Free course playbook
Free takeaway: Remote work routine and communication planner
Remote Work · 8 worksheets, one for each lesson
Print this playbook or save it as a PDF, then complete one worksheet after each lesson. Together they make a portfolio you can show to employers and clients.
- Remote work routine and communication planner
- Remote work routine and communication planner
- Remote work routine and communication planner
- Remote work routine and communication planner
- Workspace setup checklist
- Remote work routine and communication planner
- Remote work routine and communication planner
- Tools checklist
Worksheet · Remote Work · The Realities of Remote Work
Remote work routine and communication planner
From the lesson The Realities of Working Remotely
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1Rate yourself on organization, communication and self-discipline.
2List two things that will be hard for you remotely.
3Write one plan for each in the remote work planner.
Worked example to compare with: A readiness self-check
- Rate yourself from 1 to 5: I can start work without someone watching (4). I can stop at a set time (2). I speak up when I am stuck (3).
- Lowest score: stopping at a set time.
- Plan: set a daily alarm for the end of work and close the laptop in a different room.
- Check again in two weeks and see whether the score has moved.
Check yourself
- I can explain "The Realities of Working Remotely" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · The Realities of Remote Work
Remote work routine and communication planner
From the lesson Work-Life Balance From Home
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1Write your working hours and share them with your team.
2Choose a shutdown ritual.
3Add both to your weekly planner.
Worked example to compare with: Building a shutdown ritual
- Problem: the evening email check turns into two hours of work.
- Ritual: at 5:30 write tomorrow's top three tasks, close all work tabs, close the laptop and put it out of sight.
- Rule: notifications for work apps are off after 6 p.m.
- Result to look for: more evenings that feel like evenings, and no loss of output because the next day starts with a clear list.
- Check: keep the same time for two weeks before judging.
Check yourself
- I can explain "Work-Life Balance From Home" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · The Realities of Remote Work
Remote work routine and communication planner
From the lesson How to Avoid or Recover From Burnout
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1List your personal warning signs.
2Schedule breaks and one full day off each week.
3Write a limit on how much work you will accept.
Worked example to compare with: Setting a workload limit
- Situation: a freelancer takes every project offered and works weekends.
- Signs: two missed deadlines in a month and trouble sleeping.
- Plan: limit active projects to five, take Sundays off, and tell clients new timelines honestly.
- Result to look for: fewer rushed deliveries and a steadier week.
- Takeaway: a limit is a professional promise to do good work, not a lack of ambition.
Check yourself
- I can explain "How to Avoid or Recover From Burnout" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · The Realities of Remote Work
Remote work routine and communication planner
From the lesson Dealing With Isolation and Staying Social
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1List three ways you will connect with people each week.
2Put them on your calendar.
3Review after a month and adjust.
Worked example to compare with: Scheduling connection
- Mon: virtual coffee with two teammates, 20 minutes.
- Wed: lunch with a friend near home.
- Fri: gym class or community group in the evening.
- Daily: one short message to someone outside work.
- Check: after a month, ask yourself whether you feel more connected, and adjust the plan.
Check yourself
- I can explain "Dealing With Isolation and Staying Social" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · Optimizing Your Working Conditions
Workspace setup checklist
From the lesson Setting Up Your Workspace
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1Photograph your current workspace.
2List three changes that would help.
3Make one change this week using the workspace checklist.
Worked example to compare with: Improving a space on a small budget
- Before: working from the sofa with the laptop on the lap, a sore neck and constant distractions.
- Changes: a small desk by the window, a laptop stand ($20), a chair cushion and the phone in a drawer.
- Result to look for: less discomfort and longer stretches of focus.
- Check: take a photo of the setup and ask whether anything would make you hesitate to sit there every day.
Check yourself
- I can explain "Setting Up Your Workspace" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · Optimizing Your Working Conditions
Remote work routine and communication planner
From the lesson Managing Your Time and Dealing With Time Zones
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1Write your top three tasks for tomorrow.
2Block two focus periods in your calendar.
3Add your working hours and time zone to your profile and calendar.
Worked example to compare with: Planning a day with a time-zone team
- Morning: two hours of focused work with notifications off.
- Midday: reply to messages and write the update for teammates who are offline.
- Shared window: meetings and live questions only in the agreed overlap hours.
- Evening: stop, and do not check chat.
- Takeaway: write updates so teammates in other zones can act without waiting for you.
Check yourself
- I can explain "Managing Your Time and Dealing With Time Zones" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · Optimizing Your Working Conditions
Remote work routine and communication planner
From the lesson Communicating With Your Team
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1Rewrite a vague message so it states the point first.
2Write a short weekly update using the planner template.
3Agree communication rules with your team.
Worked example to compare with: Writing a weekly update
- Done: published two blog posts and updated the pricing page.
- Next: draft the April newsletter and review the ad results.
- Blocked: I need the final product photos by Thursday.
- Numbers: newsletter signups rose from 120 to 150 this week.
- Check: a teammate should be able to read the update in under a minute and know what is needed from them.
Check yourself
- I can explain "Communicating With Your Team" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes
Worksheet · Remote Work · Optimizing Your Working Conditions
Tools checklist
From the lesson Tools You Can Use
Work through each step on paper or on screen. Use a real business, a project of your own or a friend’s idea. Keep this page for your portfolio.
1List the tools you currently use and what each does.
2Remove any that overlap.
3Write a one-page guide for where information lives.
Worked example to compare with: Simplifying a tool stack
- Before: five chat apps, two task boards and files on personal laptops.
- After: one chat tool, one task board, one shared drive.
- Rule: write down where each type of information lives and share it with everyone.
- Result to look for: fewer missed tasks and fewer "where is that file?" messages.
- Check: if two tools do the same job, remove one.
Check yourself
- I can explain "Tools You Can Use" in one sentence.
- I used a real business or project, not just an idea.
- I know what I will do next, and by when.
Notes