5 simple tips on working from home

A quick guide on how to stay productive, positive, mentally and physically healthy while working from home during these uneasy times.

As someone who used to work full time from home for years in my transition from agency life to client side, I had to figure out a way to be productive, stay mentally and physically healthy… it took me a while but I figured it out.

It is very easy to fall into a comfort level of going to bed way later than you usually would on a work day, waking up 5 minutes before your first meeting, watching movies while working, snacking all day, staying home all day without even a peak outside the door.

But, all these home comforts is what might make it hard to work from home and then even harder to get back to regular office work life.

Here are some tips from a WFH veteran :)

1. Keep a schedule

If you woke up every day at 6am to shower, brush your teeth, have breakfast, coffee and leave the house by 7:30 or 8am, and start your work day at 9am, keep doing it! Yes, you don’t have to actually go anywhere, but this will keep you within the same schedule and routine that your mind and body already used to.

Also, if you have been finishing your work day at 6 or 7pm, keep doing that as well, I know, you’re home, you don’t need to finish at 6pm to catch a train and make it home in time for dinner. But again, your mental and physical body is used to this routine.

Schedule will help you keep the same routines you usually have and will help you stay productive.

I even used to have a weekly calendar on my wall with times blocked for Work, Food breaks, and Physical Activities.

2. Leave the house

Yes, you heard me, when you are done getting ready in the morning at the time you usually would, do the exact same activity as you usually would when you go to work, leave the house and go for a walk, or any other physical activity.

And do exactly the same at the end of your work day, leave your work behind, if you usually leave the office at 6 or 7pm, close your computer, get up, and leave the house, again, go for a walk, jog, bike ride, whatever it is but get some air and some activity.

This will keep you in a routine of activities you are used to, it’ll help you stay healthy and positive both mentally and physically.

Even though politicians and other officials ask people to stay home, if you do not feel any symptoms of COVID-19, even doctors recommend going outside for some fresh air, though NOT in groups!

3. Get dressed

Sounds silly but there are people who would stay in their pajamas all through the day, I know it’s comfy, but this type of comfort sends a psychological message to your brain “not work mode, comfort mode” which might lower your productivity without you even noticing it.

I’m not saying get dressed as you would for office, but put on some none-sleep attire, can be anything, sweatpants, tracksuit, etc. as long as it’s not just pajamas or a robe.

Keep it structured and this will help you stay structured and concentrated on work. Also will be nice to look professional when you get on a video conference with your coworkers.

4. Take a lunch break

At most if not all offices there is a lunch break, in some cases it is unofficial time when most people go out for lunch or go the common kitchen area, etc.

It is very tempting to just grab some food from the fridge and get back to your desk or couch and just keep on working while eating your lunch, or worse grab a snack and just keep on snacking throughout the day without having your usual meal structure, but believe me, your body will thank you for keeping the same meal routine you usually have while at the office.

Keep the same schedule and take those 30–45 minutes for lunch, close your computer, eat your lunch in peace and allow your brain and eyes to rest, this will help you stay awake and productive after lunch.

5. Be available

Remember, while you were at the office, anyone could just walk over, tap on your shoulder and ask a question… well, during this time of most if not all people at your work may be working from home, collaboration and instant communication is vital to you and other success at delivering the same if not better quality of work.

Utilize whatever communication channels you might have, Slack, Skype, Zoom, and/or other means of communication are there to be used, so use them, if you have a question, don’t wait until you’re in a meeting with that person, behave as if you are still at the office and simply ask the question through one of these channels.

And if you are the one who is being asked, do NOT ignore the message in Slack or Skype or whatever other app, act like someone just walked over to you and asked that question, try to answer on the spot! Remember, your coworker might be working on something at this very moment and maybe had a roadblock and need an answer right now, not in 3 hours, but right now, so try to be empathetic to their needs.

Think how you would feel if you can’t finish your task and you just sitting there and waiting for someones answer so you can get the clarification and finish your task… annoying isn’t it? So don’t be that coworker who ignores questions for hours and sometimes even days.

And even if you cannot answer at that very moment, just message back and say “Busy, will get back to you at so and so time” this at least will allow the other person to know that he/she can do something else until they get an answer from you.

I hope this is helpful and gives you a bit of a structured look into how to be your most productive and successful while we are all staying home due situation that is completely our of our control.

Please stay safe, healthy, and positive! :)

Feel free to ask me anything.