Ultimate Work From Home Guide

We remember the old days of daily morning commutes, $5 latte runs before heading to the office, and don't have to worry that we left breakfast on the counter on a hectic morning before we ran out the door. While some have settled in nicely at home, others greatly miss the office environment and camaraderie among teammates that is hard to replicate via Webex, Zoom, and Facetime calls. Let's face it -- working from home isn't always as easy as it sounds! If you're looking for some tips and tricks, if you're feeling restless, we've got you covered!

Train & Test

Programs like WebEx and Slack may be new to you and your team. Make sure that you are trained on how to utilize these features correctly before conducting live calls with prospects or clients. It's better to work through all the hiccups internally with your team before live meetings. Consider factors like muting phones, how to mute all lines if conducting the call, webcam and phone features, and how to correctly screen share so you are only allowing those viewing to see the information you want to share. Remember to put the dog in another room before your big call starts!

Define Your Space

Desk sales are up and we've accepted this isn't temporary. Whether you have your own personal office that is not shared or you are trying to designate space in your home with roommates, a spouse / partner, or kids -- it's important to have a reserved work environment where you are able to focus and get things done. It's crucial to create separation between work and personal space. It gives you a chance to focus during business hours and decompress during time off.

Morning Routine

Wake up. Make your coffee. Open your blinds. Take a quick shower. Have some breakfast. Meditate. Do what you have to do to start your morning off right. If you know it typically takes you 30 minutes to get ready for work, allow yourself 30 minutes to get ready to sit at your desk. This way, your head is clear and in the right place when you sit down at your computer or phone. Consistency gives you a realistic view of what to expect each day. This is more important than ever!

90% of employees say more flexible arrangements would increase morale

FlexJobs & global workplace analytics - 2020 study

Plan Social Interactions

Order takeout from your favorite sushi restaurant and have a socially distanced picnic with a friend. Take your dog for a walk with your significant other to a beautiful lookout point and watch the sunset. Have a Facetime dinner date with a friend or loved one and cook the same recipe at your own homes. Making time for social engagement helps keep each and every one of us feel less stressed.

Although things may not be 'normal', it's important to ease into the new ecosystem we live in and find meaningful ways to engage with others after a long day of sitting at home alone working. It's good for your mental health!

If you aren't able to see a friend or loved one on a given day, make an effort to complete a workout class or say hello to a neighbor. A few minutes of engagement is absolutely better than none.

There's A Time For Work And A Time To Stop

There's a common misconception that it is easy to work from home and also do house chores at the same time. While it may seem feasible to answer every email, finish that presentation, wash and fold the laundry, and keep the kitchen straight at the same time -- don't try to do everything.

There is a time for work and there is a time for home life. Don't let the precious moments you set aside for yourself get absorbed by work. 

During business hours, focus on completing emails, reaching out to prospects, and building presentations or tools. When 5 o'clock hits or it's time to take your lunch, enjoy the moments of down time with your family or fold that laundry sitting at the foot of your bed. Creating some separation between work and home helps encourage balance. 

Create A Schedule & Take Breaks

Creating structure and taking breaks is an essential piece of the puzzle while working remote. By maintaining 'normal' work hours, you give yourself the opportunity to get your work done for the day and have some time for yourself. If you have a dog they'll help you remember to get up!

A daily routine reinforces habits. This goes hand in hand with having a time for home and a time for work. Set your alarm at a consistent time each morning and don't hit the snooze button. Make yourself some breakfast. Take your dog out and enjoy a few minutes of fresh air first thing in the morning. After you've finished your morning routine, settle in to work. Remind yourself to take a quick 10 minute break every few hours. Grab a quick, nutritious snack and some water while making any personal calls or texts you need for the morning.

Try to each lunch at the same time every day. For those of you on salary that don't have to clock in and out for meal hours, this is especially important. Eating during consistent meal times helps prevent brain fog or late night snacking or overindulgence during dinner. It's also an opportunity to decompress mid-day.

Finally, when it's time to wrap up for the day, turn your work phone and computer off. The last thing you want is for your family or loved ones to feel neglected while you send those last emails at 10 PM. It can wait until the morning! Be thoughtful with your schedule and the hours you are working. Careful scheduling allows time to get everything on your to-do list completed.

Set Priorities

When you sit down at your desk in the morning, create a to-do list of the things that need to be accomplished throughout the day. Creating a set list of tasks creates structure and encourages you to keep pace.

Working remotely can hurl new distractions your way that you may not be used to. Setting priorities helps navigate the dog barking at the back door, a delivery showing up, or the kids running in and out of the house, or your personal phone ringing. Create a method for finding focus! 

Need Silence?

