With all the posts about working from home during the current scare, I thought I would share my tips for being successful while staying home. For some people, this is a huge shift in the environment and the key to being successful is unique to everyone. Below are how I have seen success in a work from home environment.
- Statuses.
Statuses are the closed office door of the future. Setting an accurate status when away for a period of time, lunch, or deep in work enables you to create boundaries and expectations for your boss and co-workers. - Schedules.
Create a schedule and stick to it. Your normal office hours and routine most likely do not change, the only change is your environment. By sticking to your schedule your day maintains normalcy and your productivity does not diminish. - Starts.
Start your day just like you normally would if you were going into work by showering and getting dressed. Avoid the temptation to sit in your bed all day in your pajamas. It might sound enjoyable, but it’s a breeding ground for lost time. - Spaces.
Create boundaries. You’ll want your full focus on work and your family but in separate times. By creating spaces and boundaries for each you’ll be happier and more productive. - Short Breaks.
Schedule time away during the day. Just because you can sit and work all day doesn’t mean you should. 15–20-minute breaks periodically are healthy for yourself. - Simplication.
Over-communication is the best communication, avoid the desire to simplify your messages. Messages tend to increase in a misunderstanding when your tone or body language are not visible. - Solitude.
Avoid isolating yourself. Just because you are home does not mean you shouldn’t communicate with friends, co-workers, and continue the “Water cooler” chats. - Snacks.
Just because there are chips in your pantry doesn’t mean you should eat them. When working from home your bored snacking skyrockets. Don’t let that win! - Seeing.
Webcams win. If you’re in a meeting, turn on your webcam. It brings engagement and personality back to a boring meeting. Video meetings are boring because everyone is afraid to talk and cannot see body language. - Screen time.
Screen time is the enemy. You might think “I’ll just watch some TV and work”, however, this sentence has never ended with “And look how productive I was today!”
