To say that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some changes to our day to day lives would be an understatement. This will unquestionably be a monumental moment in our history.
I am sure many of you are feeling like I am right now. Wanting to help but not knowing how. Staying hunkered down at home doesn't feel like enough. But for now, it is the most important thing many of us can do.
I would like to offer some helpful tips to those of you who have found yourselves working from home for the first time.
Working from home brings some unique challenges. But hopefully, these tips will help you with the transition.
Tip Number 1.- Build a new morning routine.
Not having an office to commute to in the morning can make getting your workday started difficult. That is why it is so important to build a new routine that works for you.
Let's say you normally work 8 am to 4 pm with an hour commute. Working from home gives you those two hours back. What you do with it is up to you.
You could take that time in the morning and exercise. You could use it to make coffee, get your kids ready for the day, or you could sleep in.
There isn't a wrong answer, it is just what works for you.
Whatever helps you get your head together before you start your workday is what you should do.
Keep it consistent, you are building a new routine and that takes time for your mind to adjust to it.
Tip Number 2. Put on Pants.
I know for a lot of people the option to stay home means you finally don't have to get dressed for work. But as someone who has spent years mostly working from home, I encourage you to still get dressed.
It might not be what you were expecting to hear but having the routine of getting up and getting dressed are integral parts of our day to day lives.
When you won't be leaving the house to go to work those small transitions in your day become even more important because you are signaling to yourself that you are indeed moving through your day.
I am not saying that if you wear a suit to work you still need to go full corporate, but changing into your "work" clothes will help you feel like you are starting and ending your workday like you normally would.
This is all connected to building that new routine.
Tip Number 3. Designate your workspace and your play space.
If you are fortunate enough to have the space for a home office this is pretty easy. You just go to your office to start your workday and the rest of your home can be your play space.
If you are like me though and you live in a small apartment, designating spaces where you work and where you play is very important. You need spaces that are for working and spaces where you are allowed to relax.
I have a breakfast nook in my studio so that is my workspace. This is where I am writing this article right now actually. This is the space that I have designated as the "office" in my home.
Like I have mentioned, working from home means you need to actively build mental transitions into your day. Our brains need structure and divisions to help us know when we are working and when we are not.
Having seperate spaces reserved for work and play will help you feel like you are working when "at work" and playing when "at play."
It can be very difficult to stop yourself from thinking in work mode if you are working all over your home. The opposite can also be true as I have learned over the years. If you make all of your spaces play spaces it can be very difficult to switch your mind over to concentrating on your work when you need to be productive.
So be sure to designate the spaces in your home where you will work and where you will play and try not to cross them.
Tip Number 4. Take breaks.
Knowing when to take a break when working from home can be difficult. I know I have found myself at the end of a long editing day looking back and realizing that I was working in the same place for 10 hours and have only been drinking coffee.
That isn't good for anyone, so remember to build breaks into your day.
People can typically concentrate on one thing specifically for about 30min straight before our minds start wandering. Having little breaks every few hours lets your brain reset so you can focus better on your tasks.
Better focus makes you more efficient and that means you get your work done faster. Which creates more time to do what you want while at home.
So take your breaks!
Tip Number 5. Work is over when it is over.
I know lots of people are finding that not only are they working from home, but their bosses are demanding more work from them while they do it.
Let me remind you that your boss doesn't own you. Your job isn't some divine gift. It is a job.
You are allowed to stop working when your shift is done. You don't have to answer extra emails or take more zoom meetings if you have put in your time.
Take the time you are not working seriously and don't give your job a second more then is necessary.
You need to stay healthy and safe. Overworking will lead you to compromise yourself and your health. Do not do it. Burnout is real and we are all going to be under a very unique set of stressors for some time.
Work hard, do your job, but don't give them a second more than required. Just because you are working from home doesn't mean that you are now always on call for your job. You are allowed to turn off completely when you are not "at work."
Tip Number 6. Build an end of day routine.
Remember in tip number 1 where I said you had 2 hours of commuting you get back? Well at the end of your workday you have that extra hour, so use it to help your mind switch from work to play.
This could be anything from taking a shower, cleaning your office and disinfecting your surfaces to taking a safe and socially distanced walk around your block. (unless you are actually quarantined not social distancing, which then for the love of god stay inside and just do a lap around the house.)
Again, this is all about routine building and mental transitions. So give yourself the mental space needed so you don't always feel caught between work life and home life.
And there you have it, six tips to help you transition to the work from home life.
I hope you find this helpful. if you have tips of your own that you would like to share feel free to add them in the comments!
We will get through this pandemic together by being kind to one another and watching out for each other.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and wash your hands.