Whether you have only been working remotely as a result of the COVID pandemic or if WFH is your normal, it can be challenging at times to find a balance when your work is literally in your home. Below are seven tips to help you find success when working from home.
1. Create a Designated Workspace
The bed can seem like an attractive, comfortable place to work. So can the living room sofa.
However, by establishing a set workspace, it allows you to make a divide between your work life and your home life. This also helps to eliminate home distractions by allowing you to have a specific place where, when in it, is only for work purposes.
2. Get Dressed
Staying in your pajamas all day may seem like an attractive, tempting option, but there are a few reasons to actually get dressed for the day — including your productivity and mental health.
Getting dressed for work can help you set the tone for your work day mentally. It can help you focus.
“It tells your brain something new is about to happen and helps you shift gears. That’s why it’s important to shift throughout the day. The reality is if you don’t, you’re likely going to be in a bit of a Groundhog Day and it can put you in a funk,” stated Ryan G. Beale is a licensed psychotherapist and the CEO of Therapy in the article The Mental Health Benefits Of Getting Dressed For Work.
Also, another key benefit is looking and feeling professional when on video meetings. Plus, there is an IRS offers tax deduction available when you use a portion of your home specifically for business purposes.
3. Give Your Days Structure
Start your morning with a routine. Take a shower, have your coffee or tea and watch your news show or listen to your favorite podcast. Workout or meditate if that’s your thing. Whatever your morning routine consists of, set it and stick to it. This helps tell your brain that it’s time to shift into work mode.
Do have a to-do list. Set your expectations for your productivity for the day. Perhaps consider time management tools to help you stay on track.
Let your work calendar be your friend. Block out times for specific tasks or projects. “A more tactical piece of advice, particularly if your work situation had regularly provided this structure for you, is to use your calendar as a friend in helping you manage your time,” states Vivian Nunez, founder of Too Damn Young. “Setting work blocks on your Google Calendar and color-coding them to match different projects or tasks will give you a visual cue for the way time is breaking down for you.”
4. Establish (and Stick to) Working Hours
This is all about work/life balance. Be clear and communicate when you are available to work and when you are not. This helps to manage expectations — both for your colleagues and for yourself to ensure you don’t overwork yourself.
Working around the clock can be an easy pattern to fall into. By setting working hours — and actually sticking to them — you help yourself stay both accountable and structured, and at the same time have the opportunity to have a healthy work/life balance.
5. Communicate Often and Proactively
The term “communication is key” is more important and deeply relevant when working from home — especially if you’re not usually a WFH employee.
Stay in touch with coworkers with the tools your company provides. Whether it’s Microsoft Teams, Basecamp, Slack or another tool, utilize it! Check in on projects throughout the day. Communicate your progress on projects. Let people know about barriers proactively. Be sure to celebrate milestones and wins.
Use video to your advantage. Video calls don’t just have to be for 1:1s or more established work meetings. Have coworkers that you miss seeing in the office? Set up quick 15-minute video check ins with them just to socialize like you would if you dropped by their desk or saw them in the break room.
Do you manage people? For more great communication ideas, check out our blog post 5 Tips for Communication with New Work-from-Home Contact Center Agents.
6. Avoid Distractions
Turn off the TV. Ignore the laundry that needs folding. The dishes can wait.
Household responsibilities can be a huge distraction — if you let them be — when working remotely. Around 32% of employees say watching TV is a big distraction when working from home, followed by 27% that say childcare is a top distraction, according to a survey released by Glassdoor.
“Keep the boundaries,” says organizing and productivity expert Julie Morgenstern in an article on CNBC. “You should do your work during your work day and only stop for self-care. That’s it. Do not do household chores.”
As for childcare, planning your kids’ days ahead of time including a schedule with activities can help to alleviate stress, interruptions and distractions.
7. Give Yourself Time Away
Your personal life is important. Taking breaks during the workday is also important.
Be sure that you schedule and truly make time for yourself.
Take a walk. Read a book. Binge watch a TV show. Workout. Try and do things that you enjoy in your downtime. Avoid working long hours just because home is now the office.
Time socializing with others (people other than your colleagues) is important as well. Even though you may not be able to meet friends out for drinks or have family cookouts or travel right now, you can still use tools like Zoom and Facetime to meet up and see one another at least virtually.
