My Top Tips on Working From Home

Ever since I started working, I was curious about remote work. I love to travel and move around, so it would be a dream to be able to do both at the same time. I got that chance when I started my own company. Now, a little over three years in, I’ve learned what it takes to make it work.

To deal with the coronavirus pandemic, follow stay-at-home orders, and social distance, more people now work from home (WFH). If you’ve made the shift, you know this is not as easy as it sounds. It can take time to get your home and life set up so you can be productive.

On the bright side, once you find what works for you, you’ll be able to shift to remote work whenever necessary. Especially while we wait for a vaccine, you may have to switch from the office to home and back to the office.

To speed up your acclimation, I’m giving you a few pointers. I’ve tested so many WFH tips. Some, like the Pomodoro technique, fizzled out like a Fourth of July sparkler. While others, like my early morning routine, have kept my business burning bright. Here are five of my top WFH tips.

1. Keep to a daily schedule.

I love working in the mornings! My thoughts are clear, most people are still sleeping, and I have uninterrupted time to get stuff done. It’s my favorite part of the day! I’m at peace and feel accomplished by the time my family starts to rise.

My morning schedule looks like this. I wake up around 6, practice yoga or meditation, write, and then jump into my top priority. By two pm, I’ve finished my most important task for the day. Next, I’ll focus on meetings, lower priorities, or anything that pops up asking for my attention. This is my schedule Monday to Friday. Pretty normal, right?

This set schedule helps me stay motivated too because I don’t debate what to do or when every morning. That wastes valuable mental energy that I’d rather put into my work. My latest mantra is “plan your work and work your plan.”

2. Set “Do Not Disturb” Boundaries.

I bet it annoys you at the office when you’re deep into a project, and someone walks up and starts talking to you. Rude! The same goes for at home, especially if your kids and partner are home. Your family needs to adjust to you being around and unavailable. You can make that easier for them by setting boundaries. For instance, clarify when they can reach you and when they need to wait.

Also, if possible, don’t give colleagues or clients wide-open access to your calendar. You need to focus on getting your work done. If you chop up your time with Zoom calls throughout the week, it will be hard to cross items off your to-do list.

3. Create the right environment.

At the office, you have your desk, computer, pens, notebooks, and more. You’ll need the same tools at home. If you need a printer or a second screen, then get it. We get so accustomed to our devices and supplies. Without them, our productivity plummets.

Some employers may be willing to reimburse you for the expenses as well. A business can reimburse you for the costs of these items and then write off the expense on their taxes. As an employee, you cannot deduct any job expenses, so it’s a big perk when your employer will cover the costs. Especially for 100% virtual companies, a tech stipend is a common perk.

Beyond the tech needs, you need a set place to work. Your office could be a whole room or a quiet little corner. The most important facet is that it’s somewhere you can focus and keep all your supplies. Moving around and figuring out where to work every day is jarring. So set up a home-base and put it to good use.

An odd yet effective trick is to get some decor and plants. You’ll spend many hours in this home office so make it appealing to me there. It’s much easier to work when you’re in an inspiring, comfortable space.

4. Stay in touch with your boss or clients.

Let’s address the biggest myth about remote work. Remote workers get more tasks done & in less time than office workers. More! Not less!

Your managers may not be comfortable if they can’t see you working. The data doesn’t support their suspicions, but old habits die hard.

Studies show that working from home benefits both employees and companies. Workers finish more daily tasks, spend less time on email, and feel more satisfied with their work. Businesses have less office expense needs and lower employee turnover. Plus, office distractions can destroy your focus. How often are you stuck in meetings that should’ve been emails, answering people who drop by your desk with a not-time-sensitive question, or chit-chatting in the break room? This research showed the increase in WFH productivity could be as high as one extra day of work - per week!

So if your manager is nervous, document your accomplishments and check in to make him or her feel more at ease. You’ll want to know their preferred frequency, so ask if you don’t know.

5. Move around

If you track your steps, you’ll notice your daily count plummet after starting to work from home. Walking from your home to your car to your office, around the office, to lunch, and all again in the reverse adds up. At home, you skip all that physical activity every day.

When you work from home, you need to be mindful of getting in enough exercise. Your body will ache and feel sluggish from the reduced activity. Whether you go for a morning run or a lunch-time stroll, get in your steps.

You may not notice how essential this tip is right away, but it will manifest over time. Take my word on it and keep on moving.

**

When I first started working from home, it was a challenge. Now, my routine isn’t perfect, but I’ve created a steady rhythm to my days. As a business owner with *complete* control over when and what I do, its taken hundreds of iterations testing and fine-tuning. These habits work for me. They serve me well so that I can serve my clients and feel good about my work.

By no means is this a complete list of tips, but I hope you got a few good ideas. What’ll work for you depends on your personality, preferences, and the type of work.

In case the pandemic lasts for a while, it’s good to have a reliable work from home routine. It’s a prized skill to be flexible on where you can work, so test these tips, and find what works for you.

Stay safe!