How to Work From Home
The working world is currently experiencing a change in daily life that is unprecedented. As each day passes since the start of March 2020, more & more information has come to fruition regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. This moment in time that WILL pass, is a moment that will be marked in the history books that severely impacted human life and will forever change the direction of our lifestyles. WE control the outcome. It will take hard work & diligence from everybody to get through this.
Working from home is not for everyone. You’ve probably heard of businesses or friends saying how their job would be “impossible to work remotely”, yet you are now seeing just about every business in the working industry put procedures in place to make remote work possible to keep their businesses afloat.
As someone who runs a business from home, I have had time to experience the trials and tribulations of a remote work environment. It took some time to get used to and to find what practices work best for me, which may not be what necessarily works for others. That said, with my beautiful fiance as a sounding board (who has put up with my shenanigans while we have been quarantined at home), we collaborated to put together our best tips to working from home.
Set a routine
Sticking to a consistent routine will help to keep things as normal as possible. Create a schedule and stick with it. I recommend to try and keep your regular working hours the same, but it is understandable if there may be adjustments if you have children or other priorities that now have fallen into your hands based on this situation. Having the same wake up & bed time will help to keep your body schedule in place while keeping you consistent. This is not an excuse to sleep-in or stay up late if you don’t normally do that during the week.
Personal Hygiene
This is surprisingly an easy one to forget, but it is very important. Working from home means you essentially have the capability to get out of bed, keep your pajamas on and start working. Sounds great, but doing so might keep your body clock out of whack. If you typically wake up and shower first, continue to do that. Dress like you are at work. No, you do not need to sit in a suit & tie at home if that is normally your attire, but getting out of pajamas and into clothes you’d wear in public is something to consider. Present yourself like you are at work. Brush your teeth. Wash your face. Proceed as you normally would. The better you feel, the better your work.
Find the Right Space
Having the right space & environment to get your work done is a CRUCIAL step in this process. Yes, you are in the comfort of your own home but you want to work in a space that is comfortable, private, provides good lighting and is quiet. Consider others in your home who are also working or studying. You want to make sure that if you are taking phone calls or sitting in on video conferences, that you are completely separated, limiting sound as much as possible. Do not work from a space where you could be easily distracted (see #4).
Eliminate Distractions
Working from home means it is EASY to get distracted during your work day. If you have certain methods in place when you are at work to make sure you are getting your work done, implement those same methods into your home office.
A few key points to eliminating distractions:
Keep your phone on do not disturb. Do not take non-work calls, text or scroll social media if you don’t otherwise do that while on the clock at your office. It is a recipe for disaster.
Separate your pets. This might be the toughest part, but if you are normally away from your pet during the work day, do your best to keep that distance. If your pet is quiet and will sit by you without begging to play (Lucy’s favorite thing to do) then it is ok for them to be with you. Otherwise, set times where you will walk & play with your furry friend.
Chores DO NOT = Procrastination. Chores!? Who wants to do chores? It sounds funny now but you may find yourself between assignments and think that it’s a good time to vacuum your house. Next thing you know, you’ll be rearranging furniture, painting walls and planning the next addition to your home. Instead, keep a schedule of when you are going to complete your chores. Do not do them sporadically during working hours.
Eat Like You’re At Work
It is important to keep a routine of your eating habits, similar to the way you eat at work. I’m starting to see jokes around the internet about the #Quarantine15 (gaining 15 pounds similar to the #Freshman15 that is common for college students). If you typically eat a salad with a bottle of water for lunch, do the same at home. If you typically pack your lunch for work, pack that same lunch and have it ready to eat at home. What you eat will absolutely impact your productivity. If you aren’t normally making 3-course meals for lunch at the office, don’t do it at home.
Find An Accountability Buddy
Who is someone who you can count on to make sure you are staying on track? This could be a family member, friend, or best case scenario it would be a colleague you could keep in touch with to plan your day to make sure you are staying on task and not getting distracted. Share your schedules with each other and set 1-2 times per day to check-in. Staying consistent and having someone to motivate you to do so will be helpful for you, without making you too stir-crazy at home. Hold each other accountable.
Take Care of Yourself
Let’s face it. The COVID-19 pandemic is scary. Maybe you aren’t worried about getting sick, but the “unknown” of what tomorrow may bring is frightening. Your work is important. It helps to keep our economy afloat and will keep you busy while you’re at home. Taking care of yourself, both physically & mentally, will be a key to your success. If you don’t feel well, have a conversation with your supervisor. If you need to take a break, take one as you normally would. Make sure you stay physically fit through exercise. If you need someone to talk to, there are resources out there. Contact me if you’d like some guidance to find the best resources for you.
The world is a scary place. This period in time that we are currently facing will be written in the history books. There will always be a “before” and “after” the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to stick together and support each other as a community….as a TEAM. This isn’t about your religion, the color of your skin or being a Democrat or Republican. Human beings are a team and need to act as a team to get over this hump. It is not “if” the pandemic will end, it is “when”. We WILL get through this. We WILL come out stronger.
A HUGE thank you to all of the professionals putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and healthy. Thank your doctor, tip the clerk at the grocery store, purchase a gift card to your favorite small business. It’s the little things that go a long way. Be appreciative of what you have and love the ones surrounding you.
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ “- Mr. Rogers
- Andrew
