As someone who has worked from home in the past, the WFH life can be an adjustment. Especially when it’s amidst a worldwide pandemic. (You can read our Letter from the Editor for more information on how we’re dealing with it). So in today’s blog post I’m sharing 6 tips for working at home productively. I’ve tested what works (and doesn’t) so you don’t have to.
1. Create a designated “office.”
You may not have a room you can convert to an office. That’s okay. As long as you designate a part of the house (like your kitchen table) this will help create “office” mindset. I would recommend decorating if you have the space and items lying around the house to make it more comfortable. My desk in my bedroom now has a secondary monitor, notebooks, pens, and a master calendar for me to reference. And of course don’t forget the plants and candles!
P.S. Do not under any circumstances make your bed your office. Believe me, you won’t get any work done.
2. Change out of your pajamas
From experience, it can be so easy to pop out of bed, make your coffee and then sit down and start typing at your computer. You don’t need to dress like you’re off to work, but at least change out of your pjs. That way you can avoid that mid-afternoon “I feel gross and haven’t showered in days” feeling.
3. Have a getting ready routine
Following #2, I recommend having a getting ready routine. Personally, I like to shower, change, then make breakfast, have my coffee and dive into work. I also like to skip my makeup routine (unless I’m going to be video conferencing) to give my skin a break.
4. Take your normal breaks (added points for a virtual coffee)!
When I’m at the office, I tend to take a short coffee break mid morning before lunch with a few of my team members. Just because you’re no longer in the same spot, doesn’t mean you can’t chat! I like to set up a few “virtual coffees” a week with friends or teammates to simulate that office life experience.
5. Stick to a schedule
At my job, some days I have 1 meeting, some days I have 7 meetings (and have 15 minutes for lunch). It can be hard to stick to a schedule religiously. But when I can, I’ve found that having a routine at home makes the day go by faster and is more productive.
6. Start your day with a to-do list
I do this every morning when I get to the office, therefore I have no reason not to continue it at home. The secret to my productivity is this master list. One list is work related and is broken down by project. The other list is personal and includes things like school work, blogging, and home tasks. Nothing is more satisfying than checking items off the list!
Thanks for reading our tips for working from home! Have you worked from home? What’s worked for you?
