This article was first published on Anyplace.com under a different title: Level Up: 8 Tips to Increase Remote Work Productivity

Who even wants a sterile office environment with boring social interactions nowadays? The office of the future may well be our own living room. Remote work is on the rise—it has seen a 159% increase since 2005, and continues to gain momentum in organizations of all types, sizes, and industries. What was once considered a novelty is rapidly becoming the norm for a large percentage of the global workforce. In Singapore, more and more corporate staff want to become remote employees, what with better work-life balance.

That said, there remains a negative stigma and distrust around remote workers (usually millennials) in some realms of management, especially when it comes down to productivity. Employers still see difficulties in integrating millennials into their companies. The belief is that working anywhere outside of the office creates a less efficient employee and an overall productivity-drain. Now, these same (overly suspicious) bosses may also be the ones who still think that working from home is equivalent to a full day of pyjama pants, frozen pizzas, and cat videos, even remote worker productivity is often better than in-office productivity.

Well, we can’t speak to the PJ pants—freak what you feel, friends—but when it comes to productivity, the myth has been debunked. In fact, employee productivity has actually been proven to increase with the freedom of remote work.

A two-year study by Stanford University found that there was an impressive increase in work productivity among people who worked from home. The study of 500 people who worked both remotely and in a traditional office setting concluded that employee productivity among remote workers was equal to an extra full day’s work each week. That’s big.

While the benefits of working remote are abundant—both for employees and employers—it can pose challenges to overcome. Productivity and communication with your teammates and higher-ups can suffer without the proper tools and intentional focus.

Fortunately, there are methods to maximise your productivity and set yourself up for remote work success, wherever you might be in the world. Below, you’ll find 8 remote work productivity tips to help keep productivity levels high and communication channels open.

1. Find your environment for success

If you’re just beginning your remote work journey, it’s a good idea to experiment and figure out the environment in which you work most effectively. You want to set yourself up for success in a place where you can focus hard on the tasks at hand. The goal is to feel motivated by your surroundings and be ready to tackle whatever comes your way.

If being around like-minded people does wonders, start with a coworking space. If white noise and the smell of fresh coffee is more of your thing, try out a local coffee shop. Or, if you really enjoy your living quarters, designate a spot for an office.

In this case, be mindful of working in areas that are used for relaxing. If the couch is where you Netflix and chill, your brain will naturally want to slip into that mode if you try to work from there. Instead, create a dedicated space with a nice chair, desk, good lighting, and the right vibe to be able to focus on your work.

For digital nomads on the move, you may not be able to set up a home office unless you enjoy mid-term stays in cities, where you have a home base. Co-living spaces are a great way to get condo-like environments at a more affordable rate.

You can also find co-working spaces now in most cities, and they’re also a great way to meet other digital nomads. Just remember to bring along essential items for focus like noise-cancelling headphones.

2. Coordinate, communicate, collaborate

With the proliferation of remote workers and digital nomads in the workforce, tech companies have taken action to do their part to encourage an increase in productivity. We’ve seen a multitude of powerful communication and collaboration tools specifically built for remote teams and those working in co-working spaces.

From file sharing to project management to video chat platforms, it’s never been easier for remote workers to stay organized and connected with teammates, bosses, or clients. As a fully remote company, the Anyplace team uses a variety of tools, apps and services to be productive on a daily basis—Slack, Zoom, Airtable, Asana, and many others. In a future post, we’ll shed some light on the ones we use and how they work for us.

3. Plan regular meetings, but not too many

Set up regular meetings to connect with your team during the week, but not too many that end up hindering your workflow. A short weekly meeting is a simple way to stay in the loop on any new info you may have missed (especially important when employees work in different time zones), and to sync on the top priorities for your team.

Regular check-ins are also a great way for teammates to be able to share wins and progress on projects, which can help to lift overall morale—think of it as a virtual high five. Whenever possible, use video on your calls to evoke a more personal connection, since you may not see teammates regularly.

Note: Honestly, I used to not be a huge fan of video on calls, but I have to admit, I’ve come around full circle. It ends up bringing a warm quality to a business activity that is colder with only audio, as it becomes more like talking to a friend across the table.

Don’t think that you have to dress to impress on these video chats, either. We never do. Just be in a place without a ton of distractions or noise.

4. Slay those distractions

If you’re new to the remote work scene, it might feel a little too easy to get distracted when working from home or travelling around on your maiden voyage as a digital nomad.

Whether it’s your incredible balcony view at the co-living space in Singapore, the dirty clothes that have been sitting on the floor for a week, your chinchilla Stuart, or today’s New York Times crossword puzzle (my vice), distractions are a-plenty and beckon for your attention.

The first step in evading distractions is to be aware of them. If you can’t resist lounging on the balcony, don’t do your work there. If the crossword puzzle on the table is calling your name, put it in your backpack and out of your line of sight. If the laundry pile is screaming “wash me”, figure out a time to address it, either on a break or before/after work. Slay those distractions and you’ll be way more productive.

5. Get physical

Olivia Newton-John was onto something—getting physical is good for productivity, although it certainly doesn’t need to be jazzercise. Exercise is invigorating to both the body and mind. It increases blood flow to the brain, which can help sharpen awareness and make you more ready to tackle your next big project. So, take regular breaks and do something physical!

Hit the gym for 45 minutes of cardio. Go to a yoga class. Take a walk around the block and listen to your favourite podcast. Or, do some jumping jacks in your co-living space. Whatever activity you choose, use it as a way to recenter and return to your work area with renewed energy and focus. After all, mental health goes hand in hand with physical health.

6. Sunny D (the vitamin, not the drink)

If you’re working from home, an apartment, a hotel room or even a coworking space, you might be holed up inside the entire day. There could even be times when you don’t even leave your place for a few days. This is no good, my friends! Not only are sunlight and fresh air crucial to your health, but they’ll help clear your mind and motivate you. Taking a walk might even help you increase productivity as you get inspiration from somewhere other than your remote work environment too.

Being stuck in front of a screen all day—particularly if you’re handling a difficult task—is actually detrimental to your productivity. So, carve out a little time each day to go outside. Sit on a bench, take a stroll (see tip #5), read a book in the park—whatever your surroundings allow, do it.

