9 Work From Home tips when you’re not used to WFH
I am a serial entrepreneur, investor, and director/shareholder, meaning I spend more time in my car and in other people’s offices attending meetings, than I do in my own offices, so by default, I’m then a remote worker, and that remote work is normally done at home, between 10pm and 2am. I do take a day every 2nd week to work from home and catch up on things. Our offices have become more for ‘domicilium’ purposes, as most of us work remotely because of the nature of our work.
I’m a huge advocate of remote work and WFH (work from home), but there was a time in my corporate days, when this would have been quite jarring to my system, as I fed off the corporate ‘buzz’. My once-upon-a-time corner office and ‘perfect parking spot’ took many years of blood, sweat, and tears to achieve, and I revelled in those status symbols, but been there and done that, and quite honestly it wasn’t ‘all that’! My previous blog holds the secret of what attracts me these days …and there’s not a status symbol in sight.
My days these days, are quite fulfilled as much as they are filled, and when you are strategic and intentional about RUNNING YOUR DAY, as opposed to letting your day run you, then lots can happen … literally — ito productivity! A view of a normal day in my life, will give you a little insight into what it means to RUN YOUR DAY!
With the Lockdown, it’s everywhere on social media, and from family, friends, colleagues, that when you’re not used to it, it’s not something you see as a benefit or a lifestyle choice, but actually just a situation they find themselves in, due to this global pandemic. People are in pain, and in their feelings a bit too much.
Over the years, I’ve found a few things that helped me to approach my day to get the most out of it, but also to enjoy my day. Disclaimer: WFH during a lockdown vs. WFH on normal days, are definitely not the same thing. One is a benefit and a lifestyle choice, the other is a Business Continuity Plan option, and that’s the problem, so let’s approach it for the value it will bring to your life instead of something you HAVE to do.
The 9 tips I have given you, is really simple and easy to understand and do, and hopefully helps you to help yourself! I wish you strength, super powers of patience & bliss, and no lockdown extension — these are my wishes for you!
9 tips to get used to WFH … because it’s actually quite cool
- CREATE YOUR SPACE & STAY ORGANIZED
Make it look and feel like ‘you’, make yourself comfortable that you will ‘want to’ work from this space — ensure your furniture is comfortable but not too comfortable. Donot make this space in the lounge or living room making the environment too open and open to distractions. No kitchen barstools or couches. Start your day with a routine and a checklist and work towards ticking those things off your checklist.
2. INVEST IN QUALITY TECH
Ensure that 1st and foremost your tech celebrates you and doesn’t cripple you. Psychologically, it’s important to have great tech so that you don’t constantly feel like you want to be at the office or somewhere else. (even when you are forced to be at home under lockdown — psychologically you’ll just hate WFM)
3. AVOID WORK CREEP
Set real work hours and stick to that by setting alarms and even having an online closing off meeting with your team, if that’s what it takes. Physically, close the door to your office or walk away from the area that you have your home office in (which is why it should not be in your living spaces). Set times for specific things so that you can keep your day interesting, for optimsied productivity
4. DISCOVER YOUR TRIGGERS
We are HUMAN, and every human has a trigger. Do you know what yours are — especially the ones that get you to work and those that distract you, or maybe you’re a workaholic and you need something to stop you. Know yourself, know what makes you tick, and align your behaviours to the triggers that will optimise your productivity, but also maximise the joy in this experience for you to WFH
5. LISTS, LISTS, LISTS
I’ve always been a list-person. Human brains love structure, fears chaos, and thrives on reward. Lists offer structure, organises the chaos of a day, and gives you proof of what you have done. Our brains will love us and we will have rainbows and angels singing in our productivity levels. Lists help you to manage your life and bring you back to focus when there are distractions.
6. GET UP, DRESS UP, SHOW UP
Nobody is saying you should dress for the office, but the ultimate sin of WFH are PJ’s. Working from your bed is a close 2nd sin, and the 3rd has to be not showering and getting ‘ready’ for the day. Comfortable clothes are a big yes. Being presentable is the aim of the game. Ask for video chats as much as possible so you are forced to ‘show up’. When you are dressed for work, you actually feel like working.
7. EXERCISE, STRETCH, BE ACTIVE
The lockdown has messed with people’s fitness and health regimes and people are taking this personally. WFH does not mean that you should not keep fit — actually it means that you need to make an extra effort to do so. It doesn’t take much to find some indoor and quick exercises you can do to keep fitness levels up. Looking at a screen all day, doing online meetings, etc reduces mobility up to 100%, meaning our bodies need to kept flexible and active by intention and it needs to be scheduled into our day.
8. TAKE BREAKS & HACK SOME OF YOUR BREAKS
Schedule breaks into your day. Not too many breaks but just enough to keep you ‘in the game’. Go outside as much as you can to re-energise and connect with nature, yourself, etc. I love doing meditations, chores, and a few yoga exercises during my breaks. Resting my mind is the objective. Giving your mind something else to do, that brings calmness, is also rest
9. AVOID FAMILY & PETS
yes, I did say ‘avoid’. In my day you will see that I normally do a run with the family pooch. This is to spend time with him, so that I’m not distracted again by his cuteness during the day, if I’m working from home. Adorableness can cost you time and productivity. Same goes for babies, partners, and any family or friends in your home. Love them lots, but not when you are working. Imagine that you are at the office — you’ll check in during the day and family time are for afternoons and evenings. Same applies here. During lockdown, find a spot where you won’t be distracted.
All in all, some advice to keep you WFH sane and productive.
Until next time… we’ll be chatting about the WFH sins and tools …hint: chocolate is a sin here also!
