Work from Home Do's and Don'ts

Work from Home Do’s and Don’ts

The 2020 pandemic saw more people working from home than ever before.

Some companies are even keeping their employees at home indefinitely or transitioning into a hybrid schedule going forward.

While the pandemic will someday be a thing of the past, for many companies, the new normal work environment is here to stay.

The benefits of working from home are many:

You…

Save on gas money.
Get more time with your family.
Work from the comfort of your own home.
Have more time to do the things you enjoy.

My husband has been working from home alongside me since March. Instead of a half-hour drive to his company’s office in a different time zone, we take the dogs for a walk in the morning before we start our work day.

We live in eastern time zone, but his office is central. What this means is, they are an hour behind us, so my husband normally wouldn’t get home from work until sometime after 7pm.

Now that we’re both working from home, I can have dinner ready to go for us when he gets off work around 6:30.

This extra time we get to see each other has been extremely rewarding for our relationship, and he has a lot less stress and anxiety, to boot.

Working from home can be rewarding-but only if you’re doing it right.

The person who thrives working from home knows how to minimize distractions and stay on task.

So, lets talk about the do’s and don’ts of working from home.

Work from Home Do’s and Don’ts

Do Have a Designated Work Space

Designate a work space or “office” somewhere in your home, even if you don’t have a home office.

You’ll want to ensure it’s a space that sets you up for success and is free from distractions as much as possible.

For example, you probably wouldn’t want your work space to be in the kitchen if you’re going to be tempted to open the refrigerator every hour for a snack.

You also want to steer clear of any room with a television (if that’s a weakness for you).

There’s also the kid factor-if it’s possible for you, pick a space away from the kids, with a door you can shut.

Post your schedule on the door so the rest of the family knows when not to disturb you.

Also, having a nice view, such as working in front of a large window, sets the tone for a peaceful work environment.

My house has a home office with French doors, so I do most of my work from there.

However, during the warmer months, I’ll work from my front porch or the deck in the back yard.

If you have the space to work outdoors on nice days, I highly recommend it!

Don’t Fall Prey to Distractions

Minimize or x out of any tabs on your screen that don’t relate to what you’re working on in the moment.

If you have to, keep your phone away from your designated work area.

Resist the urge to answer texts or calls.

I’ve talked about this before, but immediately responding to others’ needs, i.e. texts, calls and messages, keeps you operating in reaction mode.

You cannot expect to be efficient if you’re constantly tending to other people’s agendas.

Unless someone’s house is on fire or there is some legitimate emergency, give yourself 24 hours to respond.

It’s not selfish to make your agenda your #1 priority.

No one else is going to do this for you, so it’s your responsibility that you do.

And if working from home is new to you, be mindful of family members or friends who might take advantage.

You’re working from home to work, not babysit someone’s kids or do favors for them.

So don’t be afraid to tell people “no.”

If you worked 8-5 at the office, you’re working 8-5 at home.

Do Keep Your Work Space Clean and Organized

Whether you realize it or not, a messy, cluttered room clutters your mind, too.

I’m so much more productive when my home office is clean.

If you’re working in a space that’s dirty and cluttered, your focus and productivity will suffer.

As an example, we bought another desk after my husband started working from home. He emptied out the drawers of our old desk in our home office, so he could move it downstairs where his work area is.

The new desk is in our home office, but so is the contents of everything in the old desk, in a big pile!

We’re going through the pile soon, but the mess has been driving me crazy.

I’m constantly looking to my left at this pile of stuff.

It’s distracting.

I always work most efficiently in a neat and tidy space.

Seeing a pile of office desk contents that needs to be gone through does not bring peace to my work environment.

Clutter takes up space in your mind, not just in your home.

So, keep your designated work space clean and clutter-free!

Treat it as you would an office in a company building.

Display your favorite family photos. Get a cork board or white board and a calendar. Spruce it up with décor or fake plants.

The more appealing your work area is, the more you’ll enjoy working and the more productive you’ll be.

Resources:

Don’t Make Every Day Pajama Day

At this point, you may be grumbling at me.

But hear me out on this.

I used to wear sweatpants and no makeup, but as it started to warm up outside this spring, I started wearing “real” clothes and put on a little bit of makeup.

I noticed my productivity increase as a result.

When you get up in the morning, get ready for work.

Get ready, just for yourself.

I promise you’ll feel better and be more efficient.

As a rule of thumb, get ready identical to how you got ready to go to the office.

Dress the same way, style your hair the same way, etc.

I’m not sure who said this, but I’ve heard the saying, “Look good, feel good,” and I’d say that’s accurate.

When you put the effort in to look “good” (whatever your definition of that is for you), you feel good.

You maintain a better mood, and you’re more efficient on the job.

Resource: How to Show Up as Your Best Self Daily

Do Have a Schedule

You need a schedule to keep yourself on task.

Some people use digital calendars, some use old-school planners.

I personally prefer paper planners but everyone is different.

Just use the format that works best for you.

Schedule in blocks of time and schedule tasks as results.

I run a digital marketing company with a friend of mine, and as an example, here is how I would schedule out tasks related to the business:

8-9 am-24 Social Marketing:

-check ad campaigns

-do weekly reports

-email weekly reports to clients

The tasks (or “results”) vary day-to-day, but notice I didn’t just put “8-9 am-24 Social Marketing” as a generic one-hour block.

I made very specific the results I was accomplishing in that one-hour block.

As you start filling in your schedule this way, you’ll be able to make adjustments with the timing.

If you’re new to this kind of scheduling, just estimate how long you think it will take you to accomplish your result.

You can always adjust the timing going forward.

I provided an example of how I would schedule out tasks from the digital marketing business I run with a friend.

If I did the tasks I listed in the above example and found it only took me 30 minutes instead of an hour, I’ll know for the next time to only schedule a half-hour block instead.

Resources:

Don’t Skip Your Lunch Hour

I used to eat lunch at my desk and carry on with my day. But then I realized eating at my desk slowed my productivity down, so why not take an actual lunch break?

Instead of working through what would be my lunch hour, I’d go make my salad and eat at the kitchen table while reading a book.

All this to say, take an actual lunch hour and breaks!

Going outside for a quick walk can be just as mentally stimulating as an afternoon cup of coffee.

If you manage your time wisely, you can accommodate a one-hour lunch hour and a few quick breaks.