People in some professions like writing, graphic design, and web development might be used to working from home, while those in other types of jobs may have been forced to do so by social distancing requirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working from home can be great in many ways, including not having to get dressed up to go into the office, not having to leave work to receive packages or repair teams, and spending more time with beloved pets (or family, of course). But it can also be a big shift from your usual office routine. If you’re working from home for the first time, you might find yourself distracted by kids who are out of school, the call of household chores, or noisy neighbors.
Being outside your element and away from the gaze of coworkers, you might feel off-balance and unmotivated, even if you’ve been doing this for months on end. But there are many ways to help yourself get into work mode, even when the world is beckoning for you to do anything but. Your employer and coworkers are still counting on you, so try some of the following suggestions to help yourself stay on task and on track.
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Establish a Morning Routine
Get energized and prepared for the day by taking a shower, getting dressed, eating a good breakfast, or whatever helps you to feel ready for your work. Eliminate anything that will distract you. Get your kids ready for school or set them up for home learning, take care of personal business such as making doctor appointments, and make sure the house is tidy.
Maintain Structure
As part of your morning routine, or first thing once you’re in “work mode,” create a to-do list so you know everything you need to accomplish that day. Prioritize the list so you don’t have to waste time trying to figure out what to do next. As other requests or tasks come up throughout the day, add them to the day’s list or to another list of tasks to complete later.
Based on your to-do list and other obligations, create a schedule for the day. For example, you could spend the first half-hour checking email and the next hour working on your first task. After that, you might want to take a brief walk and get a snack to refresh yourself. You might then have a meeting, after which you can have a virtual lunch with a friend. The afternoon could be spent on additional tasks from your to-do list, another email check, another break, and a phone call with a coworker to discuss a current project.
Minimize Distractions
Remember how you set up your environment to minimize distractions each day? Do the same each week by making sure your laundry is done, your kitchen is stocked with healthy food, and your work area is uncluttered.
You can also find ways to manage situations that you know in advance are weaknesses for you. For example, if you love social media, you can use online tools to block distracting websites. If you have friends who think “working from home” means “lots of free time,” create blocks of time in your schedule outside your working hours to suggest for get-togethers. If there’s more than one person working at home, get a set of noise-canceling headphones to block out phone calls, music, and other sounds.
Take Breaks
There’s a reason we mentioned two breaks in the workday schedule above. It’s that you need some time for yourself each day in order to be most productive. On those breaks, do things that help you unwind from your work, such as going outside, exercising, eating healthy snacks, or playing a game on your phone.
Separate Work From Home
No, you don’t have a separate workplace to go to. You might not even have a separate room you can turn into an office. But try to find some way to create a workspace that’s distinct from other spaces in your home. For example, set up a desk in the living room or bedroom. Or use the kitchen or living room table. At the end of the day, store your work equipment and tools in a bin out of sight to help you keep work and personal activities separate.
Make sure your workspace is comfortable and you have everything you need. Ask your company to provide ergonomic equipment and the right hardware and software to keep your work information secure.
Be Accountable
Even though your teammates can’t physically see you, make sure they can still reach you when they need to. Give them your mobile number so they can call or text if you’re not at your desk. Also, talk with your boss regularly to make sure you’re on track and delivering what’s expected.
In Summary
Working from home may be different, but it doesn’t have to be a motivation killer. Start with these tips and others to get in work mode each day and back to home mode each night. Then, experiment to find strategies that work best for your situation.
