Strategies for Successfully Working From Home

After the last 18 months, many of our work from home practices could use some fine tuning, particularly if you plan to work from home at least part-time for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, work can easily invade your entire home and every waking moment. Likewise, it can be easy to keep up bad habits that can leave you feeling inefficient and ineffective. In this week’s post, Chelsea B. Ashworth shares some reminders and suggestions for working from home effectively and efficiently.

-Chelsea B. Ashworth

One of the biggest changes to result from the Covid-19 pandemic is a drastic increase in the number of people working remotely from home. While it's nice to have a load of laundry going while writing memos, failing to institute some work/life separation can easily derail the dream of working in house slippers. Here are some tips to help you stay focused and productive:

(1) Set A Routine.

Back in law school, I had a pre-exam ritual. I would wake up two and a half hours before the exam, shower, drive to Panera to pick up a latte and a Breakfast Power Sandwich (BRING IT BACK PANERA!!!), and then head to school to calmly eat as I set up my exam station with bottled water, ear plugs, and lots of minty gum. I created the routine when I noticed that certain habits seemed to put me in the right headspace. My ritual not only worked; it lowered my pre-test anxiety with its predictability.

To facilitate your transition to working from home, you need to create a similar pre-game routine to help create literal space between you and your bed and to help you get into that "it's go time" frame of mind. Some ideas for this new routine include: simulating your work commute by driving to get coffee or taking a neighborhood walk, dressing in professional attire, listening to whatever you would normally listen to on your commute, or even a ten minute meditation. Whatever you do, do it with the intention of preparing yourself for a productive day of work.

(2) Create A Work Environment.

Try dedicating a room or even a nook of your home to your job. Set up a desk clear of distractions. If you used a standing desk at work, get one for your home, or improvise by placing a cardboard box under your computer to raise it. You might try facing a wall and then facing out a window to see if either impact your ability to focus. You want to create a space that, when you enter it, signals to your brain that it's time to work.

If you work best in a quiet environment but live with roommates or children, consider noise-cancelling headphones. If silence is jarring to you, try listening to music or other white noise. Music with lyrics distracts me because I end up singing along. I've found success working to instrumental jazz, while my husband prefers German techno.

One option that may seem pretty out there is enlisting your olfactory powers. If your previous workspace had a particular scent - a pleasant one - that you can recreate, try that. Smelling that familiar scent in your new home workspace may help your subconscious bridge the gap between your old work-life and your new one.

(3) Reach Out To Coworkers.

Sharing a virtual space with coworkers can give a sense of community and keep you motivated. Zoom and Slack are programs that offer the ability to see your coworkers via video or communicate via chat messages. However, if you are the type to talk out loud - or sing - to yourself, verify that a "push to talk" option is your default. You don't want to discover that everyone can hear you while you are crooning to your cat.

(4) Use The Shared Work Calendar.

If your productivity is suffering due to distracting talk or messages from coworkers, consider scheduling blocks of time in the shared calendar as private work time. This is a good way to ensure long stretches where your focus is not torpedoed by interruptions. It's also a strategy to try to prevent days in which none of your goals are met because you are spontaneously scheduled for back-to-back meetings.

(5) Change Your Environment If It Will Increase Productivity.

When I was studying for the Bar, I lived alone in a one-bedroom apartment. I was grateful for the quiet, private space to focus, but after some time, being holed up started to get to me. I discovered that occasionally leaving my home office became necessary for my success.

In my case, I found studying in a favorite coffee shop to be both productive and restorative. Sometimes I'd go alone; other times I would meet a friend. Because we were each focused on our respective goals of passing the Bar, we never let catching up sideline our progress. I also found it was nice just to be around other people, even if I wasn't talking to them.

It may not be possible or advisable for you to go to a public space to do your work, but that doesn't mean you can't vary your environment. If you have a porch, try working out there. If there is a green space where you can safely walk, take a break to do that. The point is, if you can tell you need a change of venue, try something new.

(6) Ponder "Working From Home" Versus "Working While Home."

One friend I consulted made a point of distinguishing "working from home" from "working while home." He feels the distinction is important because working at your home is inherently different from a traditional office environment and it's foreseeable that complications will occur. He suggests that employees making the transition practice self-compassion by acknowledging that family and home problems will likely arise and have to be dealt with during business hours. Further, if you are in the process of looking for a remote position, try to make sure you find an employer who has realistic policies regarding sudden emergencies.

With the right strategies, I have no doubt that working from home can be a success. I hope these tips are helpful, and that you find working at home to be both liberating and fulfilling.

Chelsea B. Ashworth is currently a licensed attorney in Nashville, Tennessee. When not lawyering, Chelsea uses her writing and editing skills to chase the greatest high she can think of: being understood. She is looking for new opportunities to bring clarity to messaging and deliver content that is clear, concise, and conveys confidence. Watch for future posts from Chelsea as she continues her career exploration.