Helpful Tips For Working From Home

Hi y'all! I'm back and better than ever! Okay-- not really, because we have a world wide pandemic occurring as we speak, but hey-- I'm still bringing the positive energy to y'all as a l w a y s!

I wanted to take a few minutes-- as someone who has worked from home for almost two years now, AND someone who also has been taking online courses since high school-- to give some helpful advice. I want to help you be better concentrated and more productive, while in your home environment. 

So let's get started! 

1. Make a list of non-negotiables

Each day, make a "to-do" list. This list should contain items that, until finished, you will not take your lunch break. Until finished, you will not clock out. Until finished you will not go to sleep. I like to make a couple-- that way my day is broken up and when I feel accomplished after finishing my first small list, I can reward myself with a lunch break, or a snack, or just a few minutes away from my screen to relax. 

I suggest that during your work hours, you make a list that only contains items for your work day. Basically, don't put "start laundry" on your list to do before your lunch break, when you should be working. 

2. Make a designated work area

If you area someone who has tried to be dedicated and manage working at home or online courses, and failed-- maybe this is why. I don't suggest trying to take a quiz in the comfort of your own bed. Nor do I suggest hopping on your work meeting from bed either. I'm not going to say I haven't done it-- but I am telling you, you will be much more productive and get much more out of your meetings/classes/etc if you make a designated work space. 

I also suggest that it be somewhere in your house that you don't spend much time relaxing in. For me; I spend most of my down time in my living room and in my bedroom. I almost never sit at my dining room table-- therefore, when I want to get a lot done, that's where I work from. Doing this helps give you a sense that you're at work-- instead of a sense of relaxation when you're in the spots most comfortable to you. 

3. Change out of your PJs

Speaking of getting yourself in the work mindset while at home-- staying in your PJs isn't going to benefit you in any way. As much as we all love to do it, you have to admit that even on days when you could stay in them, not do anything, and just lay around-- we truly never feel like our day has started because we didn't start it by changing into clothes for the day! Are you with me?? 

For me, my current M-F is pretty casual when it comes to dress code-- but I still plan on changing out of what I sleep in and lounge in, and into something I would wear to work. If you have to wear a suit to work-- it is entirely up to you if you want to wear that while working from home. Ya know what they say, "look good, feel good, do good" or "dress up, show up, go up". 

**no i didn't make those up lol-- but you get the point**

4. Choose something to signify when your day is done

Y'all-- it is just as important to signify the start to your work day, as it is to signify the end. We don't want all the bad juju from work, interrupting and intruding on the time when you're supposed to be relaxing. Since you no longer can "leave" your office to signify the end of your day, you have to find something else. 

So for example, you could change BACK into your comfy clothes, walk your dog, make a cocktail, start dinner, etc. I suggest doing something similar to the first thing you do when you get home, because if I'm being honest-- the end of my work day isn't when I leave the office, it's when I get into my comfy clothes again haha!

5. Create a routine

If you already have a routine at work of what you do throughout the day, stick to it. If you already have a morning routine of how you get ready for work in the morning, stick to it. You want your days to feel as routine and normal, as they normally do-- this will help keep you in the same mindset. If you don't already have a routine-- I suggest starting one. 

For example-- maybe begin your day by grabbing your cup of coffee, making your non-negotiable list for the day, and hopping on a call with your team, your boss, etc to start off the day on the right foot. 

6. Take breaks

Luckily, you're at home! So you can take quick breaks very easily. It's nice, perfectly acceptable and necessary to take bathroom breaks, or take your lunch break, or get up to refill your coffee/water. Don't think you have to sit behind your computer and on your phone for eight hours straight-- as long as you stay on top of your work, and meet the goals set by you and your supervisor, then you should be in good standing.

7. Set rules

This is important to do for yourself-- but also, if you have others living with you and also at home, you need to set rules with them. This is going to be especially important if you have different work hours as well. AND in the current situation with COVID-19, you may be living with someone who isn't/can't work from home and therefore they need to know that you're working. 

It's going to be easy for those you live with to interrupt you-- so make sure they know this isn't a free-for-all on conversation. Make it known what your work hours are, that you're working, etc.

8. Leave your house

GRANTED-- again with the current situation, and with a potential lockdown on the rise, this may not be possible. BUT in a normal situation where you can leave your house-- do so! Maybe dedicate a couple days to leave and eat out on your lunch. Or if you've already eaten your lunch while working, run a couple errands while taking your hour break. Or at the end of your work day-- leave to get a breather. Either way-- just because you're working/schooling from home, doesn't mean you have to be their 24/7. 

9. Stay connected

As my M-F job has prepared to work from home during this chaos-- one thing that was mandatory and crucial to us being ready, was making sure we all had a way to stay connected and chat throughout the day. We have also scheduled regular meetings where we can show our faces like we normally do, and update each other. There are alot of good apps our there for video conferencing and to chat with lots of people. A few I have used are what's app, telegram, Zoom Meeting, and GoToMeeting. 

10. Stay positive

For many people, in many countries right now, this is a whole new territory. And if you're in this situation-- you may find it overwhelming and not know where to start. You just have to remember to be positive, get yourself in a good mindset for work, and get yourself in a good mindset after work. Just because you're not in an office space-- doesn't mean that you're not at work with the liberties you normally have. 

I am no expert, but having been on both sides of a situation many are finding themselves newly in-- I wanted to provide some insight. I truly believe, that if you take the steps above you can manage your time, get your work done, and still relax at home. It doesn't have to be hard, it doesn't have to be overwhelming, and it doesn't have to feel like work never ends. You just have to be dedicated to putting in the effort on both sides. 

Sending all my love, and wishes to you all! Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay smart--

Gail