Working From Home, Just Keep Moving Forward
Updated: 03.12.2024
Working from home can be a time warp, a jolt to the workflow, it makes you say “What the heck. where did the day go? How am I still in my pajamas, it’s 5pm?”
The Daily “Adventure” of Working From Home.
The good, the sluggish, and the too much coffee.
Viewed from a distance, working from a home office is an idyllic situation – comfortable and convenient...I mean, you can't beat the commute.
Seems awesome, right!? And working from home certainly can be great for many professionals. It offers flexibility, comfort, the shortest commute possible, and a custom environment. Regardless of those great benefits, working from home isn't all coffee, concentration, and personalized playlists.
Up close and personal, it can be a jolt to your workflow – a mind-boggling, time-warping, hair-pulling, distracting experience. It takes practice, willpower, trial/error, and patience to keep moving forward and produce great work, in our case that’s great websites.
Having been primarily working from home since 2013, I thought I'd share some thoughts, successes/failures, and strategies that help me keep moving forward, and keep me comfortable and (mostly, hey we all have an off day) successful in accomplishing the work at hand.
Manage Expectations
Expectations can be a stressor. Rather expectations are clearly outlined (as in job performance), or are perceived by what you believe others expect, or are completely concocted in your head and based entirely on the ramblings of your inner voice and all the experiences that voice has accumulated over the years, expectations need prioritized and managed.
Starting with your own! Meeting people where they are in their personal and professional journey, and then accepting and appreciating them for who they are and what they bring to the table, is a valuable quality. It’s often much easier to do this with others than it is with ourselves. Working from home can be an opportunity to understand yourself a bit better. So, be patient with yourself, take some notes, reflect on your days (successes/failures) then use those observations to move yourself forward to a more productive tomorrow. Understanding yourself and how you prioritize – tasks, work, life, fitness, social events, etc. can help you be more mindful when scheduling work.
Others and avoiding the 24/7 pitfall. Boundaries are a good thing. Co-workers, peers, bosses, and clients should work together to establish a schedule that respects work load, deep work, personal breathing room and deadlines. Having set hours and parameters related to expected turn around times will help keep work from overflowing into all aspects of your life. Note to all involved: Please remember that just because you, your peers, your boss, contractors, etc. are working from home and are likely digitally connected 24/7 doesn’t mean you should be working every waking moment. Set guidelines about when various channels of communication should be utilized and acceptable timeframes for response. This can reduce digital anxiety and limit the FOMO (fear of missing out) that some folks experience.
The 24/7 caveat. For some folks having the flexibility to complete their work any time of day, as long as expectations are being met, is a real benefit. Creatives for example might thrive in the wee morning hours. Parents, with small kids or even teenagers, might have a quieter environment in the late evening.
For example, I personally can be a bit of a night owl and if I’m struggling to break through on a creative concept or need focused time writing to knock down a writer’s block, it’s likely to be in the wee hours of the morning where those things happen. I might email a client at 2AM but would never expect them to respond, although I’ve been surprised at how often others do respond at those hours. However, I would never text a client outside of normal business hours.
Have a cooperative spirit, talk with people, and find what works.
Make a Space to Suit You
That enviable home office or workspace. We’ve all seen it in a magazine, on HGTV, a peer’s Twitter or Facebook feed…right, wow they’re gorgeous. Wait, hard stop, danger do not compare! Any space can work.
Although I’m currently fortunate enough to have a comfortable home office that hasn’t always been the case. I’ve literally worked out of a closet (including a desk and chair) just to have a place to avoid the standard chaos of a busy household (children, pets, etc). Here are some dos and don’ts for making any space workable.
Do this to be comfortable and avoid distractions.
Set up a space
Have good lighting
Limit unnecessary clutter (those files you only need once a month don’t belong in your daily workspace, especially if it’s small)
Make a plan with the fam or roommates (schedule breaks and meals, be clear about when you are working and need uninterrupted time)
Prep the pets (maybe their favorite spot is the pillow by your desk, but if you need absolute silence during that Zoom call, maybe it’s time for them to visit another family member or housemate)
Post a do not disturb sign (necessary for would-be door knockers and solicitors)
Fly the nest occasionally. Get up. Hydrate. Stretch.
Change your scenery. Even in a great workspace, relocating for a few hours can help spark productivity and creativity.
Don't sink into these work-from-home pitfalls.
Consider your laptop and sofa or comfy chair to be your office. This won’t end well! Using your laptop and comfy space as a change of scenery is acceptable, just not a long-term solution.
Work in the dark
Expect that you won’t be interrupted
Spend all your time in your workspace
Let personal business creep into your workspace (this can be a real challenge when working from home, but I found keeping a specific location for personal business such as health info and bills keeps my workspace, well, working).
Next Up – Have a Plan
This one is simple. Plan your day, and do it the night before. Use a bullet journal or notebook, a digital planner, Google calendar, iCal…one or all it doesn’t matter. Just have a plan.
More than all other reasons combined, I’ve experienced more haphazard, barely productive days simply because I didn’t have a plan. When working from home, it’s too freakin' easy to just start handling the email or picking up where you left off on a project, and suddenly…it’s noon. Darn, it!
I’m not always great at this, but having the plan done the night before always works better!
Keep Coffee in the Tank
You may be a super human, but you’re not superhuman. Sleep, exercise, and eat healthily. Consume plenty of water and coffee (our life fuel). Take breaks, relax, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
It’s never good to spend too much time in your own head. Being in the same space/location for days and having limited contact with other folks can be a pitfall in and of itself. Be careful not to loose perspective on your workload, priorities and time available to achieve your goals. You can Google and find a myriad of supposed strategies for being hyper productive…if you find one that works and can stick to it then KUDOS to you!
Personally, those routines always just feel like something else to manage, so for me keeping it simple is a good place to start – some time not in front of electronic devices, spend time outdoors even if it’s just sitting, a daily walk, throw the frisbee for the dog. Things like a full workout, an hour of yoga, or a 3 mile walk are just icing on the cake.
One Size Doesn't Fit All
Keep in mind that I’m not a mental health expert, and these tips are simply what have worked for me. Everyone is different, so you do you. Remember to be patient with yourself and others as you settle into working from home and handling that next challenge.
Be practical in setting up your working space and managing your workload. Your health is important, and setting yourself up right by practicing good habits now can only improve your long-term productivity and comfort.
