Working From Home is Easy…Said No One Ever

1)    Stay organized: keep a shared family calendar that includes each family member’s schedule. Block out “Do Not Disturb” times for important meetings or calls.

2)    Carve out a designated space—your space may have been taken over by your children for remote school so make sure you designate your own area and have all of the supplies you need handy.

3)    Create a morning routine: one of the toughest aspects for many working from home is the lack of a commute which means getting dressed and up and out of the house. Make sure you create some sort of routine which signifies it’s time to work.

4)    Schedule breaks during the day. Get up and walk around your apartment or house; make a cup of tea and drink it away from your computer

5)    Check in with the colleagues during the day to socialize—try to recreate the “water cooler” conversations when possible.

6)    Communicate more than you think you need to. One of the most challenging parts of working from home is a lack of connectedness on projects and work flow. Make sure to communicate with managers, colleagues, etc. utilizing their preferred method of communication—phone, Zoom, Slack, text, etc.

7)    Collaborate when you can. Working a project with a colleague? Set up a Google Doc to share ideas in real time.

8)    Take time off. Even though working from home allows you to spend more family time, it’s far from a vacation. Take some “real” time off for a staycation or a road trip. Many of us will lose our vacation days if we don’t use them by the end of 2020.

9)    Schedule an “in-person” meeting when possible…whether a walk in the park or in the office. Zoom is great, but there is nothing better than seeing a colleague face to face.

10) Have a real end to your day. Without a commute home it’s hard to know when to step away from your WFH office. End your day by making a to-do list for tomorrow; signing off and closing your screens.