The Ultimate Guide to Working From Home
WFH 101, by Janelle Cynthia
If you’ve noticed more companies offering their employees the opportunity to WFH (Work From Home), you’re not alone. A recent survey of 2,000 working professionals and 1,000 hiring managers by LinkedIn found that 82% of workers want to work from home at least one day per week, and 57% want to work from home at least three days per week.
And we can see why! There are a lot of benefits—flexible hours, freedom to set your own pace, and the ability to wear your pjs to a conference call. However, with all that freedom comes great responsibility—one might struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance, or stay productive.
For those of you who prefer to just stay in, here are some simple, actionable steps you can take toward having a healthy work-from-home life:
1. Slip Into a Routine
Having a regular routine can help you be more productive, set healthy boundaries around work hours, and avoid burnout. But what that routine looks like, and how you implement it is a whole other story.
The beauty of a routine is that it can function however you like. Ideally it should be a reflection of what works best for you, and that way you’ll have a better chance of sticking to it.
VERB Digital Copywriter & Content Strategist Adam gives us an inside look at his routine:
Regardless of whether I’m working from home or heading into the office, I try hard to keep my routine the same. I eat breakfast, I walk the dog, and I putter around for a bit — I’m like one of those old computers that takes a little time to boot up before it starts running smoothly.
When people hear I work from home on occasion, the conversation almost always immediately turns to whether or not I wear pants. Well — and I’m so sorry to disappoint here — I do. For me, it’s really important to separate downtime at home from work time at home. So I dress the same way I would if I was in the office — shirts are buttoned, hair is combed, pants are zipped.
I’m really lucky that I have space in my home that acts as a dedicated office. I think I’d struggle if I had to work at the kitchen table or on the couch. Having a desk and a work chair and a door that closes is incredibly helpful (even though Marg the Cat and Percy the Dog hate the door).
My advice for anyone working from home is to experiment to find the things that work for you. Much like there’s no one right way to work in an office, there’s no one right way to work at home. Maybe sweatpants and a hoodie boost your productivity. Maybe you do your best work at the kitchen counter. Mix things up until you find the routine that works for you. Oh, and remember that when the work day is done, it’s done. Give yourself the time you deserve in your home to relax and recharge.
2. Feather Your (Work) Nest
VERB Developer Stephanie Muise says “have a dedicated space for work [and] only use that space for work”. It doesn’t need to be a completely separate “home office”—a space that fits your laptop, a notebook, and a good chair will work just fine.
And make it yours! It shouldn’t be boring—hit up Pinterest for some inspo and make sure it’s an area that’s undeniably yours. Another important tip is to ensure your space is quiet and free from other distractions in your home. Newsletter Developer Jess McLeod suggests using the Pomodoro Timer if it’s a particularly distracting day.
3. Discover Your WFH Aesthetic
Bring me ten people who work in their pjs and I’ll show you ten people who say that actually getting dressed is the most important part of a successful WFH day. In fact, when I asked the office, it went a little something like this:
So, whatever your WFH aesthetic is, make sure it’s not negatively effecting your productivity, And no, you do not need to wear this.
4. Find a Buddy
No man is an island, and we get it—WFH can get lonely. In fact, Durham University’s Dr. Thuy-vy Nguyen, who studies the effects of solitude, thinks the psychological effects of working remotely for extended periods is often overlooked or ignored, despite it being an essential factor in our mental well-being and team bonding. “We’re used to social interaction,” she says. “It facilitates cooperation and closeness.”
To help ease the loneliness, establish a colleague you can hit up when you’re feeling the need to chat with someone. Alternatively, working alongside some furry friends is also highly encouraged. Not only are pets known to increase feelings of happiness and reduce anxiety, but who doesn’t want a furry hug after a particularly challenging client call? Sarah, another VERB Developer, says “I find that I need to leave the house a bit. I take my dog for a walk at lunch time so I’m still getting some fresh air/sunlight (and not getting cabin fever)”.
Janelle is a Project Manager with VERB Interactive — a leader in digital marketing, specializing in solutions for the travel and hospitality industry. Find out more at www.verbinteractive.com.
