Tips for Working from Home

I've worked from a home office for over four years and while it has its challenges (especially when you're trying to work with a maniacal toddler in tow), I truly love it. Here are some tips to help those of you who have been trust into a remote work situation and are a bit panicked about it. You can do this!  

Carve Out Your Space 

• If you haven’t already, find a space that's yours and conducive to work, even if you create a makeshift desk area in a room that's not technically an office. That way, you're not always at the kitchen counter.

• Reduce clutter, and make it a happy little space (insert Bob Ross clouds here) with all the tech and organization you need. Wireless earbuds are great if you plan to do squats or walk while on a conference call. 

• Get a standing desk riser (less than $200 on Amazon) so you can make any space a standing desk whenever you want.

• Don't leave your work papers all over the house. It's actually quite easy to do, but you'll go insane. And so will your family members. 

Plan & Communicate 

• Each week, create your schedule and goals, and if you have a partner, do it with your partner. Spend 30 minutes together to highlight the important dates and where you each need a little extra support that week (e.g., big event, longer work days, etc.). Schedule coverage for each other (sanity breaks, work-out breaks, whatever). My husband and I call this "Team Hock" time, held on Sundays, and this little investment yields big results each week. 

• Each night, connect with your partner about how that day went and plans for the next day. Things change, so communicate constantly. Show appreciation. Even if you only have two minutes together, it matters.

• End each day by "brain dumping" your to-do items and ideas on a capture list. Capture lists save my sanity and prevent overwhelm. I look at capture lists to schedule my priorities the next day / week / month. Plus, doing this at night means you'll go to bed without a rolling list of “to do” items in your brain, and sleep comes way easier!

• Start each day with "me time" -- before the kids get up, if you have kids. Starting your day like this means you're in control. Create a morning routine that powers you for the day (i.e., gratitude, stretching, working out, meditation, reading, shower/coffee, etc.). Write down your purpose for the day, who you need to lead, and the goals you're working towards. Connect with your “why” and think about ways to add joy into your day. Make sure your schedule is set and you have all the resources you need to win.

• Over-communicate vs. under-communicate with your co-workers. People can't see your face and body gestures all the time now, so err on the side of caution and remedy any miscommunication immediately. If you lead a team and someone screws up, first ask yourself, “Did I give them clear instructions and the resources they needed?” Sometimes, we set people up for failure without intending to do so, and it can be remedied with more clear communication and planning in advance.

• To increase productivity, your team could default to a group text for quick communication through the day, send email for bigger things that need review, and maintain a solid set of tracking spreadsheets and folders to keep projects and ideas logged without distracting each other all day long with tiny requests or updates.

Set Boundaries 

• Protect your time fiercely. Your time is your most precious asset. 

• Just because you work from home doesn't mean you work 24/7. Be clear with others of your "office" hours and the times of day you respond to emails and texts.

• When I first started working at home, I found it easy to work all the time. Seriously. It was bad. If you don’t set boundaries with yourself and limit work hours, you’ll get really stressed. And your family members will hate you.

• I never check my phone (that includes texts / email) first thing in the morning or before bed, unless I am dealing with an emergency or traveling. This little personal policy means I start and end my day in control -- not in reaction mode. It's beautiful and life-changing. 

• Schedule your block time for work on important projects, creative brainstorming, writing, etc. And, yes, you can even schedule block time to check your emails at periodic times through the day — instead of breaking your focus every three minutes when you hear a ding on your phone.

• Mindset, mindset, mindset. Keep your mental state and focus in check. Remember the impact you want to make, and remind yourself each hour with a little check-in. Are you doing busy work or the most important work?

Take Breaks 

• Productivity experts recommend taking a quick mental break every hour. A "break" does not mean check Facebook or the news -- that doesn't give your mind a true break. Stand up, walk, jump, practice good breathing techniques, drink a glass of water, make a nice cup of tea, etc. That's a break. When you're at home, break time can mean throwing laundry in the wash, giving your pet a belly rub, or blending a smoothie for your afternoon snack. Score. 

• Start meditation if you haven't. It’s a game changer. The highest performing people in the world all meditate. Investing in minutes of meditation will add hours of productivity each day. You'll be more creative and full of solutions. You'll be more patient and rested to power through the afternoon to bedtime with a smile on your face. Bedtime struggles with kids can fade away when your energy is on point with them at night.

• Go outside — often. Albert Einstein spent lots of time in nature to spark creativity and solve problems. I love to work on my covered porch, and take 10-minute power walk breaks down my driveway for fresh air, sunshine and inspiration. Many of my best ideas and solutions come to me during long hikes outdoors, especially in the woods or by water. If you have dogs like me, they’ll benefit from walk breaks, too.

These are just a few tips.

I hope something here has helped you. Find the positive within this change. When it's all over, you might love it or hate it, but you'll definitely learn a lot and come to appreciate the challenges and benefits of remote work.