Are you working in your pajamas? We have done it too! As a fully remote company, we can offer a unique perspective on working from home. Enjoy these tips that have helped us work productively!
1. Determine REAL Work Hours And Maintain Them
Just as you would in an office setting, have specific times to start and end your workday. We all need structure to find the best work-life balance for ourselves. By setting working hours and a lunch break, we can define when to work and play. According to a Business News Daily article, “employees stay productive at home by having set work hours (33%).” I always look forward to grabbing a coffee before I start working on a project, so I make sure to set my working hours a little later to allow myself time to get my favorite latte and get settled mentally into the task at hand.
A lunch break is a great time to schedule appointments not related to work, like a dentist appointment. Doing this allows you to maintain a schedule so your co-workers know when they can reach you and keeps you in the headspace of what would happen in the office.
2. Switch Up Your Location
The feeling of being trapped inside a room or closet in your house is nothing short of the worst. Work in your office one day; the next, choose your garage or your living room! You can even pick a day during the week and work from a local coffee shop! A change of scenery can make repetitive work feel not so dull.
For me, there is something special about working in a coffee shop where the motivation to get the job done increases. The second I walk into my favorite coffee shop, a sort of switch is flipped in my head that determines it’s now grind time. The atmosphere is productive and inspiring, which motivates me to be the most productive in the room. Any big project or task is finished much quicker at a coffee shop than at my home, where I tend to get a little lazy.
The bottom line is, switching up your location can provide you with a new sense of motivation that will inspire you to get more done.
3. Dress for Success
Put on that new shirt you bought for when you go back into the office. Your home is your office, for now, so look the part! There’s nothing more empowering than putting on a fresh new outfit before starting work. When you dress well for the day ahead, you are more likely to feel confident and productive. According to a Wall Street Journal article, there are “indications that wearing nicer clothes may raise one’s confidence level, affect how others perceive the wearer, and in some cases even boost the level of one’s abstract thinking, the type in which leaders and executives engage.”
If you take the time to get fully dressed in the morning, you are bound to notice a difference in your work ethic and attention to detail.
4. Check-In & Communicate with Co-workers
Making sure to communicate with co-workers about due dates and timelines is vital to performing your best at home. We encourage you to also check in with your co-workers. One of the most significant parts of a typical work environment is human interaction. It is okay to miss the small talk and maybe a little bit of the workplace gossip. Yet, why do you have to let that go? In the first couple of minutes on your zoom call, check-in to see what is going on in your co-workers’ personal lives.
Take time to prioritize your happiness level, and remember that mental health is vital to put your best foot forward.
5. Schedule Distractions
Distractions can be healthy. Just as our pets need playtime, so do we! Take time each day to play with your animals by going on a walk or hitting up your local dog park. Enjoy the simple things in life, such as hanging out with family or pets. Working from home allows you to take time to love and cherish these people in your life, so take advantage of it and build those relationships.
These are some of the beneficial tips that have made our time working from home a little sweeter! We would love to hear from you if you try out these tips or if you have other tips to offer!
