First time working from home? Things to be aware of

We are now almost 2 months into the quarantine as a result of COVID19 and several of corporations have moved most of their employees to a virtual work environment. Some are beyond excited and others are having difficulty adjusting to the change. Reality is, this will most likely be the ”new norm” and we would anticipate a slow transition of companies reopening office buildings at least until they follow certain guidelines to ensure the safety of employees. As we continue to adjust to this new norm, here are some helpful tips when it comes to making the most of working from home and some things to be mindful of.

Set your boundaries

This could mean a few different things and you’ll start to develop them over time. With the luxury of being able to simply turn on a computer to begin your work day versus spending time getting ready and driving to the office, you will find that your daily work schedule may involve longer work hours (especially if you are salary!) This will make you feel extremely efficient at first and productive, but it can start to impact you after a period of time.

Establish a morning routing - listen to a podcast or music while you go for a walk, enjoy some breakfast with your family before you start your day, block time on your calendar so you don’t get meetings scheduled too early in the day, and every now and then get ”dressed up” for work (spice things up). The little things make a difference.

Finish on time or have a daily goal of what time you want to call it a day. I received some advice early on when I became a people leader: “Work will always be there the next day - you don’t have to feel that everything has to be completed right away. Prioritize and continue the next day.” It can wait!

Another helpful tip is to avoid or limit working on the weekend (unless it’s something urgent or need to catch-up/prepare for the week ahead. I used to work almost 7 days a week and after some time, I noticed that the quality of my work was impacted. I started to feel emotionally and mentally exhausted. Listen to your body and allow yourself a mental break to reenergize yourself.

Schedule breaks and “white space”

Before you know it, it’s 2pm - several of meetings, calls and emails later - and you’ve only had coffee for breakfast & lunch. Schedule breaks in advance and hold yourself accountable to taking them. Go outside for a short breather, stretch, read or listen to a podcast as a little reboot. Take advantage of meal prepping! It’s so much easier to just “grab & eat”, then scramble to see what you can make within a short period of time that’s healthy. Also, set some time where you can allow yourself to reflect or be innovative. This could be one hour a month where all you do is think ... “what if?” or an opportunity to learn more on a topic that may have been shared previously, but you didn’t get the chance to apply it. Write your ideas down and keep them visible!

Invest in your office

This was a recommendation from a few different leaders that I have worked with the past several of years and it works miracles! Buy a desk that is spacious and allows you to stay organized, along with a chair that is comfortable (trust me!). Surround yourself with pictures or quotes that will help you get through the day, along with a vision board to remind you of what you are aspiring to accomplish. You will be spending the majority of your week in your office, so why not make the most of it. If at all possible, keep your work space separate to your bedroom. Your bedroom should be your space where you get the chance to relax and decompress. It’s where the magic happens and shouldn’t be blurred with work. 😊

Keep networking and relationship building top of mind

It‘ll be a bit more challenging since you won’t have that in-personal interaction,

won‘t be able to turn around and talk briefly to your coworkers or go grab some lunch together. Invest some time in doing virtual coffee chats with those that you are close with, schedule frequent meetings with your mentors and continue to build your network utilizing the different tool available to you. Your personal development is something that you will have to prioritize and take ownership over. You never know when the next job opportunity becomes available and it’s best to be proactive so that they remember you as a strong candidate. Break those silos and get out there!

Enjoy it!

All in All, I love and enjoy the ability to work virtually from home! Before we were in quarantine, I had the opportunity to go work from different coffee shops, locations (indoor and outdoor) and even had the chance to travel without having to take time off. There are some great advantages to working from home and hope you enjoy them as well!

Feel free to drop a comment in case you have any questions or additional tips! I‘ve worked virtually for quite some time and these are tips that I still have to remind myself of doing on a daily/weekly basis.

Coach Leo