In the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, many companies are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. That means lots of us are dealing with an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time. Here are my tips for working from home while still being productive and getting through this new “normal” for the time being.
1. Get Dressed
You don’t need to dress as formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing clothes serves as a signal that it’s time to wake up and get things done. I don’t know if it’s just a mental thing but it makes a HUGE difference in my spirit.
Getting dressed also applies to other appearance-based tasks: Take a shower, brush your hair, even put on makeup if that’s what you’d usually do. You don’t need to go as all out as you would for the office if you don’t want to, but waking up and taking care of your appearance can go a long way toward helping you feel like you’re taking care of yourself.
2. Designate a Workspace or Home Office
One of the big challenges when it comes to working remotely is keeping your work and home lives separate. If you’re used to going into an office each day, the separation between work and home is physical, and you want to try to recreate that as much as possible with a designated physical workspace at home.
While it can be tempting to settle on your sofa or stay in bed with your laptop, don’t fall into this trap. Trust me, I’ve done it more times than I can count. It may seem comfier but in the long term you’ll find yourself sitting in positions that could end up doing a number of your back and also make you less alert than usual. Keeping yourself productive means setting up a workstation for yourself, preferably in a quiet place close to a window or filled with light.
3. Keep Clearly Defined Working Hours
Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not. You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours.
4. Use “To-Do” Lists
Every morning, it’s useful to have a to-do list of things you hope to get done that day. The key, though, is to understand that many days, you won’t be able to finish it. It’s important not to beat yourself up over that, especially when you’re first starting out.
5. Take Breaks Outside of The House or Just Be Active!
When you live where you work, it’s even more important to get out of your workspace at times during the day. The COVID-19 outbreak makes this more challenging, but even a few breaks each day to take a walk around the block can make a huge difference to your attitude! If you have a dog, maybe take them for a quick walk – always makes me feel better!
If you don’t feel comfortable going outside or weather doesn’t permit, do some stretches or move around and get some chores done. One of the perks of working from home is that you can get a lot done during these breaks. Whether throwing a load of laundry in the wash, starting up a meal in your slow cookers, or getting in a quick yoga session, you’d be surprised at what you can accomplish.
6. Don’t Fall Into Isolation
Working from home can get lonely and affect your mental health. You can counter that by calling someone on the phone or video chat. Thanks to technology, you can stay as connected as ever to your coworkers/friends. From Slack to Skype, you’ll be able to keep communication going. And, of course, video conferencing apps—even FaceTime—make it easy to speak “face to face” about important issues or just to chat. Take advantage of these outlets, which are particularly important if you live alone, as they’ll give you the human contact you might be craving. Be nice to yourself and take a moment to do something like exercise to split up the day.
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