Your first work-from-home setup checklist

1.Get a reliable primary internet connectionFiber or a stable broadband plan with enough upload speed for video calls is worth the cost — a flaky connection undermines every other part of the setup.

2.Set up a backup connectionA phone hotspot or a second provider on standby means one outage doesn't turn into a missed meeting or a missed deadline.

3.Choose one consistent, quiet workspaceWorking from the same spot every day — even a corner of a shared room — helps your brain switch into and out of work mode.

4.Set up a chair and desk height that won't hurt after 8 hoursA dining chair or bed setup feels fine for a week but causes real back and wrist strain over months — even a cheap ergonomic adjustment pays off.

5.Get a decent webcam, mic, and headsetBuilt-in laptop mics pick up echo and background noise — an inexpensive headset noticeably improves how you come across on every call.

6.Install and set up the team's communication toolsGet Slack, Zoom, and any project board set up and notification-tuned before day one, not scrambling during your first stand-up.

7.Set your calendar to the right timezoneA wrong timezone setting is one of the most common reasons new remote hires miss their first meetings — double-check it against the company's stated hours.

8.Set up your international payment method before your first paydayWise, Payoneer, or the platform your employer uses can take a few days to verify — get it approved before you actually need to receive a payment.

9.Have a plan for power outagesA power bank for your router or a small UPS keeps a brief outage from becoming a missed deadline, especially useful outside major cities.

10.Set a clear start and end time for your workdayWithout an office to leave, remote work can quietly expand to fill every hour — block your calendar and communicate your hours to your team early.

11.Turn on basic device and account securityA password manager, two-factor authentication on your work accounts, and keeping your OS updated protect both you and the company's data.

12.Back up your work to cloud storageA laptop failure shouldn't cost you days of unsaved work — set files to sync automatically to Google Drive, Dropbox, or your company's storage.

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