7. Design your optimal workday

One of the substantial benefits of working remotely is the freedom to design your ideal workday. Let’s not forget that remote productivity does come in all shapes and sizes. As long as your employer is on board with a little flexibility, you can determine the hours when you are most productive and do your best work, and create a schedule to match that. Some folks feel more at focus early in the morning.

Others, are night owls and do their best work later in the evening. It’s important to make yourself available during core business hours for important meetings and calls (see tip #3), and then experiment with working hours throughout the rest of the day to maximize productivity.

This process can become more complicated if you decide to travel halfway across the world from your team, but if that’s the case, sort out your schedule changes beforehand. Working remote gives you the freedom to be anyplace, but being able to adapt is part of the game.

8. Switch up your venue

Sometimes a simple change of scenery can give your creativity and energy levels a much-needed jolt. Even switching it up one day a week can spur productivity. Try working from a lively coffee shop one week and a coworking space the week after that. Of course, be conscious of potential distractions (tip #4), but test a few locations to see how they impact your mood and productivity.

To be fair, there isn’t a secret formula when it comes to productivity for remote workers or digital nomads, but these 8 tips should help you get on the right track and squeeze out as much productive work time as you can. More so than anything else, treat your remote workday with the same respect and structure that you would a day in the office, and you’ll set yourself up for success. Now, let’s get to work!

Anyplace provides flexible-term housing all over the world, from co-living spaces to furnished apartments to extended-stay hotels. Easily book online and move in—and out—on your schedule. Take a look at the Anyplace Blog for all things related to remote work, travel, and the digital nomad lifestyle.

Written by Riley Heng, Head of Marketing at MetroResidences

Productivity lessons can come from anywhere.

Fun fact: Every employee at MetroResidences is required to tag along with the housekeeping and partake in housekeeping duties as part of our staff orientation—no matter if you have a business degree from Harvard Business School or not. This is one productivity class you don’t really get anywhere else.

Why do we do that?

Reason 1 – With our housekeeping team travelling to various apartments in a day, it’s a great way for a new team member to learn more about the apartments managed by us.

Reason 2 – Housekeeping is not an easy job, and this is when we find out how our housekeeping heros are nailing every cleaning assignment.

The apartment that you have stayed in/are staying in may have been cleaned by someone who’s managing the website you see today! Anyway, I embarked on my housekeeping duties during my first week with the company. Here are my 3 biggest productivity lessons from the team.

Lesson 1: Importance of creating a routine

Routine planning is not just a thing for kids. You can supercharge your personal productivity with a clear routine, day in, day out.

The team manages the cleaning of different serviced apartments in multiple locations every day, and they will not be able to complete their work for the day without excellent time management skills. It all boils down to creating a routine while working with the differences in a day’s work.

Preparation for the day’s work starts the evening before when the team lead details the following day’s cleaning schedule, which includes the duration each team should spend in every apartment. The next morning, the team goes through this schedule, prepares the linen and cleaning items required and we head over to the first stop at 9 am. Everyone gets on with their tasks at the apartment and I too, made myself useful, helping out with the vacuuming and changing of linen. Two apartments later, I got into the rhythm of things and we established a sequence of tasks in every apartment. It took a team of three approximately 15 minutes to complete the cleaning of an entire apartment. By 5:30 pm, all cleaning work was done and we were ready to head back to the office.

A routine tends to work well when one has a higher level of awareness in the time taken to complete an activity. This is why despite having to manage varying travelling duration and traffic condition, the team still manages to complete their work on time.

Lesson 2: Accept changes and setbacks with grace

Cleaning schedules are planned to optimise time while causing minimal disruption to every guests’ lifestyle.

On Day 2 of cleaning, we were about to enter an apartment for the scheduled cleaning but was told to come back later in the evening as the guests were still resting. This would have disrupted the day’s schedule and the team may likely have to work overtime to accommodate this change. Everyone wasted no time in lamenting about the changes and instead, quickly got into a discussion to reshuffle the day’s work and rework the day’s route to maximise time. At the end of the day, we avoided a dip in productivity. We returned to this apartment at 5:45pm and completed the cleaning at 6pm!

Lesson 3: Assume responsibilities and take initiatives

Our serviced apartments come in different sizes and that means that we may complete our task faster than the others. However, I noticed that no one waits around while the others work, or works slower to be on the same pace as others. The fastest member assists the rest or finds ways to make the task more convenient for the others so the team would finish the cleaning in the shortest possible time.

Structurally, housekeeping duties are not too different from our day-to-day work in the office. Here are some ways that I have implemented those lessons into my work:

• List out the list of pending tasks each day, prioritise them and allocate the time I should spend on each activity. This also comes in handy when a last-minute work comes in and I could clearly review my schedule and pick a less urgent task to replace the work with.
• When this schedule didn’t work out for a day, review it again and improve it for the next day.  
• When setbacks happen, take a deep breath and focus on the task, not the emotions.  
• Have a clear idea of your key responsibilities, write them down if you have to.
• Never stop asking “how can I help to make things better?”; a stronger team means higher efficiency.

Highly efficient people or teams are not powered by magic. We’re living in a world where working smart matters and it’s about finding and incorporating the right habits into our life and work. Only then you can optimise and maintain productivity levels, year after year.

This is year 3. The WHO has declared the end of the pandemic. 3 years on, the benefits of continuing remote work couldn’t be clearer, even in a small nation like Singapore. 86% of their respondents say remote work made them happier and more motivated, 84% say they saved money through hybrid work in 2022, and 74% reported improved family relationships after switching to remote work. But can remote work in Singapore stay? Are we really ready to head back to the office? Will remote work in Singapore survive the pandemic? 

Table of Contents

• • The State of Remote Work in Singapore
  • Remote Work Across the World
  • Hitting a Grind: Challenges to Remote Work in Singapore
  • 3 Reasons Why Remote Work in Singapore Needs to Happen
    • 1. Singaporean companies can be more competitive with talent acquisition and rentention
    • 2. Singaporean companies get to be more environmentally sustainable
    • 3. Singaporean companies can achieve more cost savings
  • Hybrid Work is Just Work
  • MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments—Your Home Base for Travels Beyond

The State of Remote Work in Singapore

Ah, remember when hotels were offering their hotel rooms for remote work? Remember when you worked in your own home or Singapore serviced apartments? And then you could just cook up a storm in your fully-equipped kitchen whenever you want to? 

