Working from home — what works, what doesn’t.
Today, more than ever, we are working from home.
While most of us work for companies that have already been encouraging homeoffice, it can be quite an adjustment to shift from working at home one day a week to constantly being at home.
So how can we stay focused and keep strict boundaries?
In this article, I will share my personal tips for how to interact with colleagues at this time and how to discipline yourself. I hope that you find these tips useful in finding your daily routine.
Let’s start with some general tips:
Set clear boundaries between work and leisure
Working from home can blur the lines between work and leisure quite a bit. Your first instinct in the morning will be to start work and breaks might blur with work time. I cannot emphasize this enough: set working hours and stick to them.
To keep your work and private life separate, create a “work” and a “leisure” space. Don’t blur the lines between these spaces and avoid working in your leisure areas. This will make it easier to switch off when you are done with your workday. If you can, make sure that your workspace is set up outside of your bedroom. Your bedroom should remain a quiet place for sleep and relaxation.
Create boundaries in your own space
If you are sharing your home, make sure to set clear rules with the people in your space. Create a signal to show that you are on a call or don’t want to be disturbed. This way, you won’t be interrupted during important meetings.
Take care of yourself
Working at home, you might find yourself neglecting some elements of self-care. Creating a daily routine will help you organize your day. Start your day by setting an alarm at least 30 minutes before your workday starts. This will allow you to get ready for the day, shower and change out of your pajamas. Keep the same routine as if you were going to the office.
While a daily routine will help you stay on track, it is important that you are aware of loneliness and isolation. Set-up a daily check-in with a friend and go outside once per day. Get some fresh air! The change of scenery will do you some good.
Time at work
If your team is new to working from home, communicating might not come as naturally as in the office. Make it a point to overcommunicate with your colleagues. Share more than you would on a day at the office. This will make everyone feel like they are in the loop and aware of what is going on. Remember that the short conversations you have at the office don’t happen when you are working from home, so don’t be shy to grab your phone and call your colleagues.
To keep you accountable and help you dress for the day, schedule at least one video call per day. This can be an important meeting or simply a virtual coffee date with a colleague. Scheduling these calls will make it a lot easier for you to get ready as if you were actually going to the office.
Remember, it’s okay and encouraged to take breaks from your workday. Schedule your lunch, coffee and mental breaks. Don’t forget to take them at the scheduled time and don’t cut them short. If you are struggling to take your full breaks, use an app to lock your computer for a certain amount of time: you won’t be able to get back to work until the time has elapsed.
Winding down
Once your workday has ended, make sure to shut off your computer and turn off any notifications related to work. Especially if you are using a personal device. I personally find it helpful to end my day with a routine. Usually, I take one hour to workout, make myself a nice dinner, check-in with my family, and unwind with a book or a movie.
Most importantly, find a daily routine that works for you. The perfect routine for working from home will be different for everyone. What works for me might not be the best for you.
Staying on track
To help you stay on track, I’ve put together a checklist that you can use every day. This will help you stay accountable and increase productivity. Want the PDF? Reach out to me for your own copy.
