Employees Guide to Working From Home
Kristi Andrus
Executive coach and writer with 15+ years in media. I blend strategic leadership, business optimization, and transformative travel to help individuals & organizations achieve growth, balance, and lasting success.
I’ve been working from home since 2008, so I’ve picked up a few tricks over the last 15 years. Here are nine of the best and easiest to implement.
Take a few photos at the office — in the conference room , in your office, in the lobby, with your colleagues — and use them occasionally as your backgrounds on your home zooms. It’s an easy way to leave visual clues to make it feel like you’re around more often than you are.
On conference calls, multitask intentionally. If you are expected to participate or need to be on camera or at your desk, keep your full attention on the meeting.?
But if you’re on a webinar or typically muted for the duration , do mindless tasks simultaneously — like sweeping, vacuuming, laundry, cooking, or dishes — that don’t derail your mind, but give you a sense of balance and accomplishment.?
It’s essential to cross things off your list, and working from home, especially in middle management, can feel like doing a lot with very little to show for it. So get that sense of satisfaction and productivity endorphins from personal accomplishments.
Or, consider taking routine calls outside while walking or gardening. You’ll benefit from the fresh air, change of scenery, and physical stimulation. And you’ll be more creative, less anxious, and sleep better too.
Work out every day. You don’t need to go to a gym or have fancy equipment. Follow your favorite instructors and squeeze in a 10–30-minute mood-boosting dance or cardio workout at the time of day when your energy lulls or you feel yourself reaching for something unhealthy to power through.
Time blocking is essential. Prioritize your highest ROI tasks and schedule them to limit distractions, minimize transitions, and optimize flow.
Group creative, analytic, or social tasks together so you don’t feel frazzled or fragmented, but stick with it.?
Try to experiment with schedule changes for 30–60 days to give them a fair chance. And get in the habit of sitting down and doing the thing, not preparing to, not surfing, not inbox zero.
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If that means getting them done before your day officially starts or before your family wakes up or aligning your day with a different timezone, so be it.
Keep a 10-minute list on your phone: Emails to respond to, appointments to confirm, calls to make, topics to research, posts to engage with, and ideas to follow up on. You can even save a handful of 10-minute meditations or workouts.
While waiting or with an extra minute, look at your list first instead of scrolling or zoning out. Pick one thing and do it in 10 minutes or less . If it requires more time, schedule, delegate, or eliminate it.?
Even if it feels insignificant, remember how effectively baby steps can move your goals forward!?
Schedule appointments, errands, and shopping during the day. Subscribe and save and delivery services are great, but for everything you have to do in person, do it during the day, when your kids are in school, and during other’s work hours to save time, avoid crowds, and get your first pick.
Network and put in the face time to stay relevant, but a word of caution…it’s hard to drink the Kool-Aid from home.?
I remember a few years after I started working remotely. I went to HQ, and one of my bosses sprinted down the hall for a meeting. Sprinted. Sprinted?
Working from home gives you perspective. It’s an opportunity to be more fulfilled, balanced, productive, plan further out, and maximize your life…but you might find you’re less invested, less interested, or you have more definitive boundaries. There’s more to life than work, and that perspective is healthy.
Upgrade your tech. WFH tools are fast, dynamic, and readily available. Upgrade your situation often. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. And, if you have yet to jump on the AI train , look for repetitive, tedious, and manual (but essential tasks) as an opportunity to try it. Save your brain for the big stuff.
Lastly, put your family and your well-being first. Then make all decisions and plans from that clarity and certainty. Use fulfillment as motivation and keep growing your skills, network, and learn as much as possible. You got this. Own your time, your resources, and your future.