Professionals in Singapore welcomed the remote work experience early on in the pandemic. In a survey of 110 professionals by Robert Walters, 7 of 9 professionals in Singapore were satisfied with their remote work arrangements then. 7 out of 10 reported increased productivity at home or in their living spaces. Today,  Cisco reported that Singapore remains one of the places where companies are least in favour of working in the traditional office full time. 66% of respondents said a flexible work schedule was the most important.

Even then, the signs aren’t looking good for working remotely in Singapore. Looks like the new normal will not hold, despite Singapore being previously hailed as a champion of hybrid work in the Asia Pacific. (So long, Work-Live Housing of the future.)

 The Ministry of Manpower reported that the number of job vacancies that offer remote work opportunities dropped from 31% in 2021 to 21% in 2022. And employees are feeling the chill: only 19.4% of respondents in the Cisco report feel their employers are ‘very prepared’ for a hybrid working future. 

Remote Work Across the World

Singapore is an outlier when it comes to embracing remote work. According to a survey by Okta, 45% of employers in the EU allow up to 3 days of remote work in a week. Most companies adopt the office-first hybrid, where the organisation decides when teams and employees can work remotely. And even then, they consider remote employees as typically more productive than their in-office counterparts.

The winds of change are sweeping across the EU, and the Netherlands is taking the lead in giving workers the ultimate freedom: the right to work from home! It’s no longer just a perk—remote work is now a legal entitlement for the Dutch.

The rest of Europe is following suit, enshrining remote work into law, while ensuring equal protection and compensation for remote workers. You can see the same in the Philippines, where the law states that ‘Telecommuting employees should be treated fairly and afforded the same treatment as employees who work at the regular workplace.’

Elsewhere, Australia passed a law that requires employers to meet with employees to discuss flexible work arrangements in December 2022. The law requires employers to try and execute flexible working arrangements. If both the employer and the employee cannot reach an agreement, the employer is required to provide a written explanation to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) within 21 days of receiving the employee’s request. Employees will be allowed to apply to the FWC to challenge an employer’s refusal or failure to respond to a flexible work arrangement request, where the FWC will arbitrate and conciliate.

Hitting a Grind: Challenges to Remote Work in Singapore

The state of remote work in Singapore remains relatively nascent. Despite calls for a hassle-free hybrid work culture, many companies are only still adapting to the shift toward remote work. After all, many renters are still looking for spacious homes when they’re looking for Singapore condo rentals or a room for rent.

So far, there is only some expression that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ‘expects work-from-home arrangements to become a more mainstream option‘, and that they will not rush into hasty legislation that infringes workplace flexibility and hampers economic recovery.

Furthermore, remote workers in Singapore can only negotiate flexible work arrangements with their employers, unless they’re lucky enough to work for an organisation that has remote work as part of their company policy. Not only that, there is no legislation in Singapore that obliges the employer to provide office equipment and supplies, even as some countries require employers to pay for office equipment and supplies for remote workers.

All that doesn’t bode well with fostering a well-established culture and infrastructure for working remotely in Singapore, which can lead to communication and collaboration difficulties. Additionally, a considerable amount of employers feel that remote work may hinder innovation and creativity, as face-to-face interactions can foster better collaboration and brainstorming. After all, there’s only so much collaboration if you’re just in your own living room.

That also feeds into professionals in Singapore feeling that employee support and HR policies and processes were the areas of least preparedness for the hybrid work environment in Singapore. In fact, it’s common for some remote workers in Singapore often feel that they’re less likely to get promoted and see more career growth.

3 Reasons Why Remote Work in Singapore Needs to Happen

As we move past the pandemic, it’s easy to get back to old habits. But remote work is increasingly seen as a right across the EU and the world, what with all the benefits it can provide. Still, major employers in Singapore have yet to announce their preference for remote work; only Western tech companies are more welcome to the idea.

1. Singaporean companies can be more competitive with talent acquisition and rentention

But the old normal may not hold for long. Singaporean companies may soon have to contend with a more competitive talent landscape. By offering remote work or flexible work arrangements, Singaporean companies can get a competitive edge in not only attracting top talents, but retaining them too. Sure, younger generations tend to prioritise work-life balance and flexibility. But the rest of the population is catching up too: 4 in 10 Singapore workers would give up bigger bonuses for remote working.

2. Singaporean companies get to be more environmentally sustainable

But beyond that, remote work can help companies be more sustainable in the long term with their operations. After all, physical office spaces require significant energy consumption for cooling, lighting, and other operations. By reducing the need for office space, remote work can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainable energy use. Plus, remote work also means reduced paper and plastic waste from office supplies with the help of digital tools. That all amounts to a significant reduction of office expenses.

3. Singaporean companies can achieve more cost savings

Ah, remember when hotels were offering their hotel rooms for remote work? Remember when you worked in your own home or Singapore serviced apartments? And then you could just cook up a storm in your fully-equipped kitchen whenever you want to? 

Professionals in Singapore welcomed the remote work experience early on in the pandemic. In a survey of 110 professionals by Robert Walters, 7 of 9 professionals in Singapore were satisfied with their remote work arrangements then. 7 out of 10 reported increased productivity at home or in their living spaces. Today,  Cisco reported that Singapore remains one of the places where companies are least in favour of working in the traditional office full time. 66% of respondents said a flexible work schedule was the most important.

Even then, the signs aren’t looking good for working remotely in Singapore. Looks like the new normal will not hold, despite Singapore being previously hailed as a champion of hybrid work in the Asia Pacific. (So long, Work-Live Housing of the future.)

 The Ministry of Manpower reported that the number of job vacancies that offer remote work opportunities dropped from 31% in 2021 to 21% in 2022. And employees are feeling the chill: only 19.4% of respondents in the Cisco report feel their employers are ‘very prepared’ for a hybrid working future. 

Hybrid Work is Just Work

This bears repeating: hybrid work is just work. Both the government and the private sector should work together to ensure that remote work is supported and integrated into the broader workforce culture. Organisation leaders should learn how to balance employee interests with the success of the organisation by trusting remote workers and their remote teams with clear remote work policies and maintaining a close-knit team culture. Perhaps companies could foster a more fulfilling hybrid work environment by converting some of their office working spaces into shared spaces, where people can come together and get to know each other. Of course, companies should also invest in remote tech, collaboration tools, and better cybersecurity infrastructure for their digital tools as well.

