While a mixed-location work scenario can certainly offer many benefits, it also offer challenges. In order to be successful and avoid frustrations, hybrid employees must stay organized to make sure they can access the materials and information they need in any location and communicate clearly with coworkers and clients. Taking steps to be proactively organized in the following ways can help hybrid employees avoid hassles and work efficiently from wherever they are.

1. Organize Physical Items and Duplicate When Possible

If you have physical items such as a laptop, work phone, paperwork, office ID, etc. that must travel back and forth with you from home to the office, make sure and keep them in a travel-ready briefcase or bag that’s solely used for work-related items. Getting in the habit of putting your must-have work items back in your bag as soon as you are finished with them will help you avoid the frustration of arriving to the office or home and realizing you’ve left a must-have item in the other location. 

If there are physical items you need for part of your work that are cumbersome to take back and forth between home and the office, try to schedule all of your tasks that require those items at one work location. When possible, consider duplicating smaller items such as phone chargers, pens, notebooks, etc. to have at each location. 

2. Use Cloud Storage and Web-Based Platforms to Your Advantage

If a hybrid work situation means you sometimes need to access files from the office, but also at home or on the road, ensure that your digital files are always available by utilizing cloud storage. Platforms such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud etc. make it easy to keep your digital files secure and accessible from any location.

If you work in a field, such as accounting, that has continuing education requirements, consider using a CPE platform that offers web-based tracking and online courses so you can earn credits through webinars and self-paced courses and assess your CPE progress easily from wherever you are working.

3. Keep a Digital Calendar

Even if you prefer to organize your schedule or to-do list on a paper calendar or planner, utilizing a digital calendar as well is the best way to make sure you don’t miss important meetings, live webinars, or other events or deadlines. In addition to being accessible from wherever you are working, a digital calendar can send appointment and deadline reminders to wherever you are working that day. 

Make sure your work location is clearly marked on your digital calendar so you, your coworkers, and your clients know when you are working remotely and when you are available for in-person meetings or in-office collaboration. Scheduling an in-office meeting in the middle of a day you are intending to work remotely can result in unnecessary frustration and loss of productivity.

Hybrid work schedules work best when workers stay organized and expectations, schedules, and boundaries are communicated clearly to everyone involved. By being proactive about organization and communication, hybrid workers can reap the benefits of in-office and remote work while avoiding some of the frustrations and pitfalls.