I hope you are all staying healthy and safe during these uncertain times. From wedding postponement (more on that later), to the stock market putting many through loops, to many business closing not knowing what the future holds and now many counties including San Francisco being put into self isolation. Not to mention the fear of being exposed to the virus. We are all enduring some sort of heartbreak but WE CAN choose to be positive knowing that we will come out of this situation stronger than before.
That said, many of us are working from home who have not done so in the past, so I wanted to pull together some tips on making your work from home experience a little easier.
My company has had “WFH Wednesdays” so I’ve had to learn how to stay productive mid week. I will say, I’ve struggled to stay focused and not get pulled into other personal activities such as laundry, social media, walking the dog etc. Jeff also works from home, so having us both here has been a learning experience for both of us.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS THAT I’VE LEARNED TO HELP WITH PRODUCTIVITY WHILE WORKING FROM HOME:
- Get ready for the day! Take a shower, change out of pajamas (even if it’s into more athleisure) and even put makeup on if it helps you feel some sense of normality. I have stayed in pajamas all day before and my productivity levels are usually slim to none.
- Schedule out your day using a to-do list. I am BIG on to-do lists and always start my day by writing one. Not only work related tasks, but schedule time for lunch, a stretch or 15 mins for some fresh air. I also like to get the bigger tasks out of the way in the morning when I’m most productive.
- Drink lots of water, pee, wash hands, repeat! I always have a big jug of water next to me at all times. It doesn’t help the lack of toilet paper situation, but it will help your immune system, skin, energy levels and more. Add lemon!
- Take a minute to stretch your next and back. In most cases working from home lacks being ergonomically correct, so I like to take some time to stretch and practice good posture.
- Unplug for 15 mins to get some fresh air. You can also use that same time to stretch outside. Fresh air is rejuvenating and with lead to increased productivity when you return to your computer.
- Schedule time for lunch. When I first started working from home, I snacked ALL DAY. It was not good and I felt so unhealthy. Schedule at least 30 mins for a healthy lunch to reduce snacking junk food which with lower energy levels.
- Connect with co-workers as much as possible using Facetime or video meetings. If you need community support from your team, video calls are so helpful. Also don’t forget to clean and sanitize your computers and phones often!
- Define when you are done for the day. When you work from home you make your own schedule. Say you take a break during the day to workout, but get back online after then work till 8pm. It’s hard to determine when to close the laptop, have dinner and spend time with your significant other. Ensure that you are setting parameters for work so you don’t end up burning yourself out.
Hoping this helps you even in the slightest!
Lots of love, Jenna
