5 Tips to Keep to it Together while Working From Home
As we enter week 5 (or more) of physical distancing, working from home has become the reality and productivity the necessity. The speed at which we were forced to adapt was intense, and with that adaptation you may have found yourself with a company that was finding humor in the temporary circumstances, while other businesses were forced to close. Five weeks ago Zoom or Slack may have been new software, and it was fun to change your face to a potato. We’ve joked about wearing yoga pants all day, wine o’clock, and created an endless supply of memes to get ourselves through.
The reality is that while the global pandemic is happening outside, it’s on each one of us to work on the inside. It’s on each one of us to maximize our value for the companies we work for or the businesses we run.
While it is perfectly ok to not be ok right now (being stressed, depressed, or fearful is probably the most normal of anything during this time) WFH is here to stay for at least 2 more weeks, and could come back in the future. When you return to the office (after hugging all the coworkers) we want you to be a success story. When you have a job interview, we want you to be able to share how you managed during this time. When you look back on this crazy time, we want you to feel empowered, valued, and resilient.
To support our wishes for you, we’ve compiled 5 tips to make the next few weeks at home your most successful.
1.) Write out your schedule in advance, and stick to it.
Working from home may have seemed like a luxury when you met someone who got to do just that. The reality is that it takes diligence to accomplish everything you need to do. Every day plan your schedule. You may find it helpful to Timeblock your week in advance, or this can become part of your morning routine while you have breakfast.
Start by blocking off the times that you have a virtual meeting or phone call scheduled. Next block off a time for a lunch break. If you don’t normally work through lunch, you aren’t going to start now And if you normally eat at your desk, lets develop another new habit - actually taking a break. You can call a friend, take a walk (with a face covering), or scroll though social media.
Block off 30 minutes before your first meeting and 30 minutes after your last meeting so that you have time to prepare, record notes, and follow up. Next, make a list of all the task you want to accomplish. Group items that have a similar process or flow easily together. Assign each group of tasks to an a block of time that’s open on your schedule. Here’s the important part - when you are working on these groups of tasks, if time runs out, move on to the next activity. Don’t take time from another activity to complete something, simply find time the next day to finish it.
Do not try to multitask during conference calls. As soon as your attention shifts elsewhere, you’ll be blocking out some of that call and inevitably miss something important. Focus on the task at hand, and then move on to the next one. At the end of your day, you’ll have a list of everything you completed - roll that positive moment into a healthy dinner, a little Netflix, and motivation for the next day at work.
2.) Pretend You’re Still Going to the Office
It’s easy to roll out of bed a bit late, brush your hair, pull on sweat pants and log in. To get into the groove of working, and set your intention for a productive day, act like you’re actually going to the office. That means getting up at the same time as you used to, freshening up in your normal routine, and getting dressed like you would for work not for lounging on the couch. Ok, dress for work from the waist up. Wear shoes. We want you in the “I’m working” mentality.
Set up a place that can become your “office”. It should be someplace where you can sit comfortably, properly angle your computer, has good phone and WiFi reception, and has a view of something pleasant. Ideally you can look out a window, but lets not have you staring at a blank wall or into your bathroom.
Sit with office posture - feet on the floor and sit up straight. If you’re the type of person that needs to walk or pace when you are on the phone for a sales call, don’t start taking those calls siting down. How you sit actually affects your tone and how your voice is perceived by someone on the other end of your call. Sounds crazy, but it’s true!
3.) Make a few small investments to upgrade your “office”
Even after setting up your work space, you may still find yourself working at a table instead of a desk, or a breakfast bar with a bar stool instead of an office chair. Your home wasn’t built with your job in mind, but now you can create the space that’s right for you. While it might not be time to splurge on a new leather swivel chair, there are some upgrades you can fit into your budget - especially since you aren’t going out as much!
If you are used to a desktop at work, and now limited to a laptop, consider purchasing a bluetooth keyboard or mouse. You don’t need to get fancy, but giving yourself some extra room to work will pay dividends.
The rules for deducting home office expenses from your taxes has changed, so don’t purchase anything you won’t be happy with a month from now, or purchase something that pushes past your budget.
4.) Minimize Distractions - and Roll with the ones you can’t
“Easier said than done”, responds everyone who never wanted to work from home. Home has distractions, some of which you can’t remove like roommates, children, or pets. But things like cleaning, tv, and online shopping can be postponed until after your work day. Working in a designated area of your apartment will help you stay focused. Turn all personal notifications off on your phone to help manage the interuptions.
If you’re on a Zoom meeting and your pet comes over, show everyone your furry friend. This is also your chance to show your personal side, and maybe be a bit endearing to your boss or client! If you have roommates and are working in a common space, give them a heads up for when what may sound like a call is actually a video meeting. You don’t need someone walking behind you in a onezie!
5.) Take a walk
We hope you are supporting a local fitness studio by tuning into their online classes during the time you’d normally workout. But what is still missing in your work day is the walk across the office to speak with some, go to the printer, the bathroom, the coffee maker. Every hour, get up and walk a lap around your home, no matter how small it is. Keep the blood flowing and take some deep breaths to stay energized. If you have time, go outside and get some fresh air. Walking outside (while physically distanced) is still advisable. Exercise will keep you healthy - don’t forget there is more than COVID-19 the threatens our health.
One more thing: Have compassion
You’ve heard it countless times - we’re all in this together. We are, but we’re having many different experiences. Coronavirus has created an entirely new world, with everyone adjusting on the fly, sometimes panicked and making a decision you wouldn’t make. We’re all under a significant amount of stress, worried for our families, finances, and health.
If someone in your office hasn’t been as productive, doesn’t seem as enthusiastic, or gets behind on tasks, don’t get upset. They could be stressed from a sick family member, young children competing for their time, or simply affected by the startling different landscape. Perhaps give them a call to say hello and check in…. and not mention work. Offer help.
Stay home, stay safe.
