OK, SO THE CORONAVIRUS HAS US ALL TAKING SOME EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OURSELVES OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES. THIS MEANS A LOT OF US WILL BE SPENDING SOME MORE TIME IN OUR HOMES INCLUDING WORKING FROM HOME. I HAVE BEEN WORKING FROM HOME FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS NOW AND I WILL SAY IT IS AN ADJUSTMENT. THE FIRST FEW MONTHS WERE EQUALLY WEIRD AND AMAZING. I WANTED TO SHARE SOME TIPS THAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THIS TIME THAT HAS HELPED ME GROW INTO A VERY PRODUCTIVE HOME WORKER AND HOPEFULLY CAN HELP THOSE THAT ARE NEW TO THE HOME WORKING GAME. LETS GO TEAM HOME…
Stick to a routine
THIS IS CRUCIAL. TRANSITIONING FROM HOME BEING THE PLACE YOU CHILL TO BEING THE PLACE YOU WORK CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR OUR BODIES AND BRAINS TO ADJUST TO. COMMIT TO A WAKE UP TIME AND INSTEAD OF USING YOUR MORNING TO PUT MAKEUP ON AND SIT IN TRAFFIC, SHIFT INTO A ROUTINE OF MEDITATION, EXERCISE, JOURNALING, LONG SHOWERS, HOME-ADE LATTES, REALITY TV…WHATEVER GETS YOU IN THE MOOD OT CONQUER YOUR DAY.
Prep your space
IT CAN BE HARD TO FOCUS ON WORK IF YOUR HOME OR OFFICE SPACE IS CHAOTIC. SET A TIME LIMIT EVERYDAY TO CLEAN AND TIDY YOUR SURROUNDINGS UNTIL IT IS AS CLEAN AND ORGANIZED. CLEAR DESKS LEAD TO CLEAR MINDS.
Use a planner
PLANNERS ARE AMAZING AND WE ARE OBSESSED. IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY USING A PLANNER, WE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED IT. WHEN WORKING FORM HOME YOU MAY HAVE LESS ACCOUNTABILITY TO OTHERS ON WHEN AND HOW YOUR WORK IS GETTING DONE. STAY ACCOUNTABLE TO YOURSELF BY USING A PLANNER TO SCHEDULE YOUR DAY AND TASKS. OUR CURRENT FAVORITE PLANNER IS THE FULL FOCUS PLANNER. IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT USING A PLANNER, START BY WRITING A SIMPLE CHECKLIST AND CROSSING OFF THE TASKS AS YOU COMPLETE THEM THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
Schedule your breaks
BREAKS ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WORKING MINUETS. WE ALL NEED TIME TO STEP AWAY FROM OUR WORK TO RECOOP AND REGAIN OUR PERSPECTIVE. SCHEDULE IN THESE BREAKS SO THERE IS A CLEAR TIME ON WHEN YOU ARE “OFF”. WHEN WORKING FROM HOME THERE IS MUCH LESS SOCIAL INTERACTION [THE WHOLE REASON WHY WERE DOING THIS]. THERE ARE A LOT OF TIMES IN OUR DAYS IN THE OFFICE WHERE WE SPEND 5 MINS HERE AND THERE CHATTING WITH OUR CO-WORKERS. THAT TIME IS VALUABLE 1. FOR SOCIALIZATION AND 2. FOR TAKING BREAKS. RECREATE THAT BY SCHEDULING COFFEE BREAKS AND SHORT PHONE CALLS WITH FELLOW CO-WORKERS AND FRIENDS.
Invest in your home office
DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF YOUR JOB WORKING FROM HOME MAY BE A 2 WEEK THING OR MAY BECOME SOMETHING THAT YOU ENJOY SO MUCH YOU WILL SEEK IT AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS CRAZINESS. NOW WHEN WE SAY INVEST, WE DONT MEAN OVERHAUL YOUR OFFICE…UNLESS YOU WANT TO THEN GIVE US A CALL. IT CAN BE AS SIMPLE AS SOME BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING GLASSES (BECAUSE MORE TIME AT HOME MEANS MORE SCREEN TIME), A STONE DIFFUSER, OR EVEN A CUTE COFFEE MUG TO HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS TIME. I KNOW I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING IN MY OFFICE WHEN I HAVE MY BRIGHT IDEA SPRAY AND MY FAVORITE PLAYLIST GOING.
Get outside
THIS IS ADVICE I HAVE NO MATTER WHERE YOU WORK BUT WHEN WORKING FROM HOME IT CAN BE EXTRA IMPORTANT. TAKE YOUR LAPTOP INTO THE WILD AND GET SOME MUCH DESERVED FRESH AIR WITH YOUR FAVORITE DRINK BY YOUR SIDE. IF YOU ARE TIED TO A DESKTOP (LIKE I AM) SCHEDULE IN A WALK OUTSIDE. I LOVE TAKING MY DOG OUT FOR A WALK ON MY LUNCH BREAK. CLEARS MY HEAD, GETS SOME BLOOD FLOWING AND A LITTLE BIT OF SUNSHINE CAN DO WONDERS FOR CREATIVITY. AND OF COURSE MY DOG LOVES ME FOR IT!
Enjoy your down time
THIS WAS HARD FOR ME WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING FORM HOME. I WAS BEING PRODUCTIVE, GETTING ALL OF MY WORK DONE AND FINDING MYSELF WITH A LOT OF TIME ON MY HANDS. I WAS WONDERING IF I WAS SLACKING OFF, AND EVEN FELT GUILTY SOME DAYS FOR RUNNING TO THE STORE OR DOING LAUNDRY IN BETWEEN MY WORK. TO BE HONEST I LOVE WORKING FORM HOME BECAUSE IT GIVES YOU THAT KIND OF FLEXIBILITY. I KNEW I WOULD LOVE IT WHEN I GOT INTO IT, AND I HAD TO GIVE MYSELF SOME GRACE TO ENJOY THE PERKS OF WORKING FROM HOME. WHEN YOU ADD UP THE TIME SPENT COMMUTING, GETTING “WORK READY”, WALKING TO THE PRINTER, POINTLESS MEETINGS, 10 MIN CHATS HERE AND THERE, EXTRA LONG BATHROOM BREAKS BECAUSE YOU'RE AVOIDING WORK….NO WONDER YOU HAVE MORE TIME! SPEND THAT EXTRA TIME TENDING TO OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR LIFE, AND ENJOY IT!
Know how to shut it down
WHEN FIRST STARTING TO WORK FORM HOME IT CAN FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO INTO THE NIGHT BECAUSE WELL ITS RIGHT THERE. RESPECT YOUR OFF TIME LIKE YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE GOING INTO THE OFFICE. IF YOU CAN DEDICATED A ROOM OR SPACE IN YOUR HOME TO WORK, DO SO AND ONLY BE IN THAT SPACE DURING WORKING HOURS. SHUT YOUR OFFICE DOOR, PUT THE COMPUTER AWAY, POUR A GLASS OF WINE, COOK A NICE DINNER, DO WHAT YOU GOTTA DO TO END YOUR WORKDAY.