Peerfit has always been a remote company. It’s one of the hallmarks of our company culture, and we’d argue it’s played a significant role in our growth over the last few years.
Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve watched as friends and family members transition to a remote work life for the first time. Since this isn’t our first rodeo in the remote work world, a few members of our Product team got together to compile their favorite work-from-home do’s and don’ts.
Here’s what they suggest, and what they don’t.
First and foremost, how do you stay connected to your co-workers while working remotely? This is definitely one of the biggest transitions for people who are used to working in an office.
“I think being intentional about communication is really essential. I appreciate that at least once a week I have a one-on-one with my supervisors to check in. It’s an honest conversation, too — not just one where hard conversations are glossed over or saying everything is ‘fine.’ Especially in a remote environment where you can’t always tell what might be bothering someone on any given day, it’s important to keep those personal conversations on the schedule.” — Emily Harris, Backend Software Engineer
“Turn your webcam on as often as possible, especially if you’re meeting with a small group or if you’re in a 1:1. Use that 1–2 minute period before everyone joins a call to catch up with your co-workers”. — Nicole Frommelt, Product Strategist
What are your favorite tips for staying focused throughout the day?
“Use the Pomodoro Technique to break up your work. Short breaks every twenty minutes or so help maintain focus and help you step back from the work you are doing so you can see it with a critical eye.” — Jim Sutton, Web Client Engineer
“Create focus time for yourself through the day by scheduling a few 90-minute blocks. You can even use your Slack (or whatever instant messenger you use) status to signal to others that you’re in the zone and to send you an email if they need anything. Get a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and definitely keep your phone away from your workspace. Or, at a minimum, make sure it’s in silent mode and face down on your desk during working hours. Also, remember to take frequent 5–10 minute breaks to grab some food and stretch your legs.” — Nicole
“Stick to a schedule. I have my dedicated work hours. I think at times the perception can be that since you work from home that you can do what you want when you want, and for some people that may be true. For me, I find that I am extremely productive when I stick to my daily routine, and, more importantly, my working hours. Also never underestimate the power of music or checklists. There’s something gratifying about being able to physically check off an item on your to-do list.” — Fabian Graham, Tech Operations Team Lead
What’s your secret weapon for creating a productive workday?
“Starting the day off with a workout wakes me up and makes me functional. I’m also a huge fan of planning my day by blocking out my calendar and reviewing tasks first thing when I open my laptop and trying to put meetings together to support uninterrupted times for focus.” — Amanda Kuelker, Data Analyst.
“Keep a consistent schedule. Try to keep an 8–5 schedule, or whatever best suits your life or your family. I know if these are the hours I work each day, I’m much more likely to be productive within that time period. Take breaks and walk away from it a few times a day to refresh. Remember to take a lunch break. I always come back from breaks ready to be productive again.” — Emily
You obviously work remotely all the time — what’s your favorite thing about it?
“The benefits it adds to your quality of life. Before I started working from home full-time, I was wasting hours every week in a car driving an hour to and from work. Now, I have that time to do whatever I want to do. Whether it’s working a little extra or giving myself a little ‘me time’ for the day. Either way, not having the drive into work is definitely a blessing. I’ve also gotten sick less — no more passing germs back and forth between co-workers because of being in a shared office space.” — Fabian
“I love that I don’t have to choose between work and my family — I can be what I need to be for both on a schedule that actually works for me, instead of trying to squeeze all my responsibilities into a typical nine hour workday. I also can more easily build time into my day for working out, which was a struggle when commuting took two hours out of my day. The dress code is also nice — I can work in sweats!” — Amanda
