The struggle is real right now. Just today, walking my neighborhood, I had a conversation with two neighbors (from a safe, 6 ft. + distance, of course) who complained of working from home.
This new wrench in routine has brought about extra stress amidst an already stressful time and people who are used to reporting to an office, school, or even a coffee shop to work are left to, well… find a way to become productive at home.
Let’s be real. A lot of times this looks like hosting a Zoom call for your coworkers while wearing pajama bottoms and with a previously-happy-turned-angry toddler on your lap. The stories of people calling in to video conference calls and using the restroom with the camera left on make me laugh from deep in my belly because… let’s be real… laughing is good for the soul.
And so, while I’m not an expert on this virus or anything political, I CAN say that for the past 8 years, I have successfully learned how to work from home in a productive manner, nearly 4 of those years while simultaneously raising a human being. I think I have some tips I can offer anyone new to working from home that may help.
- Decide the night before what 3 things are nonnegotiable for the next day. What are your 3 main priorities/areas of focus/projects for the next day? What things, which by doing them, would make you feel like you made progress? Write them down, and visualize yourself doing them (especially WHEN in your day you plan to do them).
- Create routine and stick to it. If you used to workout before work, shower, eat breakfast, and head to work for the day, consider doing something similar, only at home. Set your alarm for before the rest of your family wakes, do a home workout or go for a run/bike ride, come home, shower, and get dressed for the day. You’ll feel way more productive if you’re not in your flannel pajama pants all day long, and if you’ve done something for yourself first thing in the morning.
- Create routine for your kids. We all thrive in routine, our kids included. While you may feel out of sorts while working from home, your kids also feel out of sorts being out of school and away from their friends. Set hours for school work, hours for play, hours for helping around the house, and hours for family time. Everyone thrives with structure.
- Feed your mind good vibes first thing in the morning. Listen to a podcast or read a personal growth oriented book. Listening to the news 24/7 is only going to make you feel more anxious and suck you down the dark hole of procrastination.
- Make your family aware of your work priorities and goals. Even my 3 year old understands when Mama has a video call, or has to open up her laptop for a little while. She can entertain herself 90% of the time. Explain to your kids what you need to be doing, and if needed, share what you can do together when that work gets done. For example, “If you guys can play until 2pm today, we can go for a bike ride together!” In 10 years of my home-based network marketing business, I’ve gotten really used to explaining my goals to people I love. I tell my 3 year old why Mama has to be on calls sometimes, and my husband knows well that the work I do leads to rewards for our family.
- Take advantage of modern technology. My favorite programs being utilized across the country/world right now are Zoom (video conferencing service, even great for hanging with friends virtually!) and Asana (great for project management, especially if you’re working with an assistant and/or team members). I’ve also heard great things about Slack, for those working with employees. And of course, Beachbody OnDemand for home workouts.
- Master the art of grocery delivery. Ahhh, bless you, Instacart and Amazon Whole Foods delivery. While I resisted this for a while, it’s come to be super handy given these uncertain times. You can literally shop from your phone and someone will deliver your groceries to your door. Stay home. Please. You have literally no reason not to (unless you’re employed by a hospital, grocery, etc.)
- Have dedicated business hours. Maybe you’re unable to work from home in ways you want (some people do have to clock in and out), but if you have freedom, consider implementing uninterrupted business hours, such as before the kids wake, after they go to bed, while they’re napping/having quiet time, or when your spouse gets home from work/is available. Again, remember to keep those 3 primary tasks as the most actionable. During these hours, social media is not an option. Set a timer if you must to keep you focused.
- Create a dedicated workspace. Hey now. I know Mamas who have created an office in their master closet, and that is no joke. It doesn’t matter WHERE, as long as you have somewhere you can focus.
- Take breaks. Whatever you do, don’t eat your lunch in front of the computer. Take a walk. Eat lunch in your kitchen. Take a few times per day to just relax, listen to an upbeat song, call your Mom, or give your mind a mental break.
- Set an end time each day. No matter what, commit to being done with your work by a set time. Maybe that’s 5 pm, or 3pm. Brendon Burchard, in his book, “High Performance Habits,” talks about mastering transitions. As you leave your dedicated work space each day, take a moment to decompress and ask yourself, “Who now needs me on my A game?” as you enter your role as Dad/husband/Mom/wife.
- Dedicate one day per week to planning meals, and do as much advance prep work as you can. Hard boil eggs, slow cook chicken breasts, dice up veggies and fruits, and so forth. The easier it is to grab healthy food during your work days, the better you’ll feel!
- If you’re finding it hard to focus, it could be because your home needs some organization. If you’re like me, you can’t do anything until the house is tidied up. And truth is, it will NEVER be perfect, BUT there are some things we can do during this quarantine that will help our sanity. If you haven’t already, check out an episode of Marie Kondo’s show, or check out her book, and get to work tidying up various rooms of your house, one at a time. In the last two weeks, I’ve cleaned out my closet, my daughter’s closet, our pantry and freezer, and the garage. And boy does it feel productive, and helps me focus now on other work to be done!
It might take some getting used to, but the truth is, there is freedom in working from home and it comes in the form of being the boss of your own schedule. If you’re feeling unproductive, guess what? YOU get to make changes to become MORE productive! Just because you’re used to an outside entity or boss giving you structure doesn’t mean you can’t emulate it and create it for yourself at home.
Right now, it’s OK to feel like a fish out of water, but by the end of this, whenever that may be, I have complete confidence that the way you led yourself during these times will pay off. If “the hardest form of leadership is self leadership,” and “the secret of your success is in your daily agenda,” (John Maxwell), well, then… You’re learning life skills that will make you a better human regardless.
Best wishes to you, my fellow work-from-home friend.
Oh, and one more thing…
Coffee.
Always coffee. 😉
xoxo,
Jenny Swisher, Founder of Body Electric and Creator, SYNC Online Course