Working from home: tips to keep you sane and productive

Avram Piltch says don’t work in your pyjamas.

There are four potential problems with working at home that you won’t experience in the company office.

IN-HOME DISTRACTIONS

Whether it’s your cat jumping on your lap, your toddler screaming for attention or your partner asking you to just take a minute to do the laundry, people and/or animals may be asking for your attention. The environment of your home could be a distraction too, as it’s filled with items like your TV, your snack pantry and your video game console.

ON-COMPUTER DISTRACTIONS

Even when you’re in the office, it’s a challenge to avoid checking social media or reading the headlines on a news website. At home, with nobody looking over your shoulder, it’s even more tempting.

ISOLATION

When you’re at the office, you have coworkers to talk to throughout the day, but at home, you’re staring at the wall. That gets kind of depressing.

LACK OF TOOLS

At work, you may have a have a fancy office chair, multiple monitors and a good keyboard and mouse. But perhaps at home, you don’t have all of that.

TIPS FOR WORKING AT HOME

Here are some tips to help you deal with these problems and be your best.

1 INSTALL ANTI-DISTRACTION SOFTWARE

It’s far too easy, even when you’re at work, to check Twitter to see what latest outrage or horror is happening out in the world. Use browser extensions such as Stay Focused to restrict your access to social media, news and other time-sucking sites during the work day.

2 LAY DOWN THE LAW WITH FAMILY / ROOMMATES

You may have to practice some tough love, but tell them know that they cannot ask for your attention at all during the workday.

“Whether it’s your cat jumping on your lap, your toddler screaming for attention or your partner asking you to just take a minute to do the laundry, people and / or animals may be asking for your attention. ”

3 FIND A DEDICATED SPACE FOR WORK

The ideal situation is to have a home office that’s a separate room with a door that closes. However, even if you have a studio apartment, you can probably find a corner to designate as your workspace. Go into this space at work time and leave when work is done or for breaks. If it’s an office, shut the door when you’re in it and when you leave for the day.

4 DRESS FOR WORK

Do not work in your pyjamas. To get in the mindset for productivity, take your shower, brush your teeth and put on work clothes just as you would when going into the office.

5 START THE DAY WITH WORK THAT REQUIRES LESS CREATIVE THINKING

At home or sometimes even in the office, it’s hard to get “into the zone” when you first start working. For me, writing articles or doing long-form edits requires the most engagement, so I like to start with less creative work such as approving invoices or generating reports.

6 KEEP A SET SCHEDULE

To maintain work/life balance, log on at the time when you would have arrived at the office and log off at the time you would have left.

7 USE VIDEO CONFERENCING RATHER THAN PHONE CALLS FOR MEETINGS

It’s important to see and be seen when you’re not at work so keep your webcam on and ask that your colleagues do the same for meetings.

8 NOTIFY COWORKERS WHEN YOU LOG ON / OFF FOR A LONG TIME

If your team uses an instant messaging app such as Slack to communicate, people, including your boss, may expect an immediate response when they message you. If you’re going to be at lunch for an hour or logging off for the day, it’s good practice to post something in chat to let people know you won’t be around. You don’t have to tell everyone when you take a bathroom break or grab a soda from the fridge. It’s also good practice to tell your team when you log on in the morning so they know you are available.

stress. My infamous “nothing bothers me” attitude is nowhere to be found, and I laid awake the first few nights of self-imposed isolation worrying about what the next day would bring without going to the office, socialising in person or making it to a workout class.

I’m aware that could come off inane, or even privileged in the scope of the undeniable devastation coronavirus has caused across the globe. But there are people who might be struggling to contribute optimism at a time we desperately need it because they’re paralysed by uncertainties.

I tried injecting some normalcy into my life, and it’s worked at least a little bit. I’ve made minor adjustments to my day, and am letting myself have fun while stuck home and not feel guilty about it.

Mood-boosters are different for everyone, but sometimes you need inspiration. Here are a few places I’m finding pockets of happiness inside this intimidating vortex COVID-19 has stuck us in together. And no, none of them involve spring cleaning.

SHARPENING KITCHEN SKILLS

I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but getting better at it requires time. Instead of whipping up the same few foods I’m comfortable making, I’m finally taking a look at the recipes I’ve torn out of magazines (some several years old). The result is a few hours of distraction in the kitchen and an interesting dinner every night.

MOVING AND GROOVING

As an active person taking social distancing seriously, I struggled to find ways to move in my small living space. I even took a hiatus from working out, which, as many can attest to, is hard to recover from. I made a playlist of my favourite dance songs and, with the help of my booming Sonos Move, impromptu dance breaks became mandatory. Fire up a good speaker, set intermittent times and boogie until you can’t boogie no more. Physical activity stimulates the release of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, which helps elevate your mood.

GAMING AND GEEKING

While I’m putting some of my monthly meals and movies budget in savings, I’ve also jumped on a few affordable entertainment purchases that I would normally skip on. I almost always buy games for my Switch Lite on sale, but figured now is a good time to get Pokemon Sword or Pokemon Shield (I went with the latter.)

With that, think about the novelties or franchises that make you happy. I love Lego sets and Star Wars, so I bought a model version of Poe Dameron’s X-Wing Fighter and spent an entire evening building it. Look for jigsaw puzzles, art sets or other activity kits featuring the licenses you love.

“Think about the novelties or franchises that make you happy. I love Lego sets and Star Wars, so I bought a model version of Poe Dameron’s X-Wing Fighter and spent an entire evening building it”.

DONATING WHEN POSSIBLE

A tangible way to help others experiencing hardship during the coronavirus outbreak is with dollars. If you’re saving money you’d normally spend at bars and restaurants, consider donating to charity organisations.

Another outlet to put money toward right now is the small business sector. With countless salons and shops closed for social distancing, consider buying a gift card to a local store you frequent. Your patronage will help them now, and you’ll be able to take advantage of the credit when things are, well, normal.

When normal returns and what it’ll look like is a mystery. Until then, I’m going to keep doing my part to put forth positivity. I encourage you to, too.