Build your Work from Home Setup
As this unusual summer of 2020 winds to a close, the unconventional rituals we set in place in March have became routines. For many of us, working from home has morphed from a novelty to a way of life. At first, we improvised, attending on-line meetings in pajamas, and answering emails from bed. After 6 months spent living with the isolation the pandemic has brought, it’s time to re-evaluate our habits. Unfortunately, no one knows when this will end. Some companies intend to implement working from home permanently and modified office/remote schedules will be the norm going forward. Those quaint “hoteling” models? Gone. As we enter the autumn, the back deck won’t be an option in northern climes. Below are some keyways to build a better work from home set-up for the Fall:
- Uphold Boundaries- In the early stages of the pandemic, many people launched into modes of high-octane productivity! —convinced if they didn’t work 12 hour days and also emerge from the quarantine mastering sour dough bread recipes or later canning their summer garden vegetables, this was all for nought. Others binged watched EVERYTHING! Yet others more found it impossible to focus on anything at all, watching themselves struggle to complete simple tasks that had once been easy. Is that laundry from a week ago still in front of the TV? Yes, it is. It’s OK. We know… While we are all forgiven during this situation for not operating at an above-and-beyond capacity, setting boundaries can go a long way toward reinstating a sense of normalcy to our workdays.
- Try your best to stick to your regular schedule and mandate breaks throughout the day. Science demonstrates that resting your brain increases creativity and productivity, so while it may be tempting to brush off a walk as a waste of time, remember that it is the opposite. Don’t wake up, taking the laptop from the nightstand and begin a 10-hour cycle of flipping from laptop to kids to laptop to food to laptop, until the kids pass out over the screen and start the pattern again. Managers need to respect employees’ boundaries, as well. This means clarifying when employees need to be available and establishing policies about email and phone access outside of business hours.
- Utilize Separate Workspaces in Your Home or Elsewhere- One of the hardest parts of working from home is mentally separating work life from, well, everything else. Without the buffer of a commute or designated space of an office, you run the risk of your days melting together into a mess of laundry, yard work and meal prep. To combat this, it helps to find a space to work outside of your home. As of this writing (I am from Ontario, Canada), cafes or restaurants have opened outdoor spaces, which will be pleasant as the summer heat gives way to fall. Take advantage of the transitioning weather and (safely) get together with friends or colleagues in someone’s backyard, based on your jurisdictions safe meeting numbers. Depending on where you live, this might not be an option in the winter months—at least not without the aid of a powerful heat lamp—so get out and about while you can. Even if it is just once or twice per week, getting away from your home can provide a sanity-saving mental break.
- Invest in a Comfortable Setup-Working from the kitchen table while your partner holds conference calls from the basement was a solution for a while. But now, it is time to transition out of survival mode, and think about what you need to be productive in the long-term. Employees should submit requests for office furniture and supplies that will help them create comfortable workspaces at home. Invest in quality lighting so you can see your workspace and those over video can see you. A good office chair will make all the difference when it comes to sitting for long stretches at time. Utilize that exercise ball you have in basement as a chair, too! Keep plants and other soothing design features around to help you feel more relaxed and focused.
- Consider if working from home 24/7 is the right fit-These days, working from home is thought of as what our future will look like. COVID-19 has forced many changes upon us. Quarantining for our health and the health of others is one of them, but this, most likely, will not last forever. Some of us are simply not built to work from home permanently. When deciding whether to ditch the office, it is helpful to consider the realities of staying home. One thing to keep in mind is the intensity of your work-from-home experience during the pandemic versus a previous period you when you worked remotely. Think about how your situation may improve and become more tolerable after a certain time. For instance, if you are sharing your space with a significant other or children, how will your environment change when they return to work or school? On the other end, people tend to underestimate the value of social interaction. Will staying at home all day hold more appeal once socializing becomes easier? Whether you thrive off social interaction or prefer it in small doses, focus on your own personal preference and make plans to healthily socialize with intention.
Working from home can be a great time saver and a way to get a better work/life balance. Make sure you practice good work from home habits to maximize your productivity and avoid burn out!
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