Meanwhile, the government could pass legislation supporting and protecting equal treatment between remote workers and on-site workers. By embracing remote work and fostering a culture that supports it, companies and the government can create a more flexible, sustainable, and productive workforce for the future.

About the Writer: Benedict Lim

As the resident punmaker, Benedict is really bad at making people laugh. They’re much better at diving into the nuances of the things they write about.

MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments—Your Home Base for Travels Beyond

Looking for your home away from home? Our Singapore apartment rentals and serviced apartments are perfect for a longer period of stay. We have properties in luxury developments across Singapore’s most coveted addresses: Bugis, Bukit Timah, Shenton Way, and Novena.

And, you can rest easy at any of our properties. We adhere to our strict Property Standards that account for the comfort and cleanliness of all our serviced apartments. Our fully-furnished apartments come with amenities like wi-fi, air conditioners, and a fully-equipped kitchen.

This remote work from home thing is like chewing on a pound-large bar of Snickers. Diabetic euphoria in the beginning but your jaw muscles are fatigued from all the chewing and the sweetness gets a little sickening towards the end.

If all goes well, we should be able to regain some sense of normalcy with our work in a few weeks. Who knew we would miss the ASMR noisy keyboards, the cold battle among colleagues for the air conditioner remote control, and face to face meetings?

You’re not the only one who misses the office – more companies and teams are reporting their team members burning out as a result of blurred lines between work and play and the repeated “can you hear me’s?” at the beginning of every video conferencing call.

However, it looks like working from home will be the new norm, as we prepare for phase 1 of post Circuit Breaker; some handy tips on how you can avoid burning out by balancing day to day routines at home would be great, wont it?

Before the spread of Covid-19 and the circuit breaker, we’ve never really noticed the different areas we had for different activities. We worked at our desks in the office or dined at our favourite restaurants, cafes. 

As a result, many of us are ironically burning out from work at home. There is a possibility of more lockdowns or circuit breakers as the virus is expected to rise and come in waves, here are a few areas to set up at home and how to best utilize them. Your apartment is more than just four walls.

The Exercise Station

Like a polishing stone to a dull knife, exercise does more than just keeping that tummy in. Especially aboard spaceship ‘you’, your mind has to be kept focused and sharp so to emerge from this pandemic better than your previous self.

Only a small space is required for regular exercise. As there’s no need to sculpt your body into Chris Hemsworths’ – just a small space to do push ups, sit ups or even jumping jacks – anything to break a little sweat.

This space could be your balcony, or if you don’t have one, in a spacious area such as the living room floor. Set up a routine (I usually like to do it right before my morning shower) and stick to it!

With a routine and a dedicated space for exercise, you’ll find yourself much more motivated to do your body weight exercises easily and frequently.

The No-Sleep Pod

The next thing I look forward to daily, after breakfast.

In my days as a college student, my room was a cave – my cave. I ate, slept, exercised and did my homework in a 2m x 2m bedroom. 

However, I found myself unable to fall asleep and had to poke at my phone until 2am. Back then, I didn’t know that it was because my mind wasn’t able to switch between ‘on’ and ‘off’. Now that I’ve learnt this secret, I keep my bedroom pure and free from other activities – only for sleeping and naps.

As a result, my room is much cleaner (spend less time in the bedroom) and smells only of fabric (from no eating/drinking).

I’ve found myself falling asleep within just minutes! Pro tip, if you sleep in an air conditioned room, keep the temperature down to 15 to 19 degrees celsius to get the best benefits from sleep. It’s backed by science!

The Chilling Corner

Ah, the couch.

The timeless and multipurpose feature in households since the 19th century.

You snack on it, you play games on it, browse your phone on it. The possibilities are endless! Yet if wielded improperly, the Couch will morph into a black hole that will suck you into an abyss of unproductiveness.

If we do not respect the sanctity of the Couch, such as taking work calls on it, or using it as an exercise bench, you’ll find yourself unable to unwind and relax when it’s really time to do so.

You won’t feel it initially, but will eventually find yourself restless and tense whenever you are lounging in the living room. You don’t want that!

The Place to Create

Probably the newest addition to spaceship ‘You’, the home office or your creation station requires some getting used to. Once only exclusive to your desk at the office, now a benign tumour in your home.

At the beginning, I’m pretty sure you weren’t productive at home. You’re at work yet… at home. You’re not alone though.

To keep this tumour from spreading across your home, you need to confine it to a desk, an area or a room. With a fixed location, this gives you the chance to ‘escape’ the confines of that specific area whenever you need a break. By assigning a work station, this keeps you productive whenever you’re in ‘work mode’.

That’s it folks. Just 4 different areas for 4 different activities. It may be difficult in the beginning especially if you’re living with a partner or housemates where space is limited. But the principles should apply. Technically, one could separate a 2m by 2m room into 4 parts too.

If space is an issue, why not get more?

Serviced apartments and residences are the perfect work/home alternative. Usually furnished amenities like wi-fi, air-conditioners, fully equipped kitchens, these residences are homes away from home. 

Especially if you are returning to Singapore and in need for a home to set up your Temples as you serve out your stay-home notice, a fully furnished serviced apartment would actually be a good option!

There is enough space for work, play, rest and exercise! All the space you need to go through this circuit breaker season.

Co-working spaces have been springing up all over the world, designed to connect digital nomads and lifestyle entrepreneurs in nomad hotspots like Singapore. As an entrepreneur, having the flexibility to work in an environment which best fits your style is a huge plus. But then comes the question – where?

Usually located in the heart of town, co-working spaces are an entrepreneur haven. There are social networks from all over the world to be tapped into, flexibility to change your ‘office’ whenever you want, and even chill-out areas with foosball. 

Add in hot-desking, a fully stocked pantry (we heard that some spaces even have beer on tap!), and fast internet connection, digital nomads are all set up to easily drop in a co-working space and dive right into the action – for a price of course.

It’s easy to get lost in the hype of endless networking opportunities and the ever-changing environment in a co-working space. With an open desk concept, it can be hard to get some ‘quiet time’ in a co-working space. Private rooms are available, but usually at an additional cost to the already hefty monthly lease. 

