10 Tips for Productively Working from Home
/As we find ourselves in unusual circumstances in the current climate, many of us find ourselves working from home. This faces its own challenges in terms of workspace, distractions and unusual co-workers. We could all use some tips on how best to increase our productivity and motivation when working from home.
1. Stay away from negative social media
It’s a very anxious time for everyone right now and one that is quickly changing. Something that can be overlooked during this time is our mental health. It’s important to be conscious that we have control over the content we consume. Don’t follow pages online that are negative or false and anxiety-inducing. Mute people who are causing you panic or distress. If you find avoiding the news and updates during your working hours helps you stay calm and focused, then do what you need to do. Only read information from verified sources and reach out to friends and family if feeling overwhelmed.
2. Set up a workspace
Have a designated workspace where you can leave your equipment set up. Ideally this should be in a quiet area with little traffic from housemates and away from your bedroom or common relaxing area, to help separate these in your mind. Obviously this isn’t possible for everyone; some of us are in small apartments or suddenly working with a partner, or have children or pets that struggle to distance themselves. Try to set up a certain area where your ‘headspace’ is ‘work space,’ to have your equipment and everything you need for a productive day!
3. Establish a routine
If you have a routine or morning ritual you follow on a daily basis, try not to let that slide. Get up at the usual time, do your skincare or morning stretches, make yourself a coffee. Obviously you may need to adapt from your normal working ritual, but find a routine that works for you in this new setting and make sure you incorporate things that make you happy!
4. Set boundaries
Set your working hours, just because you have easy access to your computer and work equipment does not mean you are on call 24/7. Stick to the normal working hours required, allowing time for breaks. Make a daily and weekly to-do list to keep yourself focused and remember to schedule in any pre-planned calls and virtual meetings. If required, tell your partner, housemates, or whoever you live with not to distract you during your established hours – just as they would if you were in the office as usual.
5. Get dressed
It may be tempting to stay in your pajamas and not brush your hair when you’re not leaving the house or expecting to see anyone. But getting refreshed and dressed (it doesn’t need to be your normal work attire, loungewear is a-okay!) will make you feel more put together and awake, which in turn will improve your motivation and productivity. It also means you are ready for any impromptu video calls with your team! ‘Dress for success’ is a mindset that really works.
6. Take breaks
Taking a break is still productive, it can be even more so when working from home. It can be easier to just sit at the computer all day when at home and dip in and out of work and other tasks, but this can result in over-committing – working too much can kill productivity. We can often forget to get up, take a break, and most importantly rest your eyes. It’s recommended to follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, stare at something 20 yards away for at least 20 seconds. Also remember to stand up, stretch, and maintain the well-deserved work-life balance.
7. Eat healthy lunches (and remember to drink water)
It’s always much easier to snack when you’re so much closer to the kitchen with ‘free’ food. The proximity to the fridge seems to make me 10x times hungrier than on an average day. But in line with sticking to a routine, it’s as important to eat lunch (not just chips!) around the time you normally would, and healthy nutritious foods to keep your body and mind working. For a lot of us, being at home with access to a full kitchen can even make it easier to prepare healthy and tasty lunches. This can even double up as an essential break! Also remember to keep a glass of water on your desk and stay as hydrated as possible.
8. Remember to exercise
Often our exercise routine is tied to our working schedule. Be it walking to the office, lunch time jogs, or on-site gyms, a lot of these resources have now been temporarily removed from us. Getting out and moving is more important now as we need to make a conscious decision and effort to include it. Try to get out for a walk in the evening (observing social distancing), put on a 15 minutes home-work video whilst your coffee is brewing, go for a jog at lunch time. If you had a commute time that is now non-existent, use this additional time to get in a yoga session. Whatever is it that will work for you, be sure to incorporate movement into your daily routine.
9. Connect with your Team
The physical distance from your co-workers may make it harder than usual to know what’s going on with certain projects or to get quick answers to your questions. Thankfully the vast amount and availability of apps and programs makes connecting and following up easier. This is important when it comes to discussing workloads and projects and getting weekly or daily updates on work matters. However, this should also be utilized to check in with the team on a personal level. Host virtual coffee mornings, have your weekly lunch meeting over Skype...whatever it may be, make sure to maintain the human element to the interactions amongst the team. We are all going through this together!
10. Work with Purpose
Whether you have deadlines or goals to meet in work or not, set yourself goals to have something to aim for. Understandably, for some people during this transition to working remotely work is quieter (and for some busier than normal!) so it can be quite unpredictable. Make sure to communicate with your manager or team if there is too much on your plate that can’t be dealt with at home or if you have capacity to assist other struggling members. Clear the list of non-priority tasks you have built up. We have all been looking for time to clean up our desktop files. Add this, or whatever your goal is, to your to-do list and tick off any tasks completed no matter how big or small.
Overall, we must remember these are scary and unprecedented times, and there is much to learn as we navigate this new normal. Remember to practice physical distancing, behave responsibly, wash your hands, and stay out of public spaces where possible. But also keep in mind that time moves faster than we think and we will be on the other side of this before we know it. Stay strong!
Blog post by Martha Fallon. Martha is a Social Media Coordinator for YWiB Vancouver. Martha hails from Ireland and is a keen traveler who enjoys exploring the vast landscapes of Canada.