Tips for Working From Home
I’ve been working from home since I started my career. If you’re feeling like working from home has you more stressed, and less-productive, don’t worry. It felt like that for me when I first started too. (And there wasn’t even a global pandemic back then!)
Here are some quick tips for having better work days at home. They’re tried and true for me, maybe they’ll be helpful for you.
Get Outside in the Morning
Starting work without leaving the house might feel like a cozy, relaxed move. But come 4pm, you realize you haven’t been outside all day, you won’t feel so relaxed. This is especially painful when the time changes, and it gets dark early.
I find a lot of peace by going for a walk or a run in the morning. Usually its to a local coffee shop, but sometimes it’s just around the block. On really busy days, I just step out to my porch and stand in the sun for a few minutes.
I think there’s a strong mental trigger when we leave the house. A journey is beginning. Things will happen today. We have to put on pants. All of these things are very helpful when we sit down to start working.
Have a Dedicated Workspace
One of the joys of working from home, or working remote, is that you aren’t stuck at the same desk all day. You can sit on the couch, lie down on the carpet, head over to a coffee shop, sit outside. All these options are nice, but they each come with their own set of distractions. When the sun gets too bright, or the hip coffee shop takes away its wifi, productivity plummets.
I find a lot of focus by having a dedicated workspace. I have a desk by my window with speakers, chargers, a swivel chair, and post-it notes. It took a while to really get comfortable in it, but once I did, I stopped going to coffee shops and restaurants to work. This is where I focus best.
A dedicated workspace also serves as a strong mental trigger. When you sit down, it’s time to work. When we stand up, and the laptop closes, work is over.
Take Deliberate Breaks
There’s no shame in opening Instagram for a few minutes when you’re working from home. No one will walk behind your desk and see you scrolling. But we’ve all had those quick breaks turn into mind numbing 30-minute scroll sessions. Then the shame comes all at once. “What did I just do for the past half hour?”
I find it easiest to focus when I set a work timer. 48 minutes on, 12 minutes off. When the timer is on, it’s very easy for me to resist those quick mental Instagram breaks. I can take one when the timer goes off. When the timer goes off, it’s a great time to check out. I usually get up from my desk, grab some water or a snack, text a friend or watch a video.
Working alone can feel isolating. As lame as it sounds, I’ve found a lot of comfort in watching a sitcom or a vlog at lunch. Even watching social interaction brings a good perspective to the day. There’s more to life than just our work bubbles.
Turn It Off
On days with no deadlines, decide when you’re going to turn it off. I usually try to pick a specific time in which I’ll stop working. This helps me focus all the way through that time, and gives my mind a break when it’s time to stop.
When it is time to stop, I often write down outstanding tasks I still need to complete the next day. Then I close the laptop, close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, and prepare myself to be in the moment of what I’m doing next. For 10-15 seconds, I imagine myself genuinely enjoying whatever is coming next, whether its dinner with my fiancee, watching baseball, or meeting a friend. It’s very easy for me to stay in “work mode” late into the evening. This short little meditation makes a huge difference for me.
Good Luck!
It took more than a year to really find my groove working from home. Stay the course, try out a few of these tips. It may feel discouraging, but it can only get better.
