I have worked remotely for startups off and on since 2008. Over the years, my work-from-home setup has varied quite a lot. I’ve worked remotely across different apartments and houses and even from different countries. Throughout my career, I have discovered a few tips and habits that help keep my life balanced and my work productive. I thought I’d share some with you now in light of the coronavirus pandemic, which is resulting in many people working from home for the first time in their lives.
Get up, shower, and put on your “outside clothes.” Pretend that you’re leaving the house and need to look at least semi-presentable. Otherwise, you may just languish in your pajamas all day and then look at the clock and realize that it’s 12pm and you haven’t brushed your teeth. That’s not a good way to get into a productive headspace. So, stick to the normal hygiene routine you’d have if you were going to an office.
Create a dedicated workspace in your home. Most people who are working remotely right now are doing it on short notice and not for the long haul. I’m betting you may not have an entire room of your house ready to use as an office. (But if you do, that’s great! Go ahead and set up a desk in there.) That’s OK. Even just carving out a spot in the dining room or living room will help you feel more established in a routine. Try to avoid your bedroom, as that’s where rest happens and you may encounter sleep problems if that same space becomes associated with work.
Go for a walk outside. Now that many areas are getting more locked down in light of the coronavirus pandemic, this may not be possible for you right now. However, if you are feeling well and can safely leave your home without coming into close proximity with other people, my non-medical-professional advice would be to do it (if it’s permitted by your local government, of course). Even if it’s a short walk around the block, you’ll likely find you feel refreshed and a little less stressed and anxious. So, walk outside if that’s an option for you. Here in King County, the advice is to stay at least six feet away from other people if you need to go out so keep that in practice during your walk outside. If you can’t go out, maybe do laps around the house or up and down stairs.
Take breaks! This one is important. I’ve certainly been guilty in the past of feeling like, because I’m afforded the luxury of working from home instead of in an office, I must be literally sitting in front of my computer ready and available every minute that I’m on duty. Stop and think about how you’d really be going about your day if you were in an office, though. You would be chatting with your coworkers at your desks now and then, taking leisurely strolls to the coffee machine and back, grabbing takeout, etc… It’s not particularly healthy to be glued to your screen for eight hours straight, so remember to take breaks. Again, keep in mind what an in-office routine might look like and emulate that as best you can from your home workspace.
Out of sight, out of mind. A lot of newly remote workers have a hard time separating work life from home life. This can result in accidentally putting in longer hours, leading to insomnia, burnout, and overall higher stress levels. Nobody wants that—not even your manager! When your work is done, hide it. If you have an office, this probably just means closing your office door and walking away. For other people, it may mean mean storing your laptop in a case and then putting it in a drawer or even under the bed. That may sound a little silly, but not seeing the tools that you use to work all of the time will prevent you from feeling like you’re “on the clock” 24/7 while you’re working remotely.
Here’s a bonus tip for people who are WFH with a partner or family member around right now:
Wear headphones while you’re on a work call! This is kind of a no-brainer, but if you’re used to in-person meetings, this may not come naturally to you. Many headphones come with a decent built-in mic these days. So, not only will wearing AirPods or over-the-ear headphones be a nice thing to do for those around you in your house, it’ll also result in better sound quality for your coworkers on the other end of the line. Win-win.
By the way, I don’t follow 100% of these tips 100% of the time, so please cut yourself some slack if you wind up having an afternoon where you forget to put on “outside” pants—though maybe don’t forget to wear at least a decent shirt if you’re on a video call. We’re all just doing our best to get through an unprecedented situation.
There are lots of other things you can do to keep yourself healthy and productive while working remotely. I’d love to share them with you. Please feel free to email me or leave a comment with questions or feedback.
Stay safe out there.