10 Work from Home Tips

Since graduating from college, I have had 3 corporate world jobs, all of which have provided me the flexibility of working remotely from home. Some companies were more flexible than others; however, the perk is welcomed in any capacity. 

I am so grateful for this because with the recent COVID-19 crisis, I have had practice disciplining myself while working remote. Since this is not new to me, I wanted to share my tips for working from home. 

The first time it happens you’re either so excited to work from your couch and lounge or you’re so nervous you work as soon as you get up until you go to bed, neither option is good practice. But! If you have ever worked from home you’ve been there 😉

Anyways, on to the list!

1. Routine, routine, routine
   • Have a routine in place just as you would going to the office. This will look different for everyone. Maybe your routine includes writing out your schedule for the day, or maybe you have it all on your online calendar; either way you definitely need some structure or you could end up in down a rabbit hole of over/under production, both of which have their pitfalls. Overproduction could mean burnout or missed communication, while under production can cause missed deadlines and sloppy work.  
2. Make your bed
   • I know this sounds trivial, but hear me out! Making your bed gets you moving in the morning and gives you 1 accomplishment early in the day, setting you up for a day of getting $h!+ done! Like the boss babe or boss boo you know you are!
3. Get ready for the day!
   • It’s tempting to just roll out of bed and onto your workstation, but don’t do that. It won’t set you up for success. Now, I’m not saying shower and put on your business attire, but get out of your pajamas and brush your teeth at minimum. Going for a workout on lunch? Get in your active wear and put your hair up! Getting ready will lead to more productivity after work, you won’t feel like you can’t run errands or meet a friend because you haven’t showered yet. 
4. Location Matters
   • Don’t subject yourself to a place you know you will get distracted and definitely avoid working in your bed. You want to keep your bedroom or at the very least your actual bed a place of rest, if you start to work in your bed it will be a huge detriment to your sleep schedule. Have an office? Great, use it! Dont? Find the place that works best for you. 
5. Sound or Silence?
   • Decide what you need, do you like background noise? Do you prefer silence? Do whichever makes you the most productive. Don’t throw on the news just because you’re home if it will be a distraction.
6. Be Early to Work
   • I’m not saying start work an hour early at all. I’m saying get to your work space 5-15 minutes before you need to start and log on, make sure you have your coffee or tea, water, and any materials you need to get going. This way, you’ll be ready to start right on time and dive right into work and address anything coming your way.
7. Breaks
   • Take breaks throughout the day as if you were in the office. Set alarms if  you need a reminder. Step away from your office/work area and grab a coffee, fill your water bottle, have a snack, or switch over your laundry. I’m not saying do a full chore and fold your laundry for 30 minutes, but a quick chore of mayeb emptying the dishwasher, vacuum 1 room, take out the trash, etc. These little household tasks not only relieve some of your chores and cleaning, but they get you moving about and completely take your mind off work which will better refocus you when you get back to your work space by giving your mind a break also.
8. Lunch
   • Take a lunch! If you usually work out in the office, still workout! If you usually meal prep, still do that. This is not the time to have ice cream for lunch and feel like a sack of lard for the rest of the work day. Be good to yourself and eat something healthy you enjoy and gives you energy for the rest of the day.
9. Tidy your Work Space
   • Make your office or work space somewhere you want to go in your home. Keep it clean from trash and empty glassware or tumblers. While some people prefer a clean spartan workspace, some people go the extra mile and make their area super cute with matching cork boards and penholders. Whichever you decide, treat it as an office you would go to and coworkers would see. You don’t want to have a gross and messy desk! 
10. Sign off at the end of the day
    • Completely disconnect at the end of the day, don’t even check email! You don’t want your work life and home life blurring even though you are wfh. 

Working from home might not be your gig, especially if you’re an extrovert and love the office interaction. But, do your best to stay connected and enjoy this time not commuting! The recent coronavirus might change the way companies do business and you want to remain flexible and open to change. Disruption can be a time for growth and new experiences. If you’re reading this for the tips, be grateful you are still employed and look to find the positives in your new normal. 

I hope this helped you! Leave some tips below if you think I missed any good ones people can benefit from. Happy WFH!