With all these in mind, a co-working space as an office space might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

Skip to read about:
1. Determining your needs
2. Choosing the right area
3. Set boundaries between living and working
4. Get that light just nice
5. Keep it neat!

So why not set up a working space right here in your own home?

Easily create a workspace where you can run free with all your biggest ideas and aspirations. Home-based working spaces in Singapore aren’t unheard of. With an office right here in your home, you don’t need to spend more on a hot-desk at a co-working space or find a café with good Internet to work from. 

Bid goodbye to traffic jams and train breakdowns because it’ll only take you 10 minutes to roll out of bed and log into work.

When you’re feeling a bit lonely after spending the whole day staring at the computer, there are plenty of events in the digital nomad community. Co-working spaces aren’t the only places for weekly social hangs – online communities like Meetup and Couchsurfing are also great places to find other like-minded people to hang out with.

Setting up a working space in your house or apartment isn’t as complicated as you might think it to be. Here are some tips to get you started on your very own home office!

1. Determine your needs

The key for a productive workplace is establishing what you need to keep you focused at work. Make a list of “critical needs” to better plan your home office. For graphic designers, this might mean more desk space for a Wacom tablet; consultants might need some file cabinets.

If you’re a digital nomad who works remotely, you’ll also need to consider a setup portable enough to easily pick up and move on to your next destination. It’ll also come in handy for those days you’re sick of staying home and decide to work from the beach for the day (cause, who doesn’t?!).

2. Choose an area for a dedicated workspace

When picking a house to rent, use the predetermined list of critical needs to get a better idea of how much space you need for the office. If you’re living with a partner, family, or roommate, think about a spare room that’ll give you the privacy and quiet you need to work from. 

There are plenty of online sites like MetroResidences with various housing options, like studio apartments or condos with more rooms for bigger families. Most of the apartments come fully furnished, and you should be comfortable with the look and feel of the house as you’ll be spending a lot of time there.

Here are some apartments with great rooms to start you off with:

Elysee Studio

Here’s an apartment, while near City Hall, is also smack in the middle of the Central Business District (CBD). This unit is flooded by beautiful natural light. Great for any home office!

Hilltop Verdant 1br

Another chic apartment, another great location. This unit is centrally located in between Dhoby Ghaut and Little India. Keep your home office somewhere close to everthing you need.

Pello De Suites

Don’t need anything too fancy? This quaint apartment has everything you need in a home within reach. Fit your office into a modular home and keep it minimal.

Sky Perch Co-Living

Why not a co-living option? Get the best of a shared space when you set up a working space in this apartment. With a spacious living area and private room, you can choose what suits your working style.

It can be hard to get a feel of a house from just photos, so to help you out, MetroResidences has a function that allows you to take a 360 tour of the house! Things to look out for might include the color of the walls, available desks and storage cupboards and the amount of natural lighting. 

Sometimes working tables face the wall – are you okay with staring at a wall all day long, every day?

3. Set boundaries between your living and working spaces

Ideally, you’d want your working and sleeping spaces separate so that you can switch off from work for a healthy work-life balance. If you’ve already settled into a studio apartment and don’t plan on moving, you can always rearrange your living area. 

Create a working space within a room by dividing it up with a curtain or folding screen to block distractions like the TV. Ensure that the rest of the room is kept neat if you have regular video calls – you don’t want your clients getting a glimpse of dirty underwear or unwashed dishes from last night! 

Another concern when you’re working from home – when do you exactly get off work? The hours seem to pass by even faster when you’re at home. We would suggest setting aside strict working hours and knowing when to call it a day. Put a clock in a visible location and keep those work hours in check! 

4. Make sure your working space is brightly lit

A dark room will make you feel sleepy, which can decrease productivity. An area next to a window that allows plenty of natural light to come in is great. If not, consider getting a desk lamp as a temporary solution for your work area.

5. Keep your workspace neat and clutter-free

Decorating your workspace is a personal choice, but don’t display everything on your table. Not only will you waste time looking for misplaced items if there’s too much clutter on the desk, you might even get distracted by simple things like travel photos from your trip to Bali. Place potted plants for some greenery, and manage your cables so they don’t get tangled up.

Some people might want to save space and use the bed as a chair, placing the work desk next to it. Again, this might encourage you to relax as the bed is associated with sleeping. Invest in a proper ergonomic chair that is comfortable and good for your posture. Or get a chair cushion for added support. Your back will thank you!

Just like how co-working spaces in Singapore might not be for everyone, setting up a home office might seem boring and isolating to others. Each has its pros and cons, and it might take a little trial and error before finding out what works for you. 

Once you get used to working and sleeping in the same location, you’ll find that a workspace at home gives you even more flexibility in your schedule and frees up your time that you would have wasted on small talk and travelling to a co-working space. 

If you’re still unsure, just ask yourself this question: will a home office or a co-working space allow you to be the most creative and productive?

This article has been recently updated. Check it out to see cool new content!

Business trips come in many forms. Mostly unexpected; they can vary from short weekly stints in neighbouring countries to long year on year major assignments across the globe! The worst part of having to make a business trip, is planning it.

Short trips are pretty straight forward. The length of time you are required for doesn’t warrant much logistics or living/working resources. The tricky ones are those mid to long term business trips. 

How long is long enough for you to look into booking an apartment rather than a hotel room?
Is 30 days to 90 days long enough?
Do you need a working visa? Is that even a thing, where you’re going?
Where’s your office going to be?
Would you be working from home (wherever that may be)?
What to prepare for a long term business trip?

If you’re leaving soon, here’s something to calm those nerves. Before you start making a list of items to bring like business cards, pyjamas and a toothbrush, there are only three things you need to work out before heading over. Three main things that will have you ready to do your job once you arrive.

Get that pen and paper out – cause here we go!

Paperwork

First on our list is really quite important. Most of the time, your relocation manager or human resources department might get this done for you. Just in case they overlook this or don’t know anything about it, you need to look into applying for the right work pass(es), permit(s) and/or visa(s).

Different countries offer different types of visas to foreigners coming in. When you’re going to work in another country, working visas or work permits are something that you should be applying for. 

