Tools & Resources for Remote Work
Disclosure: Some links are affiliate links. I only recommend tools I use or trust.
If you’re starting remote work today, focus first on the three tools below — they cover getting paid, staying protected, and securing your work.
The 3 Tools I’d Set Up First (If I Started From Zero)
SafetyWing
Flexible global health insurance designed specifically for remote workers and digital nomads.
- Monthly flexible coverage
- Works worldwide
- Simple signup
Wise
Multi-currency account that lets you get paid internationally without losing money on bad exchange rates.
- Real exchange rates
- Hold multiple currencies
- Fast transfers
NordVPN
Protect your internet connection when working from cafés, airports, or shared networks.
- Encrypted connection
- Protects passwords & banking
- Works on all devices
Why These 3 First?
Without proper payments, protection, and security, remote work becomes risky fast.
These three tools cover the foundations before anything else.
Additional Work Tools
Notion
Notion is optional once your income and workflow are stable. It’s useful if you want to organize projects and ideas in one place — but it’s not required at the beginning.
Productivity & Communication
Communication tools become invisible when they work well. These are the ones that stayed in my setup because they didn’t create extra overhead.
Slack
Slack is useful if you work with remote teams. If you work solo, you may not need it yet.
Common mistakes when choosing tools
Most beginners don’t fail because of a lack of tools — they fail because they use them at the wrong time.
The most common mistakes I see:
- using too many tools too early
- paying for tools before income is stable
- copying “perfect setups” from YouTube or social media
- spending more time optimizing tools than doing actual work
Tools should support work — not replace it.
Not sure if you need another tool?
If your income isn’t stable yet, focus on getting paid, staying protected, and keeping your setup simple. Add complexity later.
Optional Tools (Once Income Is Stable)
You probably don’t need (yet):
- Complex project management systems
- Multiple productivity apps
- AI writing tools
What I use:
Todoist
Todoist is a simple task management tool focused on organizing daily work without unnecessary complexity. It’s useful for remote workers who want a clear overview of tasks and priorities without managing full project systems.
I use Todoist to keep daily tasks visible and manageable, especially when workdays change depending on location or schedule.
Google Workspace
Google Workspace provides email, cloud storage, and collaborative documents used by many remote teams and clients. It’s a practical setup for sharing files, managing communication, and working across different time zones.
Google Workspace is what I rely on for email, documents, and file sharing when working with clients remotely.
What I don’t use anymore
- Complex project management systems for solo work
- Multiple productivity apps doing the same thing
- Free tools that trade reliability for novelty
- “All-in-one” setups that require constant maintenance
Ready to Set Up Your Remote Work Foundation?
If you’re starting from scratch, set up these three first:
- SafetyWing – protection
- Wise – payments
- NordVPN – security
Everything else can wait.