How To Nail Working From Home Like A Pro

Hi there, this is Tasfia. Coming to you from, what feels like, day 100 of self-quarantine/social distancing. However, a combination of my part-introvert personality + the idea of doing good for us to get better collectively makes me say “this isn’t so bad”.

I’m here to talk about something we’re all doing this week– working from home. Let’s face it, this can be tricky at times. For most of us, we like to keep where we live/lounge separate from the place we work. The constant distractions and overall meh are some of the many factors on how and why we find this challenging.

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So what are some ways we can make this easier and productive? Here are some that work for me:

Organize a schedule. This is the most important step! Working from home really tests your self discipline. Setting a schedule prevents you from slacking (and over-snacking too!).

Don’t stay in your PJs– Change into something, even if it’s a different set of lounge clothes. If you want to take it a step further, put in a little more effort into looking more put together, as if you’re ready to step out. This mentally puts us in the mood to work and be productive.

Clean. Take out some time to clean. A clean workspace, or mess-free surrounding in general really helps with your focus. I have this weird habit of going in with a Swiffer and/or vacuum cleaner whenever I feel anxious, which helps a ton with my mental stability.

Do something productive that’s not work associated. Again, focusing just on work will make you go crazy. Picking up an new, very simple hobby or simply cooking or cleaning can go a long way. If you have the option, step outside to take in the sun/fresh air every now and then.

Facetime or find ways to keep in touch with others (with the help technology). Not having your coworkers near you or the opportunity to people watch at a coffee shop might be annoying. So taking out a few minutes to speak to an actual human will help a whole lot. If you’re stuck with someone at home, talk to them (but don’t forget–minimal contact and 5ft distance!)!

Keep food and snacks handy and close by so you don’t keep barging into the kitchen. This, for me, is one of the most important parts (your girl loves to eat snacks and drink coffee). I’ll find myself mindlessly going into the kitchen looking for food, even when I’m not hungry. Finding ways to minimize this distracting behavior benefits the actual work you’re supposed to complete.

Listen to some calming music or take podcast/music breaks. This depends on the kind of work you’re doing. For me, I love keeping a little “coffee shop jazz” playing in the background. Sets the coffee shop vibe– where I’m the most focused.

Drink lots of water. Ok, this is more of a note to myself. Water keeps your mind and body fresh and healthy!

So there you have it, working from home simplified. Now, I can’t promise how long we can survive this, but we’re doing a very good job being the responsible and kind adults that I know we are.

Remember: Social distancing + wash hands + disinfect = we’ll beat this virus and play out in the sun, and thumb wars with our coworkers, in no time!