Working from Home
Whether you’re an employee still trying to adjust to working from home or you’re self-employed – or trying to swing both. Whether the Covid-19 pandemic was the catalyst, or you’ve been juggling entrepreneurship for years:
Take a deep breath. Offer yourself a moment of grace. Realize that the dust is never likely to settle.
But remember, if this is new for you – transition and testing will be needed to land on what works for you. Give yourself that time. Don’t expect to be perfect from the start. The most important thing is that you must do it YOUR way.
Every person’s circumstance, personality, and work style are different and what works for me, may not work for you. Heck, what worked for me when I began six years ago no longer fits. What worked last week may not tomorrow.
That said, I’ve picked up some tricks that have been critical to my sanity and productivity. Perhaps you’ll find them helpful too.
Despite years of living by strict schedules in a convent and teaching bell-to-bell in 40-min slots as a teacher, I’m not one who enjoys routine or structure. So, the admonishment to set up a routine and stick to it doesn’t work for me.
Instead, I’ve created methods that allow for flexibility within structure. No two days are alike for me—and I love it. If you prefer structure, routine, and predictability, maybe my methods will leave you saying, “I’ll do the exact opposite.” But I hope, in some way, they help you create your own.
Establish workspaces. I have several spots to work from. In the house, I have a traditional desk, a standing station by the window, a comfy chair, and a couch in different rooms of the house. In the backyard, I’ve arranged for seating in three distinct locations to allow for the movement of the sun/shade throughout the day. I get a change of scenery and can accommodate the needs of other family members when needed.
Limit email alerts and notifications. When I first began working from home, I needed to set alarms on my phone for 10-to every hour and on-the-hour. At 10-to, I stopped what I was doing to stretch, walk to the kitchen for a drink of water or run to the bathroom. I returned on-the-hour refocused and ready to dig into the task at hand. Now I’m not so regimented and I keep water with me at all times (which means more trips to the bathroom).
Drink plenty of water. Drink enough water that you need to move to the bathroom every two hours or so. Be careful not to consume too much caffeinated or carbonated drinks.
Eat real meals. Everyone’s idea of a real meal is different but decide what that means for you and do it. Don’t always work while you eat and be careful not to eat too often while you work. (Did you catch that? Notice the latter focuses on eating and the other on working. They are not the same thing.) Sometimes it’s unavoidable. Without pretending to be a doctor or dietitian, I’m sure enjoying food away from your workspace aids in digestion and weight management. Have a few nutrient-heavy snacks on hand for when you need a quick bite.
Listen to music. Create playlists or channels to accompany different activities. This helps break up the day and releases dopamine. Jazz motivates my writing. 70s pop music for household chores. Motown for exercise. And a good ole “You Go Girl” playlist when I need extra motivation to keep going when I’m feeling down.
Practice mini-exercises. An arm-to-knee crossover exercise helps with attention and memory. Practice a yoga stance. Touch your toes. Do a 30-sec or minute plank. Run up and down a flight of stairs.
Take mini-chore breaks. Change the laundry or clean one bathroom fixture as an excuse to get up (and notice that you free up non-work hours for relaxing rather than chores).
Pay attention to your posture and stretch periodically. Be aware of the tension in your neck and shoulders as you use your computer or work at your workstation. (A lesson learned after suffering severe spinal stenosis recently.)
Take a walk. Get in your steps even if this means going up and down the stairs in your home. One positive of working from home, if you aren’t required to be ‘on’ from 9-5, is that you can fit in a walk during the middle of the day when the sun is shining.
Unplug. If you use a laptop, unplug while you work. When your battery is almost drained, plug in and get up for a longer break if you can. Not only is this good for the battery – it is good for you. If you can’t wait until the battery is fully recharged to get back to work, then perhaps get up again when it is fully charged.
Just like in any job, when you work for yourself or by yourself, you’ll have productive and less than productive days; periods of distraction and of intense focus. You’ll make mistakes. Be forgiving and gentle with yourself – and others.
And an important note for parents: If you aren’t required to be “on” during business hours, don’t be afraid to establish your own hours. Care for your children. Love them. Teach them. Even yell at them if you must (just keeping it real)—but not because you are trying to work at the same time. Instead of 8-hours on/16-hours off, consider smaller chunks around your children’s needs. And believe me, giving your kids extra screen time isn’t the end of the world.
But don’t work 24/7. Flexibility is one of the benefits of being an entrepreneur – and makes life far more manageable. You may become more productive, get more sleep and have more family time - maybe not right away.
Be gentle with yourself.
If you have any tips & tricks that you’d like to share, please do.
