6 Clever WFH Hacks
Pandemic aside, remote working (or WFH, if you will) has recently grown in popularity. In fact, 74% of people believe that flexible working has become the “new normal” and 80% of U.S. workers say they would turn down a job that does not offer flexible working.
Pretty crazy, huh? But remote working doesn’t just benefit employees. In the same International Workplace Group survey as above, 85% of businesses confirm that productivity has increased because of greater flexibility. And according to Indeed’s remote work survey, 50% of workers said WFH reduced their sick days, leading to a healthier work environment.
Ram Jadeja, a self-proclaimed WFH advocate and colleague, has been working remotely long before Digital Turbine. He says the main benefits are being more productive and feeling more confident in his work.
“The time I save from not commuting [to and from work], I put towards setting a game plan for the day. Even though I only save about 40 minutes total, I feel way more focused throughout the day, Not to mention, I have complete control over my work environment — no more scrambling for conference rooms thankfully.”
As people around the world adjust to WFH and remote working, what tricks do people have up their sleeve? Below, find 6 clever hacks I recently collected from friends, family and colleagues.
1) Get Fresh Air
It should come as little surprise that this was the most recommended WFH hack.
Andrew Tenbusch explains since we now spend 90% of our time at home, it can feel good to get outside for some sunshine. Especially now that it is warming up some! He warns though, “don’t forget the sunscreen… trust me.”
If you have an Apple Watch, use the “breath” notification as a reminder to go outside — WITHOUT your phone or laptop. Take a literal breather and take this time to yourself. My Aunt Michelle and Nicole both highly recommend working outside on the patio. If there are a lot of cars driving by or a neighbor is cutting the grass, avoid taking conference calls. No loud noises? Go for it!
2) Create a Dedicated Workspace
While my cousin refuses to do his school work anyplace other than his bed (yes, I am serious), many people suggest setting up a dedicated workspace.
Ram stresses that finding a dedicated workspace is crucial to killing the remote working game. He suggests setting up a place with very little distractions — one that doesn’t necessarily emulate your “in office” setup but instead a place where you can focus and find control.
On par with Ram’s suggestions, some respondents have taken the time to organize their space. Nicole added a small dry erase calendar and magnetic white board to her “office” so that she has easy access to important documents and dates or times.
Others have set up a wireless speaker for music and podcasts while working. They say this adds some nice background noise and reminds them of working in the office. Not one for background noise? My manager Katie Elliott urges you to treat yourself to noise cancelling headphones. #SanitySaver
3) Take a Pet Break
Studies have shown that playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which in return help calm and relax us. So if you have a pet, show them some love!
Take your dog on a quick walk outside, either as a break or during a call. If you have an extra dog bed (or couch lol), put it next to your workspace so your pet can join. Having a friend by your side not only makes for a good Snapchat or Instagram story, but can help reduce stress.
4) Develop a Morning Ritual
Try to develop a cadence that helps you prepare for the day. This will subconsciously help your mind mark the end of one period and the start of another. Ram, for example, sets up his workspace with water, coffee and notes. Then, he meditates for 15 minutes before even opening up his laptop.
Andrew has a more simple morning routine: 1) get out of bed 2) shower. Simplistic in nature, but probably a good in-office routine to keep. My friend Katie even goes a step farther by putting on nicer, office-appropriate clothes — it makes her feel ready for the day ahead.
5) Embrace the #Zoom Life
It’s no secret that video conferencing platforms, such as Zoom, Skype and HouseParty have become the new go-to. But how can you embrace the new meeting style to lighten the mood?
Try taking a call in different rooms of your house or apartment. Not only will it keep you active, but your coworkers will are sure to catch on and laugh.
Nicole suggests putting a small box or crate under your laptop to get a good camera-level for your calls. No one wants to be looking up at your ceiling the whole time. Secondly, turn on the “Touch Up My Appearance” setting. This feature is located under video settings (arrow next to “start video”) and smooths over your appearance, making you look well-rested!
*Bonus idea: Follow lead from Lisa’s coworker. Each day, set your Zoom background to a photo of yourself. Monday make it a recent one, Tuesday make it one from 5 years ago, Wednesday 5 years before that one — and so on. Unfortunately Lisa didn’t have a photo to show me, but she promises this will make your whole team laugh.
6) Take Mini Breaks
Enter: Pomodoro Technique. This is where you take 10 minute breaks after focusing on one task for 50 minutes. Or, you can cut it in half and take a 5 minute break every 25 minutes. According to Ram, it can be scary in the beginning, but with practice will help you get more done in a shorter period of time. A true win-win for your sanity and productivity.
Similarly, other people note setting short periods of time aside most days for creative space. Whether doodling, jamming out to a song, or taking a short walk, our WFH peers like to take a break while keeping their mind (or body) active in an easy way.
For many of us, working from home is weird — even after three months of practice. My advice is to take it day-by-day, try out some of the above tips, and always check in on your peers. Schedule a virtual coffee date, take a pilates class with your teammates, and call your grandma. We may have a “new norm”, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t try to embrace it.
