I’ve been working from home since 2005 so it is not something new for me. However, I know for some of you it can be a big adjustment to go from working outside the home to working from home with a spouse and kids home all day.
Working from home has had a lot of benefits for me, but it can also definitely be a challenge.
Since I’ve been working from home for so long, I thought I would share what has worked for me and what hasn’t. If you are still struggling to adjust to this new normal, I hope you find some of these tips helpful.
Boundaries
It’s important to set boundaries around your work and your personal life now that you will be doing both from home.
- Have a family meeting. Sit down with your family and explain to them how important it is that you have a good amount of time during the day to complete your work. Get everyone on board.
- Specify your “work” hours. Decide when you will be working. Will it be 8am – noon and then 1-5 or do you have different work hours? I would also break it up. Maybe work from 8-10 in the morning, take a break, then go back for an hour or two before lunch. Take a break at lunch and maybe go for a walk. Then work for a few more 1-2 hour chunks after lunch and before dinner. I try to stop and walk away from my desk by 5:00 or 5:30 so I can focus on dinner, family time and relaxing.
- Talk about Zoom and conference call rules. If you’ll be taking a lot of calls or conducting Zoom meetings make sure everyone in your house understands what they can and cannot do during those times. (Ex: No vacuuming, if the dog is barking please help quiet him or put him in another room, no putting away dishes, etc.)
Start Your Day Off On the Right Foot
Days can blur together when you work from home. It’s important to incorporate a routine and to take care of yourself before you get to work.
- Quiet time. Take some time for yourself first thing. Set an alarm if you have to so that you can wake up before everyone else. Read your Bible, journal and pray. Spend some time with an app like Headspace and practice deep breaths and mediating. Clear your head before you begin the day.
- Exercise. Typically I exercise after my quiet time and before I start working. As we all know exercise is not only good for your body, it’s good for your mind. You will appreciate the extra energy and the mental boost as you begin your day.
- Chores. Making the bed sets a good tone for the day. I usually do that first thing (once we are both up), and then I clean up the kitchen (after breakfast) and start a load of wash. Creating a routine creates more structure in your day.
Staying Focused
Staying focused may be your biggest challenge. The dog is barking, your kids are calling you from the other room, Fed Ex just delivered a package, etc. Needless to say there are many distractions at home. Here is how I manage them and create a peaceful working environment.
- Set your top 3 priorities for the day. There are a lot of planners these days that incorporate the Top 3 priorities into the daily or weekly format. It’s such an easy way to prioritize what you should focus on. This tip is probably the most helpful tip I have. Once I set my Top 3 priorities for the day, I do everything I can to make sure they are completed. Once those 3 are completed I feel such a sense of accomplishment. Anything else I complete is a bonus.
- Work on one task at a time. Admittedly, this one is a constant struggle for me. I want to have all of my to-do’s done all at once. Attempting to work on many projects at once usually ends with me wasting more time than needed as I start and stop different projects. I wrote more about this more in my “Single Tasking” post.
- Work on your hardest projects first thing in the morning. I’ve written about “Eating Your Frog” in a couple of posts like this one on “Staying Focused“. The key to accomplishing your most daunting task is doing it first thing in the morning. That way the worst is behind you. This has been so helpful to me over the years. You are your best and brightest in the morning anyway (after coffee of course) so it’s a good time to use your energy on the biggest task. T
- Have a designated work area (with a door). This is a must if you have trouble focusing and if you need to be on a lot of conference or video calls. I spent a year or so working from our living room and it was almost impossible to stay focused when my family was home. You need to be able to close a door and even put a note up if you are on a call or need an hour to accomplish that daunting task we talked about above.
ErGoNomic Workspace
For a lot of you this could be a very temporary time of working at home. If you feel that’s the case, I would still do your best with the means you have to make your work space as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. Your back will thank you later.
I’ve worked from home for so many years and for many of them I didn’t really understand ergonomics and I paid the price – literally and figuratively.
Over time my back, neck and shoulders started to have pains that I had not experienced before. I even had hip, knee and foot pain that led me to physical therapy sessions. It’s no joke. Bad posture can lead from one muscle group to the next. Ergonomics are very important. Check out this article from webmd for more information.
I know some people may not work on their computer all day and they spend more of their time on phone calls (not video calls). This does change the priorities because you can stand up, walk around, and go outside while you are talking. You are not as tied to your desk so the setup and comfort is not as important.
All of that being said, here are my recommendations from my own experience on making your workspace ergonomic and comfortable.
- Desk. If at all possible use an actual desk or table that is at desk height. You could even build a simple shelf desk inside a closet. Working from the couch on your laptop is not ideal.
- Chair. Once I switched from an older office chair to a comfortable (ergonomic) chair, I was amazed how much of a difference it made. Your company may reimburse you for these expenses as well.
- Computer Setup. I have also invested in a monitor, stand, and quiet wireless keyboard for my desk and they all make a huge difference. It’s important that your screen is eye level and that your elbows and forearms are aligned with your desk so that you do not have to hunch your shoulders to type. It takes a little effort to get it just right, but again – it’s so worth it, trust me! Some people also use a foot rest, but I have not used one yet. It’s probably worth trying.
Staying Connected
Another aspect to always keep in mind is staying connected to your team and your boss. Working remotely changes the dynamic of your team and work environment. In this time of uncertainty and possible loss of job security it’s even more important to stay in constant contact with your team, your customers and your boss.
- Take calls. Try to take every call you can, especially from your boss. Even if you are in the middle of something with your family, helping your child with breakfast, or the dog is barking at someone at the front door. Your boss, customers and teammates all understand the new normal. Being available is more important now than it was before.
- Be responsive. Respond to emails as quickly as you can. Even if some projects are taking you longer than expected don’t worry, just communicate that back to your co-workers, boss or customers. When you are no longer in the office together or visiting customers, it’s important they still feel like you are accessible.
Everyone’s situation is different, but I hope these tips have helped you as you navigate this new normal and adjust to working from home. Take it one day at a time. 🙂