Working From Home Like a Boss

COVID-19 has changed our life - at least for the short term, I hope! Many of us are now working from home in an effort to stop the spread of the virus and the likelihood of contracting it. For some of us, the idea of working from home (WFH) sounds pretty good (hello to getting all my home chores done during the week!) until you realise that there’s actual work work to be done. And those distractions aren’t helping you in the slightest. So, I’ve put together a few tips for staying motivated and on track while working from home. 

Oh, and try not to call it remote work - you might be tempted to pick up the remote - you know what I mean?

Here are my six tips to work from home like a boss

1. GET OUT OF YOUR PYJAMAS

I know, you think wearing your pjs all day is actually a perk of working from home but I suggest you get dressed. Wear some clothes, people! Make out that you are actually working. Wearing clothes lets you mentally shift from early morning “home” mode to work mode—and you’ll be ready to tackle that day’s responsibilities as soon as you sit down in front of your computer. Also, you may have a bit more credibility if you have a parcel delivered.

2. DEDICATED OFFICE SPACE

Make sure your dedicated work space isn't the same space as your dedicated tv watching space or your sleeping space. Those two lures can be difficult to ignore and resist. I made the mistake of working from my bed for the first hour of day one WFH and hello, hunchback! It’s definitely not the way to go. If you don’t have a study or office space that's not overrun by your partner or kids, your dining table will do just fine.

3. STAY FOCUSSED AND AVOID DISTRACTIONS

Start with a clean and tidy house - there’s nothing like a pile of unwashed clothes or a stack of dirty dishes vying for your attention, creating a showdown and making work focus impossible. On my first WFH day this week, the dirty clothes were daring me to look at them the entire day and literally shouting, “WASH ME!”  Did you notice what I did there with the caps lock? Loud shouting. Obviously, I caved in.

Plan and make your lunch before you start your work day. This eliminates the ambiguity around ‘what’s for lunch?’ and may kerb your trips to the fridge every 10 minutes. Shall we talk about snacks here as well? At the office, you get distracted and walk over to a colleague and start talking. At home, you’re often alone, so you walk over to that bag of chips and start eating. We know that eating foods that are high in sugar and carbs during the day will cause an energy slump in the afternoon—and when your bed and couch are within reach, well you know how that’s going to end. Don’t you?

4. TAKE REGULAR BREAKS

I recommend you take frequent short breaks. Stretch those shoulders and back. Go on, do it - do it right now.  Even better, put on your trainers and take a short walk around the block and get some fresh air. Just five minutes of doing this will make a world of difference to your day. If you’re struggling to commit, use a timer to remind you to take a break. 

5. EXERCISE

The time you’re saving by not commuting to and from work, can be used to start a new routine. What could you do with that time? - it could be yoga, writing that best-selling novel, practising your photography skills. My tip (besides practising photography 😜)  - exercise. Not only will it improve your physical wellbeing (not to mention your much needed immune system) but it will also improve your emotional well being and mental acuity. With all that going for you, you may be in a good headspace to start writing that novel.  

6. COMMUNICATE 

When you’re working from home you have to make sure you are putting in the effort to communicate with your co-workers. It can be easy to feel a little isolated, although if your family is also at home, that’s probably not going to be a concern for you. Regular communication with your team members and/or boss is important to establish a sense of connectedness. That might mean letting team members or your boss know what you’re working on or getting an opinion on a project or even sharing a funny article you’ve read (and let’s face it the #coronavirus #selfisolate #quarantine memes are hilarious!).

I have a Messenger work group where we basically debrief and share all the funnies throughout the day.

That’s it folks! Stay sane, stay happy, don’t hoard food and toilet paper and sanitizer and we’ll get through this! 

Get up, get dressed and LEAVE THIS ROOM!

Fair enough!