Working from Home
When I quit my job and started life coaching full time last July, I truly believed that working from home would solve all my problems! No commute, no dress clothes, no set schedule—it was going to be glorious.
That, however, has not been the case. As with all things in life, transitioning to working at home took time and patience with myself. I had to learn although my days weren’t structured by an outside force, it was almost harder to hold myself accountable.
So, as many Americans are finding themselves working from home these next few weeks, I thought I’d share some lessons I learned along the way.
Here’s some tips that work for me. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to any of you, but I’ve found it best to keep up a routine. Each day may look slightly different, but I still try to cultivate a productive work space.
Stick to Your Regular Wake Up Time
I know! I’m starting out with the worst one! But if you’re hoping for margin during this break from the office, if you’ve been longing for easing into the day and feeling less rushed—your morning hours are key!
Shower & Do Your Typical Hygiene Routine
This is common sense, but after a week or so of not seeing other humans, we tend to forget the basics like brushing our teeth or wearing deodorant! Feeling clean & fresh will help you stay mentally, physically, and emotionally healthier.
Put on Real Clothes
I’m telling you not to sleep in & now I’m taking away your beloved sweatpants. Here’s the thing, what we wear can subconsciously dictate how we show up. So wear the clothes that look how you intend to preform. For me, sweatpants mean sleep, not productivity. (research.)
Replace your Commute Time with “That Thing” You’ve Always Wanted to Do
Take away your commute and you’ve gained at least 10 minutes, for some of y’all over two hours a day! You know you’ve thought, “If I didn’t spend so much time in the car, I could…” Well now’s your chance to do the dang thing! For me it’s eat a solid breakfast & slowly enjoy a cup of tea in my favorite chair as the light comes in. Simple, I know, but the perfect way for me to start my day.
Do a Ten Minute Tidy
Similar to our clothes, our work environment can determine our productivity. If you keep an untidy house & are typically cool with it, that might not be the case as you work from your kitchen table now. If you find yourself distracted by chores or house mess during the day, designate a 10 minute window in the morning to run around and put things back in their place. It doesn’t mean you have time to do the laundry or dirty dishes, but at least they’ll be stowed away in the proper basket & sink. Out of sight, out of mind (for now).
Create a Designated Work Space and “Arrive on Time”
Make a clear decision about where you will feel the most productive and alert during the day. Steer clear of rooms that have specific other purposes like the kids’ playroom to avoid constant interruptions, duh. But also steer clear of the bedroom. While working from bed sounds like a luxury, research has shown when we utilize our bed for studying or work we have a rougher time sleeping at night. Also, arrive on time to your designated space just like you’d clock in for work. This sounds ridiculous, but it helps keep you on schedule & transition into a work mindset. Plus it holds you accountable for actually working during work.
Stock Up on Snacks & Take Your Lunch Break
I don’t need to tell you why balanced eating is good for you. However, for some of us at home, we can get really invested in the work and forget to meet this need. In the workplace, there are moving co-workers or lunch meetings to remind us it’s noon, but in the quiet of your home setting an alarm for lunch and regular snack breaks could be a good idea.
Get Up & Move Every Hour
Office jobs are stereotypically stationary, yet being sedentary only increases when you’re at home! The bathroom is closer. You’re not walking to meetings or lunch or stopping by a co-worker’s office to chat. So I set my watch to alert me every hour & I get up and move! Sometimes this looks like switching out laundry or doing jumping jacks or just walking around my house—regardless, ya got to get your body moving.
Hydrate & Spend Time Outdoors
There are tremendous benefits to both of these habits that far surpass being stuck working at home! But for the point of this blog, I’ll say one of the absolute worst parts of having a home office is that I hardly ever leave the house! So I have to intentionally make time to work on the back porch, throw the ball with the puppies, or take a walk at lunch! This also bleeds into afterwork activities too. And of course, hydrate always! Keeps you alert (& increases the trips to the bathroom which gets you up & moving too!)
Find a place of solitude
My friends are already texting me the annoying habits they are experiencing as they share the home office with their partner. This situation may be here for a while, so you’re going to have to make it work. Try designating an individual work space for each of you and deciding on “home office etiquette.” If you wouldn’t do it at work, don’t do it at home to your partner.
Lastly, Give Grace
Our entire nation is being affected by COVID-19 which at the time of this posting has recently been declared a national emergency. Nobody knows what’s coming next & how bad things will get. So remember to leave room for forgiveness and communicate your needs clearly. Each of us is coming to this with different emotions, experiences, and expectations, but the end goal for all of us is to come out the other side as mentally, emotionally, and physically healthy as possible.
As I said before, this is not an exhaustive list, but it’s the routines I’ve found helpful as I navigate working from home. As you venture into this new space, ask yourself what you enjoy about your current work environment and try to implement similar things at home! It could also be beneficial to ask what you’d change about your work environment and spend the next few weeks away from those factors. .
Keep Cultivating & Wash Your Hands,
Cecelia
