WFH: How to Stay Sane & Be Productive While Working from Home
Hello friends, family, & colleagues!
We’re about to be forced into on the largest social experiment I believe we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes: most of the workforce is about to work from home in self-isolation. Among my family, friend group, and colleagues, almost everyone is social distancing and attempting to work from home.
Most of you know that I’ve been a freelancer for 6+ years. Most of those years I have had a home office, and have worked solo alongside my cats. My husband travels for a living, and he leaves Monday mornings (yes, every Monday, to return every Thursday). This means unless I purposefully seek out human interaction, I am alone and have to work on my own schedule and within my own deadlines. Over the years, I’ve learned about various tools & resources that have made working from home not only much easier, but fun & exciting!
Below are my tips and resources for working from home.
Free Resources for Working from Home
Need to quickly record your screen, an explainer video, or both? Loom is a fantastic resource that will quickly allow you to record yourself or your screen and then share the link with others.
Whereby.com - Free Easy Video Conferencing
Whereby is my favorite of all the video conferencing options. Whereas Zoom requires you to make an account and download an app, with Whereby, you simply set up a URL and then everyone goes to it. Easy peasy.
Dropbox Paper - Free Document Workspace
I wish I could write a love letter to Dropbox Paper. If you find Google Drive clunky and hard to navigate like me, try out this great alternative.
While at home, you might not have access to your normal tools or planner. If you are looking for a way to manage tasks, Asana is how I do it. It’s very easy to set up tasks and deadlines, and it’s free!
Slack is my favorite app. No chat system works better for keeping conversation streamlined. If you’re a woman working from home and enjoy live collaboration and worried about missing it, please email me as I own a Female-Only Slack Channel for Creatives called Creative Recess. We’d love to have you.
My Tips for Working from Home
Create a dedicated space.
This one seems obvious, but a lot of us will get excited about the idea that we can now sit in the living room and turn on The Office or our other favorite show while we work. The truth is, most of us can’t truly multi-task. You’ll end up spending more time working because it will take longer if you’re not focused.
Working in a dedicated space also tricks the mind into understanding that you are now in a different zone of thinking. No longer are you in “home” mode, but “work” mode. Everything else can wait!
My tips:
You won’t be using that guest bedroom for a while! Push the bed to the side and find a table to work on.
Work in your kitchen, but face AWAY from the fridge & sink if you can.
Any space that faces a window is great for concentration, getting sunlight, and avoiding tasks around the house.
Put on Work Clothes Anyway
Put away the pitchforks, I’m standing by this one! Yes, the allure of wearing sweatpants while taking a conference call is strong. Similarly to creating a dedicated space to trick the mind, so does putting on real clothing. I’m not necessarily saying you need to be in your slacks and collared shirt like normal, but the simple act of getting ready for the day is hugely important when working at home. I notice a significant difference on days when I do decide to “take it easy.” I feel less motivated and less put together all around.
My tips:
If you’re still rolling your eyes, at least try putting on a “nicer” pair of sweatpants versus pajama pants.
Make a special work from home skincare routine you do to get your mind in the zone.
Find Your Communication Style
No more in-person meetings. No more walking over to that colleague’s desk to ask a quick question. No, my friend, you will have to find another way to communicate. And I’m not just talking about business. Staying social is essential to your mental health. Grabbing a quick lunch or taking a coffee break with colleagues builds community. If you can’t chat with co-workers about WestWorld in the morning, what are you going to do?
You’ll find a new way to communicate. If your company doesn’t offer Slack or Teams, you can make your own free account or use Google Hangouts. There are lots of great desktop apps to still stay connected. Or, offer to create a weekly group call where you can support each other within the company.
My tips:
Reach out. You never know when someone does actually need to talk but is too hesitant to admit it.
Come join me on Slack (ladies only). I allow anyone to make their own private channels.
Slack is free! You also can search for public Slack channels to connect with new people.
Treat Every Day Like a Normal Work Day
I know, easier said than done. But, essentially, you are doing the same work, at the same job, with the same people, just like always! You have the capacity to do great things even while working digitally. In fact, as long as you have a computer, your job is essentially going to be like those days when you don’t have any meetings. I live for those days. This tip also goes back to my previous tips: if your mind can shift slightly to “work” mode, you’re more likely to succeed.
My tips:
Do you grab coffee at work every single morning? Make it at home, too! Keep your normal workday routine, from coffee to snacks.
Keep normal working hours. The single biggest thing I regret is not keeping a 8:30 - 6:00 schedule. I’ve been open about my sleep struggles in the past. Working from home allowed me to work from 10:00 - 7:00, which isn’t necessarily great for my health.
Make Yourself #1
…like you always should be! Your health is still the most important thing. Without your health, what are you even working for? If your mental health is suffering, reach out to a friend. If you are finding that you’re working long hours, please try to take walks. I have a horrible tendency to start work late and then completely skip lunch because I get so focused on work. You read that right: it’s possible to get in a zone even while working from home!
My tips:
Get some fresh air. Open a window, take a walk. Even getting sunlight (since it’s finally stopped raining in Atlanta) can do wonders for your health and mood.
Practice gratitude. On my free downloadable planner, I have a space for gratitude. By jotting down something you’re grateful for every day, you keep positivity in your mind.
Keep in mind that you work to live, you don’t live to work.
In short, working from home is doable. I’ve been doing it for 6+ years! I use these tips every single day. My typical routine consists of getting a good night’s sleep, making coffee in the morning, working from 10:00 - 1:30, making lunch, and then working until I feel comfortable stopping. This sometimes means 5:00, and it sometimes means 8:30. I make sure I prioritize my health and balance it with work.
Please comment below with YOUR work from home tips.
All illustrations from the amazing Ouch.pics.