It may be overly distracting working from home with your spouse talking on the phone one room over or your kids watching Disney channel on the TV. Sound cancelling headphones are a great option for those of you that are looking for quiet. You can keep them off or even listen to some quiet music to keep you focused. Finding a pair that is able to also take calls via Bluetooth is a good option if you need to be on your phone for a good portion of the day.

Get Outside

Check the mail. Spend 10 minutes walking around the community. Enjoy some fresh air while you are taking the trash cans out.

Do your best to spend at least 20 minutes outside each day. We all need Vitamin D to stay happy, healthy, and balanced! Instead of eating lunch at your desk, sit on your patio or drive over to a local park to enjoy it. The fresh air will help you feel reset and re-centered when you return to work. 

80% of remote workers experience less job stress

FlexJobs & global workplace analytics - 2020 study

Got Kids?

Set some guidelines with your family so they understand how to best communicate with you throughout the day. Explain that there are times when it's very important that it's quiet while you're on the phone.

One of our favorite methods is this: Grab a fun notebook that is "special" in some way. Explain to your kids that when they need something (ex: cereal off a shelf that's too high, to have a play date with a friend, or to complain about a sibling) that they can write it in the book. 

It gives them a way to quietly communicate with you and you can acknowledge that you will respond as soon as you're off the phone or write down your answer the line below. The best part is you'll have a funny keepsake to look back on years later and read the notes! It worked in our house and we think it will work well at yours too!

Fill Your Home With Healthy Snacks

When your desk is your kitchen table and your refrigerator is only steps away, it can be tempting to fall into the habit of eating anything and everything you can get your hands on -- especially during times of high stress! Filling your cabinets and fridge with healthy, nutritious snacks can strengthen positive eating habits. 

Wear Real Clothes

We've all heard the phrase "dress for success". When you wake up in the morning, do your best to change out of your pajamas and into an outfit for the day. It doesn't have to be a suit and tie or a formal dress, but a little effort goes a long way with how you feel for the day.

Need Some Background Noise?

Missing the quiet chatter of fingers on keyboards or the hum of your office air conditioner in the background while you work? We totally understand. It's completely normal to have a tough time working in silence if you're not used to it or to miss having co-workers around. There are a variety of things that may help or work for you.

You could listen to music quietly in the background. Pick something that is relaxing and easy to listen to. A great option to test out is listening to foreign music that is primarily in a language other than your own with instrumental backgrounds. You are able to enjoy hearing other people's voices without the distraction of knowing the words. You may even find a new favorite artist or pick up a few words you didn't know beforehand!

Fully instrumental music is another option that could work if you find listening to other people's voices distracting. Genres like reggae, downtempo, classical, rhythm and Blues, or lounge music may be a good place to start! The goal is to find something that is not distracting to your work flow that allows you to focus. Everyone is different and will have their own preference. For those of you that are taking calls frequently, be sure that your audio can easily be turned off during calls.

Other options include listening to audio books or podcasts. This may be more distracting than listening to music, but it may be a good option for those of you that are working positions that do not require you to be on the phone or are more creative / design based.

Understand Company Expectations

A big factor we don't fully consider while working remote is the difference in security protocols we follow at our homes versus what our companies have in place at the office. Having a conversation about what is allowed and expected helps avoid issues in the long run. Are you allowed to work using public WiFi? Do you need to have your own internet set up in your home with a personal business line to ensure all firewalls are working? What is the policy for allowing family members and children to use company equipment? Employers should have concrete answers to these type questions to avoid confusion and set a standard guideline for how employees should be working from home.

Employers may create new policies to answer these type of questions or may have new regulations for things like two-factor authentication, personal technology use during work hours, or who is allowed to have access to your work devices / information due to the change in work environment.

Talk to your employer about how they would like you to store information regarding business. Based on your industry, there may be specific guidelines that need to be followed to ensure protection and privacy for the information you are accessing.

It's also a good idea to have a conversation about work scheduling to ensure you are aware of your company's expectations. Does your company believe that working a nine-to-five schedule is conducive or need support during normal business hours? Or is there flexibility to work varying hours, based on your position?

If you are settling in and there is something that logistically isn't working for you or that you need clarification on, it's important to discuss these factors with your team leaders and managers. This is a fluid process that is constantly evolving as time passes. There may be components that influence your personal work-from-home experience that other members of your team haven't taken into consideration or do not fully understand. 

From mid-March to mid-May 2020, the percentage of U.S. employees working from home more than doubled, from 31% to 65%, accounting for more than 100 million American workers. 

Gallup, Inc. - Number of workers based on 2019 average of total employed (full time and part time, aged 18 or older_. according to https://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat08.htm.

Let's work together! Get in touch:

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Warner Pacific provides health insurance agents with sales assistance, innovative technology and back-office support — the tools you need to grow your business in a rapidly changing marketplace.