10 Tips for Being Productive When Working Remotely

Remote Work, Part II

I’ve been working from home for nearly half a decade now, and it’s awesome — at times. Reducing my commute from 35 miles to 35 paces from my bedroom has helped me regain my sanity, but it’s caused issues elsewhere in my daily routine — and life for that matter.

Here’s 10 tips I’ve tried to learn and enforce to remaining productive on a daily basis as I work out of a spare bedroom in my home:

1. Wear pants — at least underwear

Every morning, get out of bed, shower, and get ready like you’re going into an office. Don’t get into a rut where you shower at noon, or better yet, forget to shower and go three days without bathing yourself. Your significant other, pet, or roommates will appreciate it if you take the time to not smell.

Once you dress yourself, put on a pair of pants. Most webcams only show from the waist up when sitting. However, even if you aren’t on a conference call, at least put on underwear — but I’d recommend actual pants. I like to act as if my camera is always running, and personally, I’d prefer no one see me pants-less.

2. Don’t become a hermit

I’ve always been in the middle of being both slightly introverted and extroverted. However, working from home has made me incredibly awkward, socially. When you lack interaction with things other than tiny children or your pets, you forget how to talk to grownups.

Try setting a day or two aside for working at a coffee shop. Find a co-working space near you so you can find friends, interact with actual real-life people, and potentially have a reason to shower on those days.

3. Draw boundaries

Your work life will blend with your home life in every way possible. From the hours you spend working and playing to the room or area you make your office. It all becomes one. So it’s best to create division between the two.

Set your work hours and adhere to them. There will be times you’ll need to break it, but try not to. If you have a spare room, designate it for work only — this will also help with taxes.

4. Remember to eat lunch

Meetings, deliverables, and everything else can take up your day with the blink of an eye. You sit down to begin work, and look up to realize it’s 3 p.m. And oh man, your stomach is growling.

Feed yourself on a daily basis, and at normal times. The break can help with your physical and mental health. Eating healthy will also help you focus for the rest of the day, and get stuff done.

5. Turn off the TV

The third season of “House of Cards” was recently released, and oh man, you just can’t wait. Yeah, I’ve been there. Resist the urge to turn on the TV or visit Netflix.com. It will be there when you finish your work, I promise you.

There’s nothing like 13 hour-long episodes that can throw off an entire day — or week. However, whenever Apple announces something new, watch it. Lose an hour or four on us.

6. Dishes can wait

When I first started working from home, I thought, “Hey, I’ve got extra time now. I can help clean the house more.” Man, was I wrong. I have a collection of Gatorade bottles and cups sitting on my desk. I hate cleaning up after myself. I really hate doing dishes. Maybe I’m just really lazy.

If you have the money, I’d suggest hiring someone to clean your house for you. Trust me, totally worth the investment. If not, wash the dishes once you’ve shut down the laptop for the day. Because if you start cleaning midday, you’ll find yourself vacuuming the whole house in the afternoon. Cleaning is addictive.

7. Communicate x 3

When you’re not in the office, people don’t know where you are at all times. You may be online. You may not be. They can’t see you. Virtual communication is essential. Tools, like Slack or Hipchat, let you constantly stay in the conversation with your team. It’s vital to ensure people know you are actually working and not watching soap operas on the couch.

But you also have to know when to shut it off. Once you’re done for the day, turn notifications off on your phone. Shut down your computer and walk away. Setting up hours on a calendar can help your colleagues know when you’ll be available, and when to leave you alone.

8. Napping

The couch looks comfy, am I right? Don’t do it. Just keep on walking back to your office. It’s easy to find a break … zzzzzz

9. Put the Cheetos down

I’m definitely in worse shape than I was five years ago. It’s mostly because I’m terrible at working out. I find myself sitting a lot more, and walking less. To curb this sedentary lifestyle, I use a standing desk as often as possible, and run up and down the stairs as many times a day.

That’s typically to go grab a drink or a snack. I often snack at all times of day. It’s easy to walk past the kitchen and grab an Oreo — or 12. While snacking isn’t a bad idea, eating unhealthy ones can lead to more pounds. Instead of devouring a bag of Cheetos, grab an apple. Your body will thank you.

10. Take a real vacation

When you don’t work in an office, people don’t see you. Many assume you’re always online — which is typically the case. It’s easy to get caught up in never being “unplugged”.

Taking vacation may feel tricky at best. But it’s necessary. Schedule the time off, communicate it with everyone involved, remove notifications on your phone, leave the laptop at home, and enjoy the warm sun, sand between your toes, and have a drink for me!