TBH I had another blog post drafted to go out today, but with everything going on, it was no longer relevant. With everyone working from home these days, I decided to brainstorm with CJ some tips for productivity. He has worked from home several days a week for the past few years, and I’ve had a fully WFH job for about a month now. I absolutely love working from home, and never want to go back to an office! However, I understand the pro’s and cons, and why some people would struggle with this. We both have different perspectives on it so far, and find different things to be helpful. Here are our 5 tips for working from home:
Have a clear beginning & end to your workday
I’ve only worked from home for a month and have learned SO much already. For one, the temptation to work at night and on weekends is much more prevalent than I thought it would be. When you’re home all day, work starts to blend with life a little too much if you let it. Giving yourself a clear start and end to the work day, as if you were clocking in and out, is incredibly helpful for work/life balance. Of course, one of the AMAZING things about working from home is the flexibility. If you have the option to switch up the times you’re available, take it! Just make sure you communicate with your coworkers and stick to a schedule as much as possible.
Develop and stick to a morning routine
This is CJ’s recommendation, while I’m still developing this. Don’t wake up and immediately grab your phone or login to your computer. This goes back to tip #1, but we’ll add that consistently waking up at the same time and having a routine before starting work is important. Get ready, get dressed (even if just in sweats), make coffee, watch or read the news, read your bible. Whatever it looks like for you, get into a rhythm. Enjoy the slow mornings and the freedom to stay in your own space for the day. Get dressed up, or don’t. Having a morning to yourself is just as important as winding down at night.
Take lunch and frequent breaks
When you work in an office, you take more breaks than you realize. The people who stop by for conversation, the trips to the break room, the hello’s in the hallway. All of these are breaks for the mind and are good for the soul. At home, it’s easy to work until you can’t think anymore. While working from home is more productive in my opinion, we still need human interaction and times for our brains to rest. Find a routine that works best for you, but understand that sometimes walking away for 15 minutes is best. Take a lunch break just as you would in the office. Read a book. Watch a show. Go for a run. Just step away for some time without feeling guilty!
Embrace the webcam
CJ and I both do video conference calls throughout the day with our teams. There is something so much more personal and comforting about seeing faces! Just as Facetime > regular call, try to utilize a webcam if you can. Whether it be over Google hangout, Facetime, Slack, Zoom, or another platform, I promise it’s worth putting yourself together a little bit. 😉
Create your ideal environment
This is personally my favorite. I love working from home because I can snuggle up with my favorite blanket, in my favorite chair. Light a candle, play “Piano in the Background” playlist on Spotify. It’s important to enjoy the space you’re working in. If that’s your bed, a desk, the kitchen table, the couch, whatever it may be, find your spot! The beautiful thing about working from home is that it’s your OWN.
I hope you find this list helpful and can implement some of these things, even if you’re only temporarily working from home. If you’re a homebody like me, this season might be very restful for you. However, if you prefer working in an office, this might be a tough time. Take some of these tips and try them throughout your week to see if it makes a difference in your workday.
Thanks for reading my post about the 5 tips for working from home. Leave a comment if you have other helpful tips that have worked for you!