For instance, if you’re planning to work in Singapore, there are a few options to consider – depending on the job you do and how long you intend to do it before your visit to Singapore. Here are the different options with a brief outline of the respective eligibility criteria. Head to Rikvin.com for a more detailed breakdown.

Employment Pass:
Professionals, Managers, Executives, etc.
Earning at least $3,600

Entrepreneur Pass (EntrePass): 
Foreigners looking to set up a business in Singapore
Registered Company in Singapore

Personalised Employment Pass (PEP):
Professionals, Managers, Executives, etc.
Last drawn monthly salary at least $18,000

S Pass:
Mid-level Skilled workers
Fixed monthly salary of at least $2,300

Information drawn from Rikvin.com

I’ve placed this as number 1 on our list because, quite frankly, you won’t be able to do anything if you don’t get this out of the way before any number of business trips to Singapore. Getting your work papers might also be a lengthy process so it’s best to get started as soon as you can

Accommodation

Next up; where are you going to stay? The main problem with mid-long terms stays is deciding on the best options that suit this ‘neither here nor there’ situation. It’s rather straight forward for short stays; get an airbnb or hotel that will easily serve that couple of weeks or brief 2 months. 

Check this out: Top 3 Serviced Apartments to check out in the CBD

With mid-long stays, it matters that you choose an accommodation option which allows you to live, work and play. Hotels can be rather rigid in payment structures and living needs. Airbnb’s are in it for the quick turnarounds so you might not easily find what you need. 

Thankfully there is an industry catered for this exact need. It’s serviced apartments. Imagine the security and comfort of hotels, coupled with the indulgence and necessities of daily living. That beautiful picture you have in your head; it’s a serviced residence. 

What about this?: Office in the West? Here are our top 3 serviced apartment picks for you!

(You can even find cheap serviced apartments if you know where to look.)

The great thing about these types of apartments are the designated living components. Take this serviced apartment, for example, the floor to ceiling glass windows allow a glorious amount of sunlight to bathe you as you relax and watch the television. Such fully furnished living rooms make it a pleasure to come home and wind down after a long day. 

Another example would be fully serviced kitchens. As a means to keep a strap on your cash (also to stretch at overseas allowance) and to remind yourself of the comforting cuisine of home, having a kitchen to cook in, is essential. Business trips disrupt lives, let’s face it. So it’s important to bring along whatever we can from our lives back home. 

Cooking is a great way to do that. Imagine cooking up a pot of Grandma Nancy’s famous chicken soup in this fully serviced kitchen. Here’s a guide on how to choose the perfect apartment for your needs.

Read more:
Pet ready Serviced Apartments
5 awesome corporate apartments you will fall in love with
Top 3 Eastern-Singapore Serviced Apartment Picks

Conducive Workplace

With a place to rest your head and put up your feet, out of the way, the next thing on your list should be finding a conducive workplace. Now, I know that most of you who are coming over on a business trip would already have an office to report to or work in. 

But this goes out to all you digital nomads, lifestyle entrepreneurs and expats – who feel like they have been shipped overseas and abandoned by their own company. It goes without saying that having a proper place to do your work is rather important.

Understandably, accommodation costs take up a large portion of the budget when corporates travel for business trips. A cheaper option to renting an office would be to check out co-working spaces. Essentially, these spaces are a shared working habitat that offer communal meeting rooms, work tables, private booths and a range of other services. 

A great platform to find co-working spaces is FlySpaces. This service empowers businesses as a digital marketplace that provides short term work and meeting space solutions to entrepreneurs, start-ups, SMEs and mobile professionals. 

Whether the need is for an hour, a day, a week or a few months – they have a network of hundreds of spaces to discover across key South-East Asian cities. The office spaces provided on their platform are modern, fully equipped and functional, making it conducive for working.

Now you know

Now that you know the three most important things to consider when planning for a business trip, you can take a breather. Once you settle the paperwork, your accommodation and a conducive place to work, everything else will slowly fall into place.

For those digital nomads who are a little more adventurous, you could even try co-living. Similar to the concept of co-working, it involves communal spaces and shared living. What more, many co-living spaces come with an area from where you could work from. Talk about killing two birds with one stone!

If you’re interested, check out this great co-living space. It could be your first step in redefining modern-day business trips.

Moving into a shared living space can be a big step. However, with the right mindset and approach, it can be a life-changing experience. Continue reading our ultimate guide to learn more about how you can get the best out of your co-living experience! 

Stay social 

This is the most important thing to keep in mind. If you want to make friendships and lasting bonds with your roommates, you need to make an effort and start getting involved. Try your best to organize social events, like movie nights, and dinners out.

Every time your roommates invite you to something, do your best to tag along. The only way you will get a positive experience out of co-living in Singapore is if you go the extra mile to bond with everyone.

This is the only way that you will make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. If you need more ideas, check out these 7 Singapore co-living bonding ideas!

Tips, tricks, and etiquette 

To keep a positive shared space you’ll need to be a good roommate. Nothing can turn a budding friendship sour if you break any of the unspoken co-living rules.

Below, are a few tips and tricks to keep on top of your etiquette game and get the best out of your co-living experience long-term! 

• Be tidy: This is the number one rule. Always clean up after yourself, no matter if it’s in the kitchen, bathroom, or living room. No one wants to live with a messy person. Your bad hygiene habits could quickly ruin the community atmosphere in your shared home.

• Be respectful: You need to be considerate towards your roommates, this means keeping the volume down past a certain hour. For instance, if your roommate has an exam the next morning, don’t bring friends around for a party the night before!Common spaces are all about respect, and if you want to have a positive home, you need to follow this golden rule.

• Be honest: If you have any problems or questions, it’s important to talk to your roommates about it. A healthy and happy co-living environment is all about communication. It may be difficult at first to speak up about any issues, but it will benefit the entire home in the long run.

• Cleaning duties: Try and get this sorted and out of the way as soon as possible. Shared communal spaces need to be cleaned regularly. You can organize a roster where everyone takes turns.
  
  If everyone doesn’t have time, invest in housekeeping services. If the cost is split between a large group of people it actually won’t cost much, and it means that the burden won’t fall unfairly on one person. 

If you need a proper read on co-living behaviour, here’s an article on how to becoming a better co-living neighbour.

