Working From Home During COVID 19

Working remotely is something that is new to so many of us right now during this time of COVID 19 Stay at Home orders. It can be easy to allow yourself to be distracted or feel out of sorts when not sticking to your regular schedule. Here are a few tips to help set yourself up for success when working from home. 

Stick to your schedule – get up at the same time as you would to come into the office. Sign in and be ready to go at the same time you would sign in at the office. Take lunch and other breaks at the same time as normal. Maintain your regular hours the best that you can.

Get up. Dress up. Show up. – it is easy to get distracted when you’re at home in your comfy pjs. Show up and stick to your routine, including getting dressed for the office. 

Have a dedicated work space – if you are lucky enough to have an home office, you’re all set. However, for some finding a dedicated work space can be challenging. Make sure that you have a “working” space and a “living space”. Perhaps you work from the dining room table and use the sofa for relaxing away from the computer.

Take breaks – take a few minutes to step away from your work and get some fresh air. I’ve been taking two mile walks around my neighborhood on my lunch breaks and it really helps to get outside for some fresh air. Studies actually show that taking short and regular breaks can actually increase your productivity. 

Water cooler chat – working in an office environment is pretty social, so it can feel pretty lonely when working from home. Schedule virtual meetings with your coworkers through plaforms like Zoom. Or start a group text and chat with coworkers throughout the day. Bonus points if can help brighten the boredom with some funny cat memes. Just letting your coworkers know you miss them and are thinking about them can make a huge difference in their day (and yours)!

Over communicate – we can feel pretty detached from what others on our teams are working on. So communicate as much as you can. Check in and let your team know when you finish or start new tasks. 

Ergonomically speaking – when setting up your work space, think about the ergonomics of your space. Make sure your furniture is comfortable and meets the needs of your set up. Do you have everything you need in order to work comfortably in this space throughout your day?

Stop scrolling – digital distractions are a real thing when working from home. Social media can be a real time suck and it is easy to fall into a rabbit hole of your Instagram feed or cat videos on YouTube. Turn these off during your working time or set timers for short periods to check social media so you can quickly get back on track. 

Get your tech in order – it can be challenging if you don’t have the right technology in place in order to get your job done. Stock your office space with everything you need: computer, headphones, phone, etc.

I hope these tips help you ease into a more comfortable working space. If you have any other tips, let me know in the comments below.