Here we are, weeks into the shelter-at-home orders, and some of us are still getting used to working outside of the office. Some of us thrive on change, while others of us do not. Some of us find it challenging to keep on task, especially with the multitude of distractions within the walls of our home. I have included a few tips and tricks in this article to help you successfully work from home.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
One way to stay productive at home is to create a dedicated workspace. Whether you are creating a space in the kitchen, in the dining room, or if you have a home office, make sure it becomes the constant area for operation. Inventory your key business essentials, such as: pens, daily planner, multiple monitors, the mouse to your computer, and a comfortable chair. All these essentials will keep you on task. Once you are set up it means less time walking around the house to find what you need, or even to make a quick stop to raid the refrigerator- which, let’s be honest, we are all guilty of doing since sheltering-at-home. Having a dedicated space will be the first step towards making each day a success.
Make A Schedule – Stick to It (When You Can)
Another way to stay productive while working at home is by maintaining a regular schedule. Start work at about the same time every day. If you are used to working 8am to 5pm at the office, try and keep that schedule while working at home to the best of your ability.
If you are working at home with little ones, still try and keep a schedule or whatever semblance of a schedule you can. Be reasonable about how your attention is going to be diverted throughout the day – and plan for it. Maybe that means starting earlier and planning for more breaks throughout the day. You don’t have commute time, so use that extra time.
It is important for everyone to keep an open, somewhat more relaxed position of ‘getting it all done’. For many parents, it is very common to have a little one cry in the background, scream out your name for your help or a hug while you are attempting to get work done or on a conference call. Keeping a flexible mindset during this time is important. It creates less stress. This is real life and most people are understanding of the interruptions.
Dress to Impress – Or At Least to Work
We all appreciate the benefit of rolling out of bed and walking the short distance to our new offices. So, this is probably going to be an unpopular suggestion, but getting dressed for work sets the tone for your entire day. Similar to creating a workspace and setting a schedule, keeping your dress attire similar (although not necessarily exactly the same) to what you would wear to work will keep you in the right mindset to be productive throughout the day. No one is expecting full work attire, or even business casual. What I am suggesting is simply elevating your basic at home attire, so that you are still comfortable but look presentable to clients and colleagues. If you need to quickly jump on a Zoom or WebEx call, you want to be prepared and look professional.
Stay Connected
This is an easy one. We are humans, and humans (at least most of us) need social interaction. Take time to socialize with co-workers and clients. Consider setting up a virtual happy hour, see faces, and enjoy.
Work-Life Balance
If you have heard it once, you have heard it a million times: make sure to prioritize work-life-balance. It is imperative to make this working-from-home thing successful. If you have created an alternative work schedule due to at-home distractions, make sure to also leave time for the little pleasures in life. An alternative work schedule doesn’t mean an extended schedule either. It is easy to lose track of time when working at home. Be sure to prioritize some time for yourself so that you don’t burn out during shelter-in-place.
Someday hopefully soon we will go back to ‘normal’. Practicing these tips and tricks will help prepare you to be successful at home now – and for the new future whenever and whatever that may be.