8 Tips for Upgrading Your Work From Home Experience
8 min read
COVID-19 has led to a surge in employees working from home, to levels we never could have expected. Some employers have shut down their offices, requiring many employees to quickly determine how to get work done from home. People who usually work remotely in coffeehouses, libraries, or co-work spaces also have to identify how to make the best of working in their homes during this "social distancing" period.
When I transitioned from my office position to running my company full-time, I found that the work from home learning curve was pretty steep! Since more people will be joining the work from home force by the end of the week, I decided to share my top eight tips for productively crushing the work from home game.
1. Understand Your Priorities
Without direction, the entire work day can flash before your eyes, leaving you with no work to show for it!
Morning traditions, like snoozing alarms, putting on work clothes, or ordering high-priced coffee, usually signal that it will soon be time to get to work. But, when things become a lot more flexible, it can be difficult to find a productive rhythm.
It is critical to recognize your work priorities so you can identify the best time to wake up, the tasks you need to complete, and how to schedule your day. Never hesitate to write out a list of priorities to help you get organized. The process of getting organized will highlight what needs to get done, and by when, so you can stay on top of your work.
2. Accept Your Truths
Be honest with yourself so you can make the right decisions about how to manage your workload.
Many of us love the concept of being able to stay home in our pajamas while working. But, the real question is, are you going to be productive in your PJs? Are you going to be productive in your PJs, while working on your bed, with your streaming service on in the background? Some of us might be able to stay focused, while the rest of us may actually end up falling into deep sleep. The point is, you have to be honest with yourself about your work from home style. If you don't think you will be up and ready for a 7:00 a.m. call, try not to agree to those early-bird discussions if you don't have to. If you often fall asleep while working from your bed or couch, see if there is another nook or cranny in your home that can trigger your "work mode."
If you are taking care of children or any family members, it is also important to recognize that caretaking can reasonably limit your ability to complete certain tasks during the day. Be sure to give yourself grace, and consider implementing a plan to complete tasks in bursts, early in the morning, or even late in the evening.
3. Communicate With Coworkers
When collaborating with coworkers remotely, it is highly important to get the clarity you need to complete your work.
When working with people face-to-face, there are times when requests are unclear, conversations are full of loose ends, and leaders have yet to share instructions. Newsflash: these issues still exist when working with people remotely!
While you are working from home, it is even more important to ask for clarity during calls and in your emails, especially since you do not have the luxury of "dropping by" someone's office to chat. There might be times when you can get someone on the phone to discuss a topic all over again, but it will likely be more effective (and less annoying) if you practice active listening during meetings. By paying attention, you position yourself to predict challenges, and to speak up when a topic is unclear. Sometimes you will inevitably need to follow-up with a peer, manager, or client; find the courage to do so timely, being as clear and concise as possible.
4. Eat
The first item of importance is making sure you have food at home, and the second is making time to eat it!
We need food to fuel our minds and bodies throughout the day, or we lie at the mercy of our "hanger," increased exhaustion, or resulting inefficiency. One of the benefits of working outside of the home is that food might be more available, especially if your office is in a popular place. Burrito bowls, fast food, sushi, snacks, or the nearest salad bar might be a stone's throw away when you're already in an office — but when you're at home, many of those options can be nonexistent! Now that we are "social distancing," finding food can be even more difficult. Try your best to stock up on food whenever you leave the house. When choosing from nonperishable items, consider adding some of the healthiest canned foods you can find.
Now, once you have the food at home, don't forget to eat it! I know you are busy, and time is "money," but you will likely feel more connected to your work when you're not burning yourself out on an empty stomach. If you refuse to stop working to cook in the middle of the day, that's totally fine. In that case, being honest with yourself might require you to dabble in "meal prep," store leftovers, or buy premade meals. No matter what you have to do, make sure you take care of yourself.
5. Avoid Extending Hours
Unless you are getting paid extra, there is no need to extend your work day just because you are at home.
When you're in the office and it starts getting late, chances are you'll start to see most people heading home. But when you're working at home all day, you may not always feel that same impetus to close up shop! Sometimes the hours can blend together, and before you know it, you've been working for six, eight, ten, twelve-plus hours straight, at home! If you happen to be on the extreme end of the workaholic spectrum, try to remember that breaks are essential. If you wouldn't work fifteen hours straight at your office, there is no need to start working fifteen hours straight while you are at home. (And if you usually work fifteen hours straight at your office, we should probably have a conversation about that).
6. Invest in External Keyboards/Mice
Do not underestimate the impact your work tools can have on productivity.
One of the best things about offices is that they usually provide employees with all of the machinery and technology they need to get their jobs done. Often times our home work-spaces lack the materials we have in the office, such as our prized second monitors, external mice, external keyboards, standing desks, and more. Sadly, working from a laptop can often feel super cramped. If you're lucky, you can blow the dust off of your home desktop computer and use that! But even if you don't have a desktop computer at home, there are some other alternatives.
If your organization covers expenses for you to upgrade your home office, take them up on that offer! If not, consider using some funds to order yourself, at the least, an external mouse and/or keyboard. My wireless mouse is the only mouse I ever want to see, and it increases my range of motion while working. Having an external keyboard can also give you some extra space to work with! If you feel the need to stand while working, don't be afraid to create a makeshift standing desk — a dresser, credenza, or set of boxes stacked on your table might be able to do the trick.
7. Maintain Relationships and Hobbies
Working from home can lead you to feel isolated, but you can reduce those feelings by reaching out to others, and staying committed to your hobbies.
Try not to forsake your relationships simply because you work from home, or are currently practicing social distancing. Time apart can help us build stronger bonds with people we usually see everyday, and even those we haven't seen in months. Send those "I hope you are doing well!" text messages and emails, and consider scheduling time to talk via phone or video. Don't let the coronavirus stop you from maintaining relationships, or establishing new ones. Many of us prefer not having to physically show up for things anyway, so bask in remote opportunities as much as you can!
Let's not forget about hobbies either. This is the time to practice the indoor (or backyard) versions of hobbies, or plot on ways to get better at them once social distancing is over. If your favorite yoga studio isn't open, you can still pull out your mat and practice what you've been learning. The gym may not be open, but push-ups, squats, and crunches are still options at home. Many trainers are sharing their routines online for free, and you might discover a new workout that you can adopt once social distancing ends! If you find yourself developing "cabin fever," go get some fresh air (while following COVID-19 guidelines as closely as possible).
8. Use Group Tech Platforms Appropriately
The buttons which mute your sound and turn off your video can be your best friends!
Many teams are using phone and videoconferencing platforms to bring their employees together. Some of us have never needed to use these platforms before, so there can definitely be a learning process! As they say, "with great power comes great responsibility" — having access to these technologically-advanced resources requires us to make sure we are using them wisely.
While the chat features on virtual work platforms can be fun, they also can be detrimental. Be conscious of what you're writing to coworkers in chats and in emails, and operate as if your boss or consumers are reading whatever you send. Also, when working at home, there can often be tons of background noise coming from kids, neighbors, roommates, pets, and more. Try not to be too embarrassed by noises you cannot control, and consider deploying your mute button as necessary. Also, even if you cannot see yourself while video conferencing, there is a chance that people can still see you, so beware! If you find yourself taking your devices into more private spaces like your bedroom and/or bathroom, do your best to be conscious about the status of your mic and camera, as well as anything that may be in the background! (I've heard some horror stories!)
Thank you for reading! My name is Kelsea, and I am the founder of Grow By Three. I work to improve the lives of professionals, and enhance organizational culture. If you would like even more tips about working from home, building the professional life you desire, or if you have any fun stories to share — feel free to reach out!