In the last few months a number of people have transitioned to working from home. For some, this has been an exciting adventure and possibly something they’d always hoped to be able to do, while others have been struggling to work from home. I have been working exclusively from home since I started doing freelance writing full-time approximately a year ago.
I love my work and I love the flexibility of being able to work from home but it isn’t always easy. For me, the perks of being able to work from home are not having to commute, eating at home which saves me money because I have always been terrible at packing lunches, more flexibility in my schedule and spending time with my cat. But, of course, my home is also full of distractions.
So, here are the things I’ve learned over the last year about effectively working from home.
Tips for Working from Home
- Have A Routine. Having a routine is helpful to maintain consistency in our lives. Having a regular work schedule with a consistent wake up time can help us to get into the work mindset. I find that having a morning ritual helps to get me going
- Plan Your Meals (and try to eat healthy). Eating healthy is good for our brains and our bodies and planning meals ahead of time can make sure that we don’t forget as well as prevent us from just snacking all day long. I am definitely guilty of both snacking as well as forgetting to eat completely. It’s also helpful to take your meal times as a conscious break from work rather than sitting in front of your computer or at your desk
- Create An Office Space (and get dressed for work). Having a specific space for working sets the tone for work, so if you’re able, set up an office space. Doing so makes it easier to be in the mindset for work when you enter the space as well as allow you to take breaks by removing yourself from the space.
- Avoid Distractions. Take some time to consider what your typical distractions are and devise some strategies for removing the distractions, or consider delegating specific times to allow yourself time for these activities. For example, email and social media are two of the biggest distractions these days. So, schedule time for both of these activities into your day. Yes, even email. Regularly switching between tasks does not make us good multi-taskers (multi-tasking is a lie) it just distracts us and impacts our overall productivity. So, consider turning off email notifications and only replying at particular times throughout the day and when you’ve completed other tasks.
- Stay Connected. Working from home can be challenging when the only interaction you have is with your pet and that can feel isolating. So, try to find ways to stay connected throughout your day, either schedule video check ins with your co-workers or schedule time to interact with others during your breaks.
- Don’t Forget Movement. Physical exercise is an important part of our daily routine and working from home can make it easy to be sedentary. Schedule some type of moment into your day, consider using the time that was previously allocated to your commute to exercise (it can also be a great way to start your day).
What to do when you’re struggling to work
You know those days where you just can’t seem to focus on anything? You just stare at your computer screen, or switch between tasks without actually accomplishing anything. We all have those days so don’t feel too badly about it. But here are some things that work for me on those difficult days.
When I struggle to get started
When I have difficulty even getting started with my day it’s typical due to a few reasons (1) I didn’t sleep well or I slept in late, (2) I didn’t follow my regular morning routine.
My typical morning routine is to start the coffee, while that’s brewing I brush my teeth, wash my face and get dressed. Then while I drink my coffee I answer all of my work emails and other work notifications. This helps to get the ball rolling with getting something accomplished.
If I am having trouble getting started I typically need to step away from my work space and then come back to it. I find the best activity to do in this case is something physical, I will either do a set of push ups and squats or go for a short walk around my neighbourhood.
When I can’t focus or I’m getting distracted
When I get distracted in the middle of my day it’s often because I haven’t taken a break yet or I haven’t eaten. So, the best thing to do is take a break for lunch.
If this isn’t the reason for my inability to focus another strategy may work. I look at my to-do list and pick one task to work on (typically I will choose the task I’ve been procrastinating because getting it off my to-do list helps to reduce my stress) then set a timer. I tell myself that I am only going to focus on this task for that amount of time (I typically start with 10 minutes) and generally I end up being able to do more than I thought. This can also help at the beginning of the day if you’re struggling to get started.
It can also be advantageous to employ the help of friends who are also working from home. You can schedule productivity check ins as well as remind one another to take your scheduled breaks.
Happy working from home!