Working from home can be tough. Work is always accessible, the fridge is so close and you have only virtual connections with your coworkers.
As coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns heighten, many of us find ourselves working from home. Whether you are infected, self-quarantining or otherwise social distancing, you may find yourself in a position you’ve never experienced: sitting at your kitchen table and trying to do work you used to leave at the office.
But do not despair! Working from home allows you some efficiencies. Take advantage of them NOW to make the best of your situation!
- Make the most of the time you earn back
Congratulations! You are no longer commuting! Whether that means you just got back fifteen minutes, half an hour or even an hour you’d typically spend sitting in traffic, make the most of that time. What have you been putting off around the house? What news can you catch up with, or friends can you call, now you have some time? What new skills can you learn that you never had time for before?
I’ve used the “free” time I suddenly have to watch more news, which I find particularly valuable since the world is grappling with COVID-19. I’m walking and writing more frequently in my newfound personal time! It feels healthy and keeps me informed.
- Improve your will-power
Several people in my office have remarked about this… the fridge is now so, so close and those snacks we’ve stocked up on are within feet of us at all times. Diet or no diet, that’s a challenge for all of us! Food is within reach and there is no need to walk to a cafeteria or take a “break” to go eat it. The pantry is a dangerous place, my friends.
If your new work space is the kitchen, consider moving to a new place. It could be that you’re conditioned to eat while you’re in there. It proved beneficial for me to set up a table in a corner of the living room, away from the table where we eat dinner, so I could avoid the temptation to stress-eat.
- Take time to unplug
Think of some things you can do to detach from work for a brain break or to remain active during your more sedentary lifestyle these days.
I’ve noticed that I keep checking my work computer, or my work email, well after I “clock out.” Part of my job is working with the crisis communications team for our center’s response to COVID-19, so in many ways I need to stay informed and abreast of any tasks I need to complete to help out. But other times when I am not being called upon to help, I see myself stretching my time “at work” while working from home. It’s all too easy to work without a break when work is all around us and not separated by a long drive where we have time to decompress.
And, perhaps we aren’t watching our health the way we should right now. Our home office chair is now home base, so we aren’t walking to meetings or around our work campus anymore. I have, at the suggestion of my supervisor, scheduled time to take a walk outside with the dogs or while listening to a podcast. Make time to move! It does wonders for your mental health and capacity to keep on going.
A friend who works from home for a living year-round also suggested 10-minute breaks every hour or so to get some housework done. Not only do you move around more, but you get some chores done on top of it! So smart. I think I see a floor that needs a good cleaning… I’ll add it to the list!
It can also be helpful to schedule some human contact. While we are being encouraged to implement social distancing into our everyday lives, I have “lunch dates” with a friend and coworker via video chat. Our friend group is also considering virtual wine nights to ease the loneliness of working from home.
- Stay in communication
It’s easy to forget that your supervisor can no longer see you right now, unless of course you start a video chat with him or her. (Make sure you follow this guidance to make the most out of your video call!) That means, he or she is unaware of the work you are doing to support your team and what your needs may be during this time you spend working from home.
I ran into this for the year I worked as a bureau chief for a TV station in West Virginia: the big bosses don’t know what they can’t see. That means you must communicate with your boss so they know that not only are you doing work and completing tasks, but you don’t need them to keep you accountable. I was praised for checking in regularly and letting the newsroom know where I was on a story because they weren’t physically nearby to see my struggles or successes and help out.
A good boss will also keep standing appointments to check in with employees, even during a telework situation. Before publishing this post, I wrapped a tag-up with my supervisor, who used the opportunity to ask where I need support and how I’m doing during this telework phase. He kept our communication going because he knows he can’t just walk down the hall and visit my desk to see how things are going!