Telecommuting 101: A guide for newbies on working from home
Faced with having to stay home for a couple of weeks as a precaution to limit exposure to the coronavirus, many employees are about to confront the concept of working from home for the first time.
I’m an old hand at this, having telecommuted regularly since the mid 1990s, when I spent half of each week working on the Chronicle’s technology section from home. Because I was reviewing gear I kept at my house, and due to the sheer amount of copy I had to churn out, I would self-quarantine so I could get it all done without constant office interruptus.
If you’re suddenly asked to
consider working from home, it may at first seem like being taken off a leash — but being out of the office isn’t all freedom and lollipops. Control-freak organizations and managers are still going to know your every move.
Here are a few things I’ve learned from years of working remotely.
• Prepare at work. If you’ve never worked from home before, start by taking inventory of what you use every day, from office supplies to apps on your computer. If you will be using your own hardware because you don’t have a work laptop you can take home, bring it in and let your IT folks outfit it. Oh, and become very good friends with your company’s IT staff. You
will need them at some point.
(Bonus tip for Mac users: If you’ve upgraded to macOS 10.15 Catalina, it no longer supports 32-bit software. If you use apps for work that aren’t available in 64-bit versions, work with your IT staff to find alternatives.)
• Dedicate space. Do not work from the couch or, heaven forbid, your bed. Set up a space in your home just for working. If you’ve got a desk, now’s a good time to declutter it. Having a spot just for work that’s organized and efficient puts you in the right frame of mind. If you can afford it, get a work-style task chair that’s ergonomically correct.
• Beef up your Wi-Fi. If you’ve been having internet issues, get those fixed pronto. Few things are as frustrating as choppy Wi-Fi when you’re trying to get things done. If your work involves
sending large files, consider upgrading to a faster internet tier that may give you better upload speeds.
• Wear clothing. Don’t work in your pajamas, underwear or, um, less. Put on clothes, including socks and shoes. It will help you feel more professional — and it will make you more presentable if you use videoconferencing.
• Control your pets, keep kids busy. If you’ve got a dog or cat, make sure they’re confined if they’re not sleeping, particularly if they are noisy. I’ve got a very vocal
If you’ve never worked from home before, start by taking inventory of what you use every day, from office supplies to apps on your computer.
orange tabby who starts meowing loudly when I’m doing a phone interview, or he jumps onto my arm as I’m writing on deadline. He spends a lot of time in the spare bedroom.
If you have young children at home, chances are you’ve probably already done some telecommuting when they’re sick or day care is unavailable. Keep them occupied as best you can, but also give them some attention when you take regular breaks. Hugs, some brief play and sharing snacks can go a long way to helping them understand when it’s work time. (Pro tip: If you’re lucky enough to have a caretaker who comes into your home, don’t tell them “never mind” just because you’re there. You’re still working, just in a different location.)
• Check in often. If your office uses collaboration software such as Slack, make sure it’s installed on your home machine and use it often. Some office workers use Slack or an equivalent only to send files or alert a boss to an available document. Step up your presence on it so that your coworkers (and managers!) know you’re there and available. If your office doesn’t use something like Slack, make the suggestion to do so. It’s better than email or phone calls for remote work.
If using a Slack-like tool isn’t an option, schedule regular phone or videoconferencing sessions. Not only does it keep you front-of-mind, but it’s also good for creativity and team-building.
• Stand up often. For some reason, working from home will cause you to stay seated more than in an office. Set a timer to stand up and move around every hour. (If you’ve got an Apple Watch or some other fitness tracker, you’ll be prompted automatically.) If you have a dog (see above), take it for a walk so both of you get some exercise. It’s good both for your body and your mind.
• When you’re done,
be done. Set some boundaries with managers and co-workers. It’s easy to keep working well past the time you might normally leave the office. Let your colleagues know you are done, and then be done.
(This story originally appeared in Dwight Silverman’s Release Notes newsletter. Subscribe for free at houstonchronicle.com/releasenotes.)