#Workingfromhome - Set yourself up for success!

Six years ago, my managers at #MarketMetrix (later acquired by Clarabrige) did something unheard of. They supported my plan to move to Nepal from Singapore and work COMPLETELY remotely. The company was flexible, but there was nobody else that worked from home, all the time! Add to this equation the fact that my clients were based in Singapore & neighboring countries and the management team was in San Francisco. A lot of logistics and planning needed to be worked out, but I am so GRATEFUL for the #leadership and trust depicted by my managers. My tenure at this company will always be some of the BEST years of my professional life!

Personal note: In normal times and in the age of #coronavirus, the flexibility to work from home is a PRIVILEDGE. If your company pays you to do your job remotely and your role/industry allows you to follow social distancing, you are luckier than many. My sister is a healthcare professional and does not have that choice. Nor do many others.

Since there are a lot of newbies that now have to work remotely for (at least) a few weeks, here are a few hacks I learned in my 9-month #wfh stint. Occasional #workfromhome does not require a lot of thought, but if it is REGULAR and (what seems like) INFINITE, you need to set yourself up for success.

• Set up a designated work area

You DON’T need a standing desk and/or noise-canceling headphones. Great if you already have these items, but there’s no need to spend money. These are nice-to-have things, not basic necessities. Do make sure you have access to wifi connection though :) Allocate a (quiet) corner of your apartment or house and don’t schedule work calls when your family is having a meal. Your bed or couch are probably not the best choices, for productivity or your posture. Having a designated workspace, even if it is in a corner of your bedroom, helps to switch into work mode. Create your mini office away from the office.?

• Schedule your day (work hours and the rest)

Schedule your workday and allocate time for lunch & breaks. Follow the schedule. What gets scheduled is more likely to get done. Have a designated start and end times. The worst thing about working remotely is that the day never ends - it is very easy to sit with a laptop and spend hours typing away. Take the time to exercise or even go for a short walk. I don’t think you need to dress EXACTLY like you were going to the office (esp if you tend to overdress like me!) but pajamas are definitely not a good idea. Wear something that is comfortable but not something that makes you want to crawl into bed. Forming good habits is essential and for that, you need to stick to a structure. Set boundaries so that you are not distracted by the tv (and the endless news of the outbreak) or personal chores that scream for your attention.

• Infuse social aspects into this *new* work reality

The HARDEST part of working remotely for me was missing the social aspects of being in an office - the small talk and the interaction with my peers. I rearranged my schedule so that I got in a few overlapping hours with the teams in San Francisco and Singapore. But there was nobody to ping or have a call with for almost half the day..and that felt LONELY. I craved human interaction. I worked from coffee shops occasionally and spent a week in Singapore every few months. Due to the necessary social distancing now, in-person interactions need to be minimized and we have to depend on technology more than usual. Have regular calls with your team/clients and use video if possible. While none of us miss mindless meetings, we all miss meeting people.?

What are some of your life hacks for working from home? What has worked so far? I would love to hear how your experience is going.