Make work at home a better experience.

Working at home presents a series of benefits very valuable for many employees: not having to commute, fuel and food savings, work life balance, etc. But at the same time, it also presents some challenges that can affect productivity: interruptions, noises, distractions, lack of concentration, etc. The idea of this document is to help minimize those negative aspects of working at home, and help you be as productive as you would be at the brick and mortar workspace.

It all starts with the foundations, if you start your day with the right steps, you will be more likely break the inertia and to maintain a productive mindset during the day.

Wake up early

Try to wake up early in order to have plenty of time to prepare for the workday. Nothing hurts your chances of starting your day on a positive note than waking up 3 minutes prior to the beginning of your shift. Showing up to your first call of the day with your sleepy face and messy hair, doesn’t yell “professionalism” at all.

Make your bed

You will start with the first task in your daily to do list with a check mark, which will give you a sense of accomplishment. And in case your workspace is in your room, it will provide a clean and tidy space for you to work.

Do some physical activity.

Exercise naturally boosts endorphins, which increases happiness, enjoyment, and interest levels, all of which are important for productivity. Stretch, do yoga, calisthenics or whatever activity that you deem appropriate to your fitness level. The idea is to pump blood into your muscles and brain, to get rid of the morning fogginess and to recharge. It doesn’t need to be a full hour of cardio intensive activity or a 5-kilometer run. Even a 5-minute walk around the house can increase your energy.

Get a nice shower

Nothing like a warm (or cold if you prefer it) shower to boost your energy, and to wake you up completely!

Dress for work

I know it feels great to work in your PJ’s, which is one of the favorite perks of working at home, but you need to get into work clothes to change your mindset to “office mode”. Beyond the psychological impact of getting in in the right mindset, you will be ready to show up on any video calls, wearing something more appropriate than your comfy Star Wars or Care Bears t-shirt.

Have a healthy breakfast

Pump some fuel into the system! Try to have healthy choices that will leave you satisfied and will provide you energy throughout the morning. Avoid sugary foods that will boost your energy for a short period of time and will leave you depleted afterwards.

As nice as it is to work from home, there are some limitations and difficulties that we need to face. In most cases it is easier to concentrate at the office, with less distractions and all the tools you need to do your tasks at hand.

Designate a workspace in your home

The first step on working at home is, defining a space that is appropriate to do your work. It doesn’t need to be a dedicated space, but it needs to have the minimum conditions to let you do it comfortably and to be productive.

Regardless of space or location, establish an area of your home where you will work, and commit to working in this space every day. Be sure your workspace is quiet so you can focus on the task at hand.

Set boundaries with your family

In order to get the support, you need your family, especially little kids, to understand your requirements. Have a formal meeting with them and explain why it is important that you don’t get interrupted. Explain that even that you are at home, you are working, and you are not available for them the during work time, except for emergencies.

• Establish work hours where everyone knows that you need quiet, uninterrupted time to focus.
• Have signs that can be put on your door to indicate that you can’t be disturbed, and when absolute quiet is required.
• Define in advance which situations must be brought to your attention immediately and which ones can wait until your next break or the end of your workday.
• Try to get your family to send you an SMS, WhatsApp or email if they need to communicate to you instead of knocking on your door or showing up at your workspace.

Stay in touch

One of the downsides of working at home is losing touch with your coworkers, which can make you feel isolated from what’s going on at work. Take the time to meet with your coworkers and team regularly. If you are a supervisor, dedicate time to meet privately with each member of your team, so they can share status updates, receive coaching, and discuss developments from their personal life.

Be involved in your company’s activities. 

Whether is a virtual townhall, or an update call, try to join as often as possible, so you can stay in touch with developments in the company. If there’s a newsletter, make sure you receive it, and read it thoroughly. Learn who was hired or was promoted, learn about initiatives your company is involved on, and if possible, try to support them.

Turn your work area into a space you enjoy being in. 

Given the constrains you might have, try to create a nurturing environment in your workspace, if you have a dedicated space, try painting it in a cheerful relaxing color, get live plants, put motivational posters or images. And try to personalize your space with things that bring you joy, but don’t distract you from work. If you don’t have a devoted space, try to use a rolling file cart or tray to move around the items that you will be needing. Small pieces of decoration, plants, small figurines, etc., will lighten up your space and will make you enjoy it more.

Work as comfortable as possible with the right tools. 

Working from home should not be any less safe or comfortable than being in an office environment. If possible, invest in an ergonomic office chair, or get the most comfortable chair you can at your home. Make sure it keeps your back straight and supported. Also make sure it fits your desk or table in a manner that keeps your elbows at 90 degrees. Also try to keep you monitor at eye level to avoid stressing your neck and head. Try the following simple tips to make your space as ergonomic as possible:

• Put a pillow on your seat. A thin pillow can provide some cushion and make any chair more comfortable.
• Roll a towel an locate it between your lower back and the back of the chair to provide lumbar support.
• Elevate your feet to a point where your thighs and hips are at a 90-degree angle. Try moving your feet back and forth to stimulate blood flow.
• Raise your computer. Use a box or books to raise the level of your monitor above your desk level to reduce tension on your neck. Make sure your computer is stable and secure in its raised location.

If your work requires you to talk on the phone, make sure you use a headset or the telephone speaker. Avoid cradling a headset between your neck and shoulder.

Take short breaks to stand up and stretch as often as possible.

Make sure you have proper and sufficient lightning that won’t cause strain to your eyes.

If the area you live in, is prone to voltage fluctuations, try to invest in a small UPS, it will protect the equipment and avoid it to reset during a voltage variation.

Safety is always a must. 

Ensure the area surrounding your workspace is free from clutter or other tripping hazards.

Ensure the sturdiness and stability of your work surface.

Check your electrical connections and make sure they are in good shape and that are properly grounded.

Evaluate your workspace lighting to determine if it is adequate to your needs, and that it doesn’t cause any glare on your computer screen.

Ensure your environment is free of excessive noise.

Working at home must be a pleasant experience to you, giving you the comfort of being at home, mixed with the productive mindset of the office. Talk to your supervisor in advance in case you have any issues that you think might affect your performance at home and report any technical difficulties you might have to get the proper support.

Happy Work at home!!!

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