6 Tips to Help Navigate WFH Life

To my friends and colleagues who are in professions that keep you working on the front lines keeping others safe and healthy, THANK YOU. We are praying for your safety. For others who are doing their part by sheltering in place and working from home, here are some things I've learned during several years of working remotely.

1. Think privacy by design.

Your company is trusting you with their IP. Be worthy of this trust. Keep in mind that the lines between personal and professional can become blurred at home. Be purposeful about where and how you set up shop, who has access to it, and how you dispose of printed material. You don't 'badge' into your work space at home. Be extra vigilant. Report any suspected phishing emails and be mindful of speakerphone conversations where you might be overheard.

2. Swap creativity for the commute. 

Not having to commute offers that time up for a different work purpose. Think of it as a gift you can use to explore an idea or do some research on a hunch. Don't waste it on your inbox. I think you will find that discovery finds its way into your work. During self-quarantine during the Great Plague of London, Sir Isaac Newton worked on a hunch after seeing an apple fall from a tree.

3. Design your routine. 

Routine can help provide consistency and predictability, which is helpful to well-being during a time of uncertainty. Defining and sticking to a consistent routine not only helps navigate through personal and professional responsibilities, it also lets your colleagues know when they can expect you to be available and responsive. Don’t expect to rinse and repeat your previous onsite routine at home. Look for the opportunity to design your routine to fit this time and place. I was able to use the two-hour time difference between Austin and San Francisco to start my workday earlier. This enabled me to use that time later in the afternoon to pick up my daughter from school.

4. Wear pants. Kidding, not kidding.

Wearing pants in this context is just a funny way of saying that video conferencing isn't going away after shelter in place, and dressing professionally at home shows courtesy to others. If you embrace video conferencing now, you'll be a pro by the time you are back to work onsite. If your organization doesn't routinely engage the video conferencing feature, consider being the person to champion its use. Yet, take care not to judge anyone who doesn't want to use it. For those that do, I think you'll find that you feel more connected and positive. 

5. Be ready for your closeup.

WFH provides the chance to control the visual narrative of your work space. The average field of view for a laptop camera is about 10-30 feet. Be aware of what is in that field of view. Don’t allow a Jenga of empty boxes to steal the scene. Think about how the lighting in the space impacts what the camera sees. Be creative until you can dedicate some specific space for work. Because when all else fails, remember, on the internet, nobody knows your ‘standing desk’ is a washing machine.

6. Share skills with others.

If you work for a tech company, being enabled to work from home may not be something you think much about. Yet there are others whose organizations aren’t technically as advanced. You may have friends and neighbors who need help setting up reliable Wi-Fi or troubleshooting technical challenges. Let’s commit to helping others and seeking advice when we need it.