Everything has changed but not everything has to.....

COVID-19 has completely changed most, if not all of our day to day lives, (unless you’ve literally lived under a rock and just happened to crawl out to read this post) practically overnight. Terms like “social distancing” and "physical distancing" have become common in our homes. Massive hoardings of toilet paper, baby wipes and other “bathroom aides” have quickly become the norm (why?!). We are no longer meeting one another in person and if we do, fist bumps are likely how you’ll be greeted. No handshakes. No hugs. No physical contact of any kind.

Something else that has likely changed (or will likely) for you is your work environment. Many of us have parts of our job that can be done remotely yet don’t. Whether it’s something you’re just now adjusting to or something you’ve done for years, understanding the intricacies of a successful work from home model is key to being productive while keeping your sanity.

Here are a few tips that can really help out yet don’t require “major” shifts in your typical routine:

Set rules, have a plan and stick to it…….

Setting up your days and weeks are critical to being focused and productive. It’s even more critical to have (and stick to) a plan while working remote. One of the benefits of remote work is flexibility - Be transparent and hold one another accountable. Set up blocks of time to complete specific tasks. Have scheduled “touch base” times (no matter what) to help make sure everyone is on the same page. This could mean starting your day a few minutes earlier or ending a few minutes later, just to accommodate others. Being in a home-office allows for that flexibility.

Another key tip is to set ground rules with other people in your house (if applicable). Just because you're home and usually take care of the kids, dogs and grocery shopping doesn't mean others should assume you will always do it just because you’re “home more”. Working from home can have some blurred lines, so setting clear “work times” is important. Don’t get taken advantage of as your productivity and mental health can truly suffer. However, being alone and loneliness are more common when you don’t leave the house so make sure you take time off if you need it! Be deliberate with your time. Set rules for when to work and when to call it a day. It will help you maintain a productive work-life balance!

 Create a Morning Routine

Understanding when to start work at the right time is one thing but creating a routine that works for you while you WFH (work from home) is another. What do you do each day to help indicate you're about to start work? I like to grind some beans and brew a cup of coffee. For you? Maybe it’s returning home after a run/work-out or getting dressed in “work clothes”. The more of your routine you can keep consistent, the more working from home can have of that "everything is changing" feeling.

OVER Communicate

CC everyone!! (JK) But seriously, clear, concise and multiple forms of communication are all a MUST. Each time you communicate something to another person virtually, ask them to repeat it back to you. Same goes for when someone tells you something, repeat it back to make sure you have the needed clarity to move forward confidently. It takes a few extra seconds and everyone is on the same page. In today’s world, we have a lot of messages bombarding us at all hours (How many alerts you've gotten on your phone while reading this??). In order to make sure the most important information makes it through and sticks, just repeat it.

Whatever information is important, say it until you feel like you’ve repeated yourself too many times, then say it again. :) 

Ryan

#workfromhome #coronavirus #winfromhome #wfh