I think I can speak on behalf of most when I say that we’re all craving a little bit of normalcy right about now. Ryan and I are going on week two of working from home and I’m learning a lot about my new “co-worker” haha. We’ve already worked around a few work-from-home kinks and as we head into this second week, I wanted to share a few tips on what has been working for me. Comment below and let me know what your tips are for working from home so we can all benefit 😁
Tidy up BEFORE the workday. Ryan and I did a deep clean on Sunday so we could focus on actual work this week. If you missed clean up day this weekend, tidy up before or after work hours. You’ll feel A LOT better and actually be able to focus, trust me. Sometimes just putting away some clutter makes your home feel less chaotic 😄
Set up a work station… that’s not in bed. You want to correlate your bed with rest, not stress. I like working on my kitchen bar and using it as a standing desk (although if I’m being honest, I rotate between standing and sitting)! I’ve linked some items from Amazon that I’ve found useful (this portable mouse and monitor are key), in case it’s helpful below!
Stay on Schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time you normally would. This will help maintain a routine, which we’re all craving right now! Plus it will make adjusting much smoother when it’s time to go back to making a physical appearance in the office.
Get Ready. Okay, I know this may be an unpopular opinion, but changing out of my jammies, even if it’s into leggings and a sweatshirt, helps me feel like I can’t just lounge around all day. I know some people like to work from home because they can be comfy, but I’ve always just felt better and more productive when I get myself together.
Designate a “Call Room” As I mentioned, one thing I’m learning about my new co-worker (aka my hubby, Ryan), is that he is SUCH a loud talker! To be honest, I’m a little envious because I’ve struggled with the opposite. To make sure that we’re both able to hear our calls (and thoughts) while working, we designated our bedroom as the “call room.” We have a chair by the window in there (there isn’t a desk otherwise we’d be fully utilizing that space), so Ryan has a nice city view while projecting the loudness 😆
Make time for lunch. Not sure if it’s just me, but I feel like time flies when you’re working from home! At least it did for me yesterday. I looked down at the clock and woof, it was 2 p.m. and we still hadn’t had lunch. I’ve found that blocking half an hour on your calendar works best – make your lunch, say hi to the roomie (or check-in with your friends and family) and then get back to it! If you need quick and easy lunch ideas, this is one of my go-to’s, and for dinner, nothing better than a one-pan dish like this!
Stay connected. Use Skype to connect with your colleagues (maybe even video chat?!), Microsoft Teams or post on your work’s social channels (we use Facebook at work). You can share tips others may find helpful while working from home, or just simply drop in and say hi. What has also helped my anxiety during this time is checking in on a loved one just to make sure they’re doing okay. We’re all in this thing together 💪
