Amazon, Apple, Chevron, Facebook, Google, Hitachi, JP Morgan, Microsoft, Spotify, Twitter… Many big name companies have made working from home mandatory in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic. And this new way of working is here to stay. Since becoming a freelance startup advisor I’ve learned (mostly!) to embrace the benefits of being a digital nomad. But if you’ve never done it before remote work can be challenging. So whether you’ve taken the plunge and started your own venture. Or you’ve been ordered home by your employer.
1) Treat your work from home office like a real office
For most of us a computer, mobile phone and some sort of surface are our home office. So treat them as such. And tidy up before you start your working day. Clear away your cereal bowl, magazines and unpaid utility bills. And close any unnecessary windows, apps and programmes. Because unless social marketing is your gig, it’s probably wise not to have a stream of Facebook and Twitter notifications interrupting your focus.
And if your neighbour’s house is a building site. Or you share your work space with housemates who aren’t working. It might be better to head for a quiet coffee shop – assuming you’re not subject to restrictions. Just think, the money you usually spend on a horrible commute will buy you a hard-earned brew. And even if you have to takeaway that’s bonus exercise. I currently don’t have a dedicated home office. So I usually work at my kitchen table. But I try my best to keep the environment calm and uncluttered. And if I get cabin fever I’ll go elsewhere.
2) Structure your work from home day
Being away from the office, you can easily fall into working much longer or shorter hours. It really depends on your personality, your mood and your surroundings. Try to maintain balance. Allow yourself the time you’d normally spend commuting to do something for yourself. Eat something healthy, exercise or read a book. That way you’ll feel ready to work effectively for a few hours without getting distracted. Then take a proper break for lunch. And eat with someone else if you can. Because feeling lonely and isolated is a real risk for remote workers. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, set a finish time. Otherwise you’ll make your work take longer and end up burning the midnight oil for no good reason.
A typical day for me starts with walking the dog. Followed by a simple breakfast while listening to a podcast. Then I sit down to work, until lunch with my partner if she’s around. After lunch I work a few more hours, then walk the dog again before dinner. It may sound mundane but maintaining normality is critical to success as a home worker. And of course my schedule varies depending on consulting clients and social events. So I adapt but I try to keep some semblance of structure.
When I first started to work from home as a business consultant there were days I’d wake up and be sitting at my laptop within 5 minutes. Then realise at midday I hadn’t eaten anything or seen the sun. That was productive to some extent but it certainly wasn’t sustainable. Equally, there were days I’d stare at my screen for 12 hours, yet procrastinate and achieve very little. Because I was forcing myself to be productive. Now I aim to set myself up for success with a simple routine. And I find positive results tend to come naturally – most of the time anyway.
3) Set clear work-life boundaries
The boundaries that apply to office work also apply to home work. If you have a boss, you shouldn’t be at their beck and call 24/7. And the same goes if you’re self-employed. Don’t be the monkey on your own back. Set sensible cut-off times for answering and responding to non-urgent emails, calls and messages. I have one phone for work and personal use. But I still snooze notifications from 9pm until 9am (except emergency calls). When I had a separate work phone I’d turn it off entirely overnight – unless I was on duty.
And don’t feel guilty for not working hard enough. After all, if you add up all the pointless meetings and casual conversations you’d have during a day at the office, that’s a lot of unproductive time. When I have an important consulting project underway I like to work consistently hard and get it delivered. But if I have a gap or a less busy period, I might take half a day or a whole day off midweek to hike or go to the beach. Because that’s what I enjoy. You should decide what works for you within the context of your responsibilities, and embrace the freedom.
4) Remember to move and live life
Working from home can focus your mind. Because generally there are fewer distractions than in the office. But that can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand your productivity is likely to increase. On the other hand you may find yourself glued to your screen for hours at a time. Don’t forget to take regular breaks. Look away from your screen every 15 minutes to avoid dry eyes. And get up and walk around for a few minutes, at least once an hour. Weather permitting, go outside and stretch your legs. Moderate activity and some sunlight will refresh you ready for the next task – even if it’s a cloudy day.
Working from home I find I’m more productive, while spending more time doing things I truly enjoy. Instead of half-listening to tales about a colleague’s weekend break, I can spend half an hour reading a history book or practicing the guitar. Then get back to it with renewed motivation. I also like to drink coffee, mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Which helps to break up my day. But avoid over-caffeinating if you’re that way inclined. Exercise or some kind of creative activity is more energising.
5) Don’t be a stranger, and socialise!
The number one complaint of home workers is loneliness. And it can have serious consequences for your mental heath. Even if you’re regularly interacting with colleagues by email. The absence of face-to-face communication can be isolating. So if you take one thing away from this post, don’t be a stranger!
I’m lucky that my partner is also self-employed. And since she’s usually working early and late when I walk the dog. She makes lunch and dinner for us most days. But if you don’t have someone close at hand, don’t settle for spending the day alone. Go out and meet a friend for lunch. Or go to a group exercise class when you log out at the end of the day. And if that’s not possible due to a Coronavirus outbreak, video call or take an online class. Whatever you preferences or circumstances, it’s vital build some social activity into your schedule.