9 Tips for working from home

Blue-Light Blocking Glasses - Like many of you, I stare at a computer screen all day, every day. By the end of the day I would often experience headaches, and my eyes would feel dry, strained, and I felt an overall discomfort. Now I make sure to wear my prescription glasses with a blue-light blocker on them, and not to be dramatic, but they’ve been a life-saver! My eyes still feel fresh at the end of the day, I find I fall asleep more easily when I wear them, and even my posture is better because I’m not leaning towards my screen to see things better!

Noise-Cancelling Headphones - It is so easy to get distracted when you’re working from home. Not only is it possible to grab your laptop and just work on the couch (aka turn on Netflix in the “background”), but the sounds from neighbours, traffic outside, and your roommate or partner can be incredibly distracting if they’re also home. Noise-cancelling headphones have really been integral to helping me stay on task! I use Bose QuietComfort headphones and I love that they block out all of the white-noise around me. I also find that when you’re working with headphones on, it says to others, “Leave me alone, I’m busy!” - yet another distraction-reducing tactic! 

Set your schedule - It’s important to set boundaries when you’re working from home so your work doesn’t completely take over your life. Similarly to when you went to work in your office, set a general time to clock-in and clock-out. Talk to your coworkers and let them know the hours you're working, and most importantly, stick to this schedule! Of course there can be wiggle-room if urgent matters come up, but establishing boundaries around your schedule will make it easier for you and your team in the long run. 

Create your own work space - It’s important to have a dedicated workspace to keep on task and minimize any possible distractions. Since the beginning, I have tried to keep my workspace separate from where I sleep or relax to make sure I can mentally differentiate my time working from my personal time. I would suggest that in the morning, you set up your workspace on your kitchen table or wherever it may be. And then at the end of the day, physically remove your laptop and anything that you need for work and put them away. Having a dedicated work space makes it easy to step away from work at the end of the day. My work space has a nice view of the garden and I love all the natural light! 

Take breaks - Going for a walk or a bike ride after work is a great way to get some fresh air and get out of the house! Staring at a screen for 8+ hours of the day can take a toll on your ability to focus and work effectively. I like taking breaks to stretch my legs by walking around our garden to refresh my brain. Our quarantine project was planting lots of plants and veggies, so I love checking on their progress. I also always make sure to grab lunch or snacks whenever needed. It’s almost impossible to concentrate when your stomach is growling!

Keep open communication with team members - It’s a lot easier for misunderstandings to happen when you’re not working in person with your team. You can’t just ask questions or provide feedback when you see someone in the lunchroom anymore. We’ve started using platforms like Asana for project management, Google Hangouts to touch base throughout the day, and video chats to have conversations that are more complex. A video chat is the next-best option to a face-to-face conversation! 

Get dressed every morning - It might be tempting to just roll out of bed and start working, but it’s important to get dressed every morning. Not only does this signal that it’s time to wake up and start the day, but you never know when you’ll get that surprise Zoom call! I wear my Dr. Segal’s Compression Socks every day to keep me feeling comfortable and energized throughout the day.

Separate and organize your tasks - It’s hard not to get distracted by everything going on around you when you’re working from home. I always have a to-do list of chores and errands to take care of, and those thoughts about home-responsibilities tend to creep into my mind throughout the day. To combat this I prioritize my day and multi-task. I figure out what tasks outside of work are the most important, and tackle them one by one. For example, try changing the laundry over when you’re taking a quick break from work, or get a walking desk to keep your body moving while you work. Multi-tasking is easy once you break it up into small tasks!

Schedule regular check-ins with your team - Having regularly scheduled video call meetings really help with communication and socialization. We’re able to discuss our goals for the week, go over any outstanding tasks, and it’s nice to actually see people’s faces! We also communicate over Google Chat and touch base over the phone for quick conversations. Keeping the lines of communication open has been very important for us to maintain some kind of normalcy within our team!