Working from home presents new challenges, these tips can help you succeed.
Lately, many people are transitioning to working from home either part or full-time. Some companies have opted to keep the WFH trend going even after it is deemed safe to return to the office. While this can be a great opportunity for companies to save money and for employees to save gas and commute time, it also creates challenges in the balance of home life and work life.
After managing my own hybrid work environment, speaking with others who’ve made the transition or mastered this work environment for years, I compiled some tips to help you be productive and balanced in the WFH gig.
Create a Work Space
Not everyone has a designated “home office”, but it is important to find a space to claim as your work area, which is somewhere away from distractions and noise. Here is a list of other suggestions:
- Create a workspace with a table or small desk and pull up a comfortable chair that you are able to sit in for an extended period or time.
- Keep your work area organized and separate from the rest of the house.
- Find a spot to hang notes, reminders, To-Do lists.
- Utilize a portable file holder or save files digitally.
- Check with your employer on any items they can provide: chair, monitors, printers.
Regardless of your set up, make it known to your family that this is YOUR space and not a catch-all for the rest of the household.
Zoom Etiquette
When setting up your workspace, make sure to take into account any line-of-site distractions or items that might show up in your virtual meetings. Inappropriate pictures? People walking around in the background? How many funny videos have we seen online showing people who are not aware of their surroundings? It is a good idea to seclude yourself as much as possible during these meetings. Hang a sign, have a wall behind you, and don’t forget the pants.
Have Kids at Home?
This year presented a new challenge: kids attending school online and parents having to juggle the loss of childcare while working at home. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and pulled in a million directions. Please know that all you can do is your best, and work on getting into a routine so everyone knows what the day will look like.
- Post school and work schedules where everyone has access.
- Set alarms for class time and breaks.
- Plan your day the night before so you know what is coming.
- If you have younger kids who are not yet in school: use online resources to plan activities, find educational shows to serve as a distraction when needed.
Many people are facing this dilemma right now, so reach out to friends and neighbors to see what resources they are using. Do the best you can. Not every day will be perfect and that is okay.
Plan Ahead
As I mentioned above, it will be extremely helpful to plan your day. Nothing creates stress or panic like realizing you have an important meeting while trying to help one of your kids transition into a new class or realizing they have 30 minutes to eat lunch.
Establish a daily schedule where you can easily see everyone’s day and pinpoint where timing issues may arise. Include lunch and stretch breaks that can lineup with times you may need to be unavailable. Block your work calendar during these times to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Take Breaks
Sometimes working from home can turn into a time-suck, where you sit in front of your computer for 10 hours straight before you realize you haven’t had lunch. Avoid this, it can lead to burn out and is terrible for your body and overall health.
When creating your daily schedule, be intentional about including times to eat, move around, stretch or even meditate, whatever refills your cup. Add these activities to your daily schedule.
I try to set aside time for exercise whenever I am working from home. If I do not schedule this intention I end up sitting all day, which science has shown to have a negative effect on overall health. Plus, taking breaks allows your brain to recharge so you can come back to your tasks refreshed.
Task Oriented? Use Time blocks
If your job is task driven, it may benefit you to use time blocks and break down your day even more. Instead of scheduling general work and break time, make a list of the specific tasks you need to complete and plug them into your daily schedule.
Decide how much time you need to designate to each item and plan your day that way. You may need to be flexible as things come up (especially with kids), but this gives you a clearer picture of what your day will look like and it helps you gauge where you are in your day.
Work Mindset
When I first started working from home, it was easy and actually enjoyable to roll out of bed and not even bother getting dressed. I was getting more sleep and my hair definitely benefited from not being washed every day. This is a great perk, but doesn’t always create the most productive environment… and then there is the unanticipated Zoom meeting.
Getting up at your normal time, wearing actual clothes and brushing your hair will develop a different energy which may help you feel more accomplished. After awhile, sitting around in your pajamas starts to feel sad and unproductive. Also, without a commute, you may notice you have more time to start your day: a relaxing cup of coffee, a work out, maybe even some alone time before everyone else is awake. This will make a huge difference in your mindset for the day.
Close the Loops
My dad teaches a workshop on Stress and Time Management, and one great thing he shared with me was David Allen’s concept of “open loops”. Everyone has a collection of open loops each day (this can include personal or work-related tasks).
Specific “loops” can enter your mind a number of times a day, and it is how you receive and act upon them that affects stress and time management. To create balance while working from home have a system in place to collect open loops, organize them and then evaluate whether they are actionable.
When tasks, ideas and worries come into your mind, create a way to organize this information.
- Keep a list either on paper or your phone,
- Use voice notes if you are driving.
- Set aside time at the end of each day to evaluate your open loops.
- Organize these items into tasks for the next day.
- If it is not something you can address now, schedule it for a later time. If it is not an actionable item, let it go!
Know When to Turn Off
A known issue with working from home is 24-hour access. It can be difficult to set boundaries in this environment and easy to get sucked into checking email and working past your typical hours. Sometimes this can be a great advantage if you need to flex some of your work time due to obligations – like your kids’ school schedule. However, it can also lead to burnout if you are not careful with how accessible you make yourself.
You not only need to set boundaries with your employer, but set them with yourself as well. There should be a hardline time where you unplug for the day and are focused on yourself and your family. For some positions, this can be difficult, especially at a supervisory level. You can still be accessible without being on your computer all night. Let co-workers and employees know you are reachable by text if there is an emergency and if someone really needs you they will let you know. Take this time to recharge for the next day and enjoy yourself and family.
Hopefully some of these tips will help you balance your new work from home life. Give yourself some time and grace to adapt to your new situation. Do you have any additional tips? Please feel free to comment below!
