Remote work has become the norm for many developers across Europe, offering flexibility, freedom, and access to global job opportunities. Here at WeAreDevelopers, many of our team remotely, based around Europe in a variety of roles, and we’re not the only ones doing it and making it work.

However, those dissatisfied with remote work point to burnout, productivity slumps, and a blurred work-life balance. Whether you’re new to remote work or looking to optimise your workflow, here are some actionable tips to make the most out of working remotely.

1. Upgrade Your Workspace Setup

It might seem obvious, but in a very literal sense, you cannot work without your setup, so it’s pretty important that you get it right (finances allowing, of course).

A comfortable and well-equipped workspace can make a huge difference to your focus and productivity, but also your health.

Ergonomics is not just some fancy word you hear bandied around the corporate world. It’s important to create a setup that is comfortable to use to avoid causing wrist, digit, neck and back issues (among others), all of which are common amongst developers who spend significant periods of times sat at computers.

So, if you’re upgrading your kit for that new remote role, prioritise ergonomic equipment because you’ll be glad you did.

2. Join Developer Communities (Online and Offline)

Remote work can sometimes feel isolating. Staying connected with other developers can boost motivation and open up new opportunities. Some ways to engage include:

• Joining the WeAreDevelopers community
• Attend conference like the World Congress 2025
• Attending local tech meetups or hackathons
• Participating in open-source projects on GitHub

Most modern networking events and conferences are informal and fun, but they’re also a great way to meet like-minded people, so be sure to get involved.

3. Prioritise Mental and Physical Well-Being

Spending hours in front of a screen can take a toll on your health. Incorporate small habits to stay physically and mentally healthy

Daily exercise, regular breaks (perhaps try the pomodoro technique), going outside and getting sunlight all help you keep a routine but also break up your day if you’re working at home.

4. Learn to Communicate Async

Remote work relies heavily on written communication. To avoid misunderstandings:

• Write clear and concise messages in team chats.
• Document processes and solutions in shared wikis.
• Provide context when requesting help or feedback.
• Use bullet points or TL;DRs for long messages.

Strong communication can help teams work smoothly without the need for excessive meetings.

5. Automate Repetitive Tasks

As a developer, you can reduce unnecessary manual work by automating tasks, which is quite an amazing skill to have.

After the World Congress 2024, we wrote a PHP script to automate some the editing of over 100 sessions, and while it took us a few days to get right, it saved us weeks worth of time we would have lost editing it all manually.

Of course we had to do quality control to ensure the automation was giving us the result we wanted, but it helped us save time and put our focus somewhere else.

Hopefully you found this article useful and feel motivated and energised to master remote work. Good luck and happy coding!