Take a time out

Communal living is a lot of fun! However, spending time with people 24/7 can often get exhausting. Make sure you put aside time for yourself to recharge and relax. This may mean spending some time in your room or saying no to social activities.

If your roommates are worried about you missing out, just say you’re tired and need some time to unwind. They’ll understand, and it will be a great way to get your energy back for the next social event!

Co-working space

If you have a large living area or spare rooms, make sure everyone works out the distribution of surplus space. A good idea is to turn extra room into a co-working area.

If everyone is studying and working, it could be a great idea to have a large table in the living room that everyone can use to get their work done. This is also a good option for digital nomads, who may be working from home full-time.

Perhaps, you can even set up specific times during the day where everyone can study and work together. This is a great way to create a vibrant working and co-living space that’s inclusive for everyone!

Keep Communicating

When you’re residing in shared living communities, your roommates are like your family. This is why you need to communicate effectively. This is important for building relationships but also promoting safety.

For instance, if you’re a digital nomad and always on the move, you need to tell your roommates when you won’t be around. You don’t want people to be worried about you, so you need to keep everyone updated on your day-to-day activities and movements. 

Make sure you do the same for your roommates, so you can all look out for each other! 

Choose carefully

This is probably the most important piece of information you need to understand. When it comes to shared accommodation you need to find a group of like-minded people.

Some co-living spaces are party houses while others are for working professionals. It’s essential to find a community that suits your lifestyle and needs. 

This is why it’s great to get in touch with a real estate agent or community manager that can connect you with the perfect co-living home! 

Is sharing truly caring?

Co-living is all about sharing, right? Actually, it’s a little more complicated than that. From the first moment you move in, it’s important to discuss what the house dynamics will be like. For instance, is everyone going to put in money for groceries?

Will you cook home meals to share? Every person is different and will want different things. This is why it’s essential to work out the nuts and bolts of the co-living arrangement and sharing economy first. If you’re not sharing the essentials, make sure you respect every one else’s things.

On the other hand, if everyone is sharing, do your best to be part of the team. If you’re a polite and respectful roommate, you’ll have a greater chance at building lifelong friendships with your roommates. 

It’s important to understand the flow under one roof but there are just something you don’t do. Here’s a list of co-living no-nos.

Overall, the more you live with other people the better you’ll get at co-living. It can take some time to get adjusted, so just be patient, understand co-living etiquette and put in the effort to make it a seamless and positive transition. If you play your cards right, co-living can be an incredible and life-changing experience 

Want to explore shared apartment spaces? Check out the links below to discover amazing coliving spaces in the heart of Singapore!

– Auberge Deluxe
– Carlisle Attic With Balcony
– Vista Studio Loft 
– Two Sixty One Penthouse

 This article was written by our friends, over at Wantedly.

Convenience has taken on a whole new meaning for us Singaporeans obsessed with food. I vaguely recall a time when convenience meant microwaveable meals from 7Eleven, and the only food delivery options were either McDonald’s, pizza or Spize with exorbitant delivery fees and hour-long waiting times.

Today, a great deal for our meal is never far away – and I mean this literally. The food delivery scene is now saturated with players big and small, racing to deliver under 30 minutes. Besides food delivery, there are a plethora of food and dining related services to make sure our food obsession never ends. From 1-for-1 deals and cash back rewards, to mobile wallet payments and beating the queue for food, here’s a list of five must-have apps to help you maximise your lunch hour and snag the best deals in Singapore.

MealPal

Photo source: MealPal

If you want to upgrade your lunch meals to restaurant food and avoid queuing in line for your food, MealPal offers a monthly subscription plan for pick-up restaurant meals in CBD, Novena, Buona Vista and Orchard.

For a monthly fee of S$95.88, The Basic Restaurant Plan gives you 12 restaurant meals for $7.99 each. The All-Access plan gives you two additional hawker meals for just $2 more. Whenever you’re up for a lunch upgrade, just make your order before 10.30am and set your pick-up time before heading down.

Watch your colleagues next door munch on their salad and fast food with jealousy; you’re now the kid with the cool lunchbox back in primary school.

Eatsy

Photo source: Eatsy

For the troupers, homegrown tech startup Eatsy allows you and your team to order ahead for takeaway or dine-in meals from selected restaurants. Say goodbye to waiting in line or for the bill. Eatsy’s unique features include a collaborative ordering feature in which your colleagues can add their food orders to an existing one, as well as a bill splitting function where you can choose to go dutch, split the bill equally or even treat the team! A team that eats together, stays together!

Eatsy’s Foodie Group members are also entitled to exclusive privileges and discounts of up to 50% at selected merchants.

honestbee

Photo source: honestbee

From grocery to laundry and food delivery services, honestbee has been buzzing to innovate and bring more convenience to consumers, especially with the recent launch of habitat by honestbee, a first-of-its-kind tech-enabled grocery and dining experience for the senses.

honestbee promises food delivered free from a good selection of merchants – within 30 minutes – with a minimum order spending of $12. When you make payment for your food order with beePay, you can expect to receive up to 5% cashback, collect coins with every successful order and redeem lifestyle rewards.

GrabFood

Photo source: GrabFood

The newest kid on the food delivery block, GrabFood is painting the town green with an ever-increasing selection of restaurants and weekly promotions. Get McDonald’s delivered for only $3, which is less than the McDelivery app. On top of your Grab rides to the office, earn points with every GrabFood order and redeem them for a comprehensive range of lifestyle rewards and vouchers under the Grab Rewards catalogue.

The Entertainer

Photo source: The Entertainer

Grab your favourite lunch kaki and #treatyourself to 1-for-1 dining deals with the ultimate savings app. The Entertainer gives you a wide selection of 1-for-1 deals at nearby restaurants and F&B merchants – even artisanal restaurants that don’t do food delivery.

The Entertainer rewards users with Smiles, which can be exchanged for more discounts – helping you save even more. Now who says you need to wait for pay day to indulge?

“One cannot think well, love well and sleep well if one has not dined well”, they say. But the same goes for your job. Find one that matches your passion with purpose with us: sg.wantedly.com

Wantedly is a social hiring platform that allows talents and companies to meet based on shared mission and values, rather than salary and benefits. Striving to Create a World Where Work Drives Passion, the platform provides opportunities for talents to discover their dream companies, while allowing companies to showcase their brand story and passion projects to build their dream team. 

