop. Laptops cost more to manufacture, produce, and incorporate. Simply imagine the already medium-sized computer parts being assembled into an even smaller and more compact portable device.

Portability. The very design of a laptop screams and oozes portability. On the other hand, desktop can also be moved from one place to another (apparently requiring your cardio and strength conditioning), but is generally designed to be in one location. If you are a digital nomad, it is undeniable that you would opt for a laptop. In contrary, being a stay-at-home freelancer may make desktop more suitable for you.

Upgradability. Normally, laptops are boxed components that are not 100% upgradable. You are fortunate if you could upgrade both the storage and its random-access memory (RAM). But then, desktop components can be upgraded if so pleased and can go with the flow of the ever-moving technological advancements. If you know how to tinker with a desktop, you can technically change all its components.

Power Consumption. A desktop needs more power to operate as its unit and monitor display need separate power supplies. Alternatively, a laptop, which has an independent power in a form of a battery pack, can go hours without being plugged into a power source. Power fluctuations will render the desktop vulnerable as unsaved work will be lost.

Performance and Repair. Due to the nature of a laptop being a minimized version of a desktop, the desktop processors tend to be more powerful than that of a laptop. Although there is no science to explain it, laptops tend to slow down over time compared to a desktop. Also, laptops have a limited space in its bezel, so adding another internal drive is not possible. However, one can completely replace the internal drive with one that has more storage. Laptops are also difficult to open if it needs servicing compared to a desktop that has its components easily accessible.

Bear in mind that the given points are simply guidelines. Every remote worker has his or her own preference in terms of budget, convenience, efficiency, and maintenance relative to their workstation. Make a decision by considering your current situation, what you mostly need with your remote work, and the future issues that you may encounter regardless of the unit you decide to buy.

Specifications to Consider When Buying a PC for Remote Work

August 6, 2020Leave a comment

Success in remote work is not reliant on your work performance alone. Take note that you would not be able to deliver high quality output without the help of your PC. Your computer is what enables you to communicate and coordinate with your clients. Furthermore, all of the applications required to carry out your work are accessible through it. Hence, it is undeniable that your PC is a critical component of your virtual work.

In choosing a computer, you must consider the usual activities you handle as a virtual assistant. That being said, the following categorized specifications would help:

For Administrative Tasks

Examples of administrative tasks are data entry, calendar management, e-mail management, and documents management among others. For effective execution of the said activities, your PC specifications should not be less than the following:

Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3
500GB to 1TB hard drive or 128GB SSD
4GB to 8GB RAM
Built-in Graphics Card or Dedicated Graphics
Full HD (1080p) screen

Note: Intel Celeron, Pentium and Atom, and AMD A-series and Athlon are less powerful than Core i and Ryzen chips.

For Non-Administrative Tasks

Non-administrative tasks include technical work, such as website development and graphic design. You could say that these activities require more advanced PC to use. Relatively, the following specifications are ideal to consider:

Intel Core i5 and i7 or Ryzen 7 and 9 (AMD)
256GB to 512GB SSD or combination of SSD and mechanical hard drive
16GB of RAM or higher
Dedicated High-End GPU Graphics Card

With the given specifications for every category of remote work activities, you will definitely have no issue with your productivity or efficiency. Be reminded that without considering the performance of your PC, you will suffer from drawbacks, such as delayed submission of work, frequent downtime, and tons of interruptions due to hardware failure.

Simply follow the provided guidelines in selecting your new PC, and you will certainly reap the benefits of seamless remote work experience.

Punctuality: How Important It Is for a Remote Worker

July 23, 2020Leave a comment

Have you ever been late at work? Do you find yourself frequently missing your kick-off meetings? Probably, it is time to reflect if these happen to you, for punctuality is an essential trait of a reliable remote worker. In other words, if you fail to possess this habit, it may also cost your job.

There are various reasons why punctuality is something employers look for in a virtual assistant. It may be trivial for some, especially to those, who highly favor flexible schedules. However, it is not the case for the rest, who value professionalism, which encompasses one’s careful consideration of work schedule.

To begin with, punctuality is a very important characteristic of a remote worker for it shows how committed you are to your work. Simply think of it in this way: were you ever late for an appointment with your wife or husband? There is a possibility that you failed to show up on time, but it costed you big time, either by an argument or long-term guilt. This only implies that you will never be late to something that is of import to you.

Employers believe that a punctual person is someone they could rely on. Obviously, for instance, your shift starts at 8:00 A.M., so it is quite anticipated that tasks, either urgent or not, will be available for taking as the clock strikes at the said time. If you are often tardy, your employer would not even consider you for projects, given he or she would not be certain if you would show up early or the contrary. Somehow, it is a gamble for him or her to depend on you all the time.

Moreover, punctuality shows that you are someone, who cares about your co-workers. If you are on time, you would not be delaying the tasks, which may be needed by your team members before they could proceed with their part of the project. Being punctual is not limited to going to work on time. Instead, it could also cover instances, wherein you ensure that you do not miss the deadlines of your activities.

Professionalism is greatly conveyed by punctuality as a remote worker. It shows that despite the convenience of being at home, you respect the rules set upon by your employer. This includes showing up on time based on the schedule agreed upon by both parties.

Being punctual is not difficult, only if you put your mind into it. Be reminded that as a virtual assistant, you have fewer reasons to be late. Your workspace could only be a few steps from your bedroom. You do not have to battle traffic and pollution outside. As a virtual worker, you are often not required to don a professional attire, which may take much of your preparation time. Plus, it is not too time-consuming to open up your PC and set up the materials you need for the day.

Be reminded that despite working home-based, you should still maintain your professionalism in every aspect possible. Never let comfort ruin your reputation as a steadfast virtual assistant.