5 Work from Home Tips

I’ve been thinking about writing this blog for a while. Mostly for people who have just started a job that requires them to work from home/remotely. However, since so many of you out there have just been thrown into this demographic, I thought I’d move this topic up the list.

I’m seeing so many post online about their sudden work from home routines. You’ve discovered that there’s some really bad TV on during the day, as well as the joy of wearing athleisure all day. But I’m getting the drift that not everyone out there realizes what working from home actually means- WORKING, just FROM HOME…

So, color me inspired to share my tips from 20+ years of working remotely…

1. GET DRESSED

   Yes, you’ve probably seen the advice out there telling you to get up and put on business attire. I’m not about to tell you to do that, especially not in the super bizarro world we’re living in right now. But I will say, get up, wash your face & brush your teeth, and put on some damn clothes! It’s hard to get motivated if you’re sitting around in your PJs…. Find something comfortable but nothing you’d be embarrassed to have the UPS guy see you in, and make sure it’s clean! It make feel like you’re living in the apocalypse, but you don’t need to look like it.

2. FIND A QUIET SPACE

   Don’t be that guy on the teleconference with the baby crying/dog barking/toilet flushing. I took a call from someone the other day, and while I realize s/he may be new to working from home right now, I wished she had the sense to go into a room where their kids weren’t BLASTING the TV. If you don’t have an ACTUAL office you can go into, find a table with some space and fewer distractions, maybe designate the kitchen a work zone during business hours, or even take a portable table out to your porch for some seclusion. There are options, you just need to find them and make them clear to the rest of your household.

3. Take Breaks

   Sitting at your desk all day sucks. In an office, you’re likely walk to someone else’s desk to chat, get a coffee refill, or go to meetings. At home, I’ve fallen into traps where I realize I haven’t gotten up out of my seat for 4 hours. I don’t let myself do that anymore… These days, I take morning walks, get in a stretch here and there, and make sure I eat lunch away from my desk. (In normal circumstances, I tend to get out for a mid-morning workout at the gym when it’s less crowded, go run errands during the afternoon slump, & even get out to meet a friend for lunch.)

   You can find many online workouts right now, many offered at various times during the day. If allowed, you can also go for a safely distanced walk/run, or even set a timer on your phone to get up and walk around the house.

4. Put Down the Snacks

   I’m sure some offices out there are famous for leftovers in the break room, vending machines, and coworkers with a giant candy bowl. However, now that you’re working from home, and likely bought out the damn grocery store, you don’t need to replicate the atmosphere in your home. Eat a good breakfast, enjoy your coffee, but don’t keep eating just because you’re sitting next to the refrigerator. Keep set meal times. Hydrate. And if you feel hungry, go for a walk- you probably just think you’re hungry.
   Some people have posted that they are setting out daily baskets of snacks for their kids- so they can choose to eat when they want, but once it’s gone, it’s gone. If you need to, try a similar approach for yourself- just be reasonable about the amount of food you’re putting out each day!

5. Stop WOrking

   Probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned after so many years of working from home is to set boundaries. I have the luxury of having an office with a door, so I close it at the end of the day. If you can’t do that, turn the computer off at the end of your work day. Setting boundaries is important in any area of life, and if you’re actually working instead of staring at mind numbing press conferences and talk show reruns all day, you should be able to shut off your computer and enjoy some time with your family, pets, a virtual happy hour- whatever you’re doing to take care of you. Self care is never selfish. Especially now.

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I hope you find these tips helpful. It’s not always easy to find work/life balance, and now that line has been blurred even more with everyone at home. Just remember to turn off the TV, get some sunshine, and take deep breaths. We’ll get through this together.

If you’ve got any tips to add, feel free to leave them in the comments! I’d love to hear how you’re doing!