When it comes to picking the right lodging for them, factors like price, location and suitability must be considered. Here’s why serviced apartments check those boxes.

• Keep a healthy state of mind

Imagine your colleague doing her work in a room. She eats in her room, sleeps and watches TV in this 325 square feet shoe box. Now imagine her having the same routine for 3 months in the same room.

When you take someone away from home and put them within 4 walls to work, you restrict the mind from being able to draw clear distinctions between daily activities. In serviced apartments, you can work and play as it should be.

Serviced apartments not only offer the space for comfortable daily living, but residential style units often come with windows that you can actually open. Fresh air and warm sunlight are essential for good living. But serviced apartments are healthy for the mind too.

Bedrooms for rest, kitchens for cooking and living rooms for living. Your boss/employee will appreciate the care taken to provide them with a space where they can be comfortable. You aren’t just looking for a space they can work from. They need a space to live in.

• Have a get-together

Speaking of needs, the living areas in serviced apartments provide the tenant with the ability to host. A fully equipped kitchen to prepare meals and an area to welcome guests. It’s much easier to greet people with a living space rather than just a room.

Business meetings cum client lunches, you can have them at ‘home’. Keep a healthy social life active and throw small gatherings over at ‘your place’. Being in another country doesn’t mean one has to always rely on others for social outings. Bask in the independence that space provides.

• It’s cheaper

A growing reason to have you looking at a serviced apartment rather than a hotel is the point that it is arguably cheaper for long-term stays.

Keeping to a budget can always make or break a decision. Serviced apartments offer more value for money with regards to the space they provide. If you think about it, with hotels, you are paying a fixed rate for the number of guests. Whereas with apartments you’re also paying for the space and facilities provided.

Sometimes sticking to a budget means skimping and doing away with luxury. With serviced apartments, you won’t have to.

• Add structure to your life

The flexibility offered by serviced apartments allows for more than one employee. During longer stays, some individuals might be less than willing to share a room with a colleague. Serviced apartments offer the option of separate bedrooms.

The accommodating space you find in serviced apartments also allows for little things that make one feel less away from home. Things like washing machines; allowing you to do your own laundry and kitchens; to prepare your own meals.

It’s easy to forget current human needs when making such decisions but your main aim here is to limit the feeling of displacement as much as possible.

• Temporary Home

With serviced apartments, one is essentially getting a space that feels like a home. Working and living from an unfamiliar environment is never easy. So it makes things easier to cope with when you can operate from somewhere you feel comfortable in.

The main aim is always to always care for your employee’s wellbeing by making sure he/she has the right tools and environment to produce efficiently with a healthy state of mind.

So do yourself and everyone else a favour; leave hotels to the tourist and pick that serviced apartment if you mean business.  

As the global market transitions into the next phase, resource managers are having to deal with greater varying talent pools. A recent pattern is the increased number of Millennial expats making their international mark.

But who is the Millennial expat? And how do they differ from the generations of expats before them? MetroResidences finds out.

The Millennial expat is a new growing breed of global anti-nomads. They are able to cross cultural boundaries; both virtually and geographically, thus they are more accepting of changing variables.

Here are a few traits often associated with Millennial expats:

• They enjoy travelling and appreciate community-driven work. The learning of and participation in new customs and practices allows for smoother cultural assimilation and prevent culture shock.
• They see growth as an important factor in life and work. The balance of the two comes as a close second; fair time for work and play. Paired with a willingness to learn, Millennials can be put off by career stagnation.
• They are accustomed to the rapid consumption of data and ephemeral information. This makes them more versatile in accepting change and demanding it.
• They are digitally inclined; fluent with a range of mobile apps and evolving technologies, taking on multiple tasks and remote-working. Often, they are labelled as digital natives and this persona carries its traits to the workforce.

Targeting their willingness and natural capability of easy adaptation, managers should allow for the process to begin as soon as possible. Get your Millennial expats included in workplace culture and customs.

Try assigning them to a secondary role in the L&D department, for example. Allow them to grow into this new community. This way, they learn quicker and connect better with new colleagues.

Since they are new to the country, do offer the support of local guides from time to time. Places to go, what to eat, things to do; such help in building a support network between the expat and company.

The price of apartments has increased. Be sure to conduct thorough market research to source for the best-priced option for your expat. You could even look for a trusted service that does this for you.

Factors to consider when shortlisting the best apartments:

• Housekeeping services
• Apartment maintenance support
• Ease of access to transportation
• Quality neighbourhood with shopping options
• Amenities in the apartment (e.g. gym, pool, reading pod, etc) 

Millennial expats are driven by progress in and out of work. One should look to recommending suitable channels for the upgrading of skills and interests.

Understanding your Millennial’s mindset and work ethic will make it easier for you to plot a current career growth projection for them.

Organise frequent team bonding or simple dinners with the expats to create opportunities for interaction outside of the work environment.

Work closely with the leaders in your company and seek out possibilities to attach mentors to the younger Millennials. This way, both generation’s employees will be able to teach and learn from each other. Killing two birds with one stone to the benefit of office progression!

With Millennials keeping pace with the latest trends, do keep a lookout for new happenings. Then, try to incorporate it into the office. For example, the latest cafe in the district or a trendy new themed bar.

Bear in mind that this should extend to trends of your expats’ country of origin. Most of the time, they are still connected to friends and family back home. Make them feel heartened by reconnecting them with the latest goings-on back home.

Expat Millennials thrive in a culture of much change and constant progression. Thus, it is wise for HR managers to encourage evolving questioning of current workplace structures and cultures. They feel valued when the office environment is open to new and fresh methodologies.

Work with them as they work for you.  

Look to possibilities of remote-working. Due to their lifestyle, many expats find themselves having to constantly move from point to point. Be open to the option of allowing them to work remotely. Suggest ways and tools to help this out. Video-call apps and cloud-based software could make these things easier.

A rigid system never bodes well with Millennials so always remember to hear them out and discuss future courses of action before it affects their performance.

It’s all about being adaptable and flexible in this current day and age. Millennials are strong believers in changing and trying new structures and methodologies to better improve productivity. Always be open to suggestions and always let them know you hear them.

A hug or two won’t hurt from time to time but to be safe, let’s keep that figurative.