Working from home — it sounds awesome, and for the most part it is! For some folks, skipping the commute lets them save time for themselves and their families. There’s a flipside to working from home, however. For example, some people might miss their morning commute since it was a nice way to wake up in the morning.
Some folks are missing daily contact with their office BFF. Or, they’re missing mentorship which may feel difficult to access now that they can’t chat face-to-face in the lunchroom.
Working from home can feel very lonely with the loss of physical contact with your team and the familiarity of the folks you got to see every day. It also demands a more self directed routine which can feel difficult if you’re not used to it.
You may also be living alone or now spending much more time with roommates or family so the feeling of coming home will have shifted as well.
There are lots of ways to adapt to these changes. Here are some ideas that have worked for me. Hopefully they’ll give you a framework to find your own solutions.
Give yourself some morning wakeup time. As tempting as it is to hit the snooze button and roll out of bed with five minutes to spare, doing so doesn’t give your brain a chance to get going. Find something fun to do before work so you feel energized and excited. That mood will carry over to your morning.
I like to get up and play with my dog. It’s tough when I’m up before the sun, but it gives me a chance to connect with some joy that I can bring to my workday. Some folks do their best thinking in the shower or on a walk. Throw on a coat and go for a short wander or a jog. If you keep your pj bottoms on, no one can see them under a parka!
Change your clothes. For some folks this means getting dressed as they would for the office. This is a really personal thing. I find that at home I’m happy to change my t-shirt and put on some clean leggings. I can’t imagine wearing jeans all day, but if you find denim helps your brain make the switch to work mode, put on those pants! If you have mid-day errands, it’s quicker to run out if you’re already dressed.
Create a workspace. Your office setup is personal to you. Do you want a workspace the mimics your old office environment, or do you want to start completely fresh? It’s all about what feels good for your body for an eight-hour workday, and also long-term. I know that I keep my massage therapist and chiropractor busy because I like to work on my couch. I have a small table that holds my laptop and some post-its. At the end of the day I can tuck my table away along with my work laptop and I have a living room again.
For my mental health I make sure to physically move around my living room once I’ve stopped working so I’m not living my life entirely in one corner of the room.
Standing desks, yoga balls, or other alternative seating may also help you build your work space. Setting up an ergonomic space is definitely recommended. I know my back would feel better if I sat at a desk and had a good desk chair, but it’s difficult for my brain to work that way.
Take breaks. I’m really terrible at this. It’s okay if you’re really terrible at this too. It’s easy to tumble into a work vortex and just keep going. The cool thing about work is it’s all going to be there in 20 minutes or tomorrow. Definitely talk with your manager about what is critical to complete for the day and what can wait if you struggle with taking breaks.
A break can look very different when you work from home. It might be a catchup with team members. It might mean doing the dishes or throwing in a load of laundry. I like to take short dance breaks. My dog is also really into this and sings along. A little endorphin boost can also help you push through a day if you’re feeling confined in your space.
A walk around the block is also a great break.You can also attend meetings while you walk or hang out in a nearby greenspace. One of my favourite work from home tips is to rest your eyes every hour, even briefly. Find something calming to look at like a tree or a fluffy cloud. A micro-break gives your brain a moment to pause before you dive back into work.
If you’re having a hard time taking breaks, set an alarm on your phone or have a break buddy you’re accountable to. Make it a rule that you have to stop when the alarm goes off, no snoozing!
Leave the house. Even when it’s raining. Even when it’s minus a number you can’t say out loud and it makes your face hurt. I got a dog and this worked for me but there are so many options. You could borrow a friend’s dog, volunteer to walk dogs or take meals to seniors. Walk to the corner store for snacks. Join a hiking group. Find something to do outside your house that feels good.
Communicate. Working remotely has meant lots of video calls, Slack messages, and Zoom meetings. There are a lot of communication methods we’re not used to using on a daily basis.. You may feel overwhelmed with all the online communication you’re doing throughout the day. When working from home, ensure you’re making time to talk with folks on your team and your direct manager.
It’s going to take a little bit of time to find the best communication methods for you. Some folks are great at Slack. Others prefer email. Don’t be afraid to try different things. Some folks need a morning check-in, such as a couple of minutes on a Slack call. For others, sending a quick message or email will do. Ask for a quick conversation as you need them. Oftentimes clarification is needed as Slack messages don’t convey tone and you can miss context. This is totally normal as we get used to each other’s non-verbal communication. Patience is key here.
Emojis are great for adding tone and context. I promise they’re not unprofessional — they’re an important and welcome part of communicating!
Eat and hydrate. You’re working really hard and in new ways. Don’t forget to fuel yourself. I have a really hard time eating before work starts but it’s so important! Make that coffee, drink your water (eight cups a day), and eat a solid breakfast.
I’m a grazer so I find having lots of little snacks available is helpful. Fruit, nuts, cookies, pre-chopped veg — whatever feels good for your body. Also, popping up for a snack gives you a short break and lets you stretch and move around.
Don’t let yourself get “hangry” if you can avoid it. You’re steps from your kitchen or maybe working in your kitchen. It’s ok to eat and fuel yourself through your workday.
Try not to book back to back meetings so you get a little break and can take a moment to grab some water or a snack. It’ll help you focus and be at your best as you move through your day.
Meal-prep is also a great way to grab food that feels good during a busy work day. A couple of hours on Sunday means time for an after lunch wander or the chance to take lunch outside.
There’s a lot of fear around weight change. I want to note here that it’s ok to eat. Really! If your body shifts in size that’s okay. Bodies do that! Fuelling your body with food you enjoy is self-care. Give yourself the gift of non-judgement if you can. Junk food is simply food.
There are going to be distractions. You may have a partner or roommate who has Zoom meetings all day, and you both have to work in the same room. A great pair of noise cancelling headphones are invaluable. Also, holding a meeting while you perch on your bed is ok! Use Zoom backgrounds so no one will know the true state of your bedroom.
Your dog is going to show up to your meetings. Your kids are going to need attention at times that may not be ideal. You may be in a meeting when your computer decides to install updates or your cat walks across the keyboard and sits down. It’s going to feel really hard sometimes.
We’re all human and not perfect (I know right?!) and neither is our technology. Things are going to happen that feel less than ideal. Know that it’s happening to everyone, without exception. Shake it off as best you can. We’re all doing our best and your team knows that.
Share your Zoom nightmare stories at your next team huddle, or put it out there on your Facebook, to get a sense of Zoom-disaster community. It’s nice to know that we really are in this together.
Cut yourself some Slack (ha!). There’s a LOT going on right now. You’re learning how to work from home (which is a skill set) on top of your usual work, and keeping up with global changes during a pandemic. There are lots of things happening at a very fast pace.
You’re going to make mistakes. You may find your focus isn’t always there. Zoom burnout is a real thing. You may find yourself needing more breaks than usual. This is all okay, and please make sure you’re taking the time you need.
Reach out to your team for support and let your direct manager know what’s going on. If you have access to an EAP program tsake time out of your day to use it. It’s also helpful to have a work BFF, someone you can chat with about things outside of work.
I would really love to hear how you’re doing and hear your tips. I’ll be updating this article as I hear from you because I know you’re all becoming WFH experts!
