How to Make the Most Out of Working from Home
Tip and tricks for the WFH crew.
TIPS & TRICKS
Most solopreneurs and small business owners work from home (WFH). On the surface, it sounds ideal. You can work in your robe while you talk to your dog. You might even have your favorite movie on in the background. You are your own boss, so you make the rules!
But working from home has its disadvantages, too. It’s not as easy to get things done from home as you might think. You can also go a little stir-crazy if you’re not careful.
Here are some tips to be more productive and make WFH life enjoyable.
Stick to a schedule. As a business owner, your time is probably pretty flexible, but make a schedule and stick to it.
Get up at the same time each day.
Stick to your normal grooming routine.
Sit down to work at the same time each day.
Plan your lunchtime.
Quit working at a set time.
Dress effectively. Not saying you need to be dressed in business attire but sometimes putting on the right outfit can improve your attitude, essentially making you more productive. Dress in a way that boosts your energy, confidence, and work state of mind.
Set boundaries in your home. Kids, spouse, friends, neighbors, other family members, and pets can all be a distraction. Set boundaries and enforce them. You might have to tell your kids to leave you alone unless there is a real emergency. Friends might have to be told to stay away until 5:00 PM.
Each household is unique. Set rules that work for you and don’t be shy about ensuring that everyone is respecting them.
Put in face time when necessary. Sometimes we get used to just answering emails or strictly talking on the phone. But avoid only relying on these for effective communication. Try using video conferencing tools or actually meet in person, where appropriate. It’s beneficial to see your partners, employees, and clients/customers if at all possible to keep the connection and mutual trust.
Plan breaks. If you stick to your schedule, it should also include breaks. I try following the Pomodoro Technique to manage my time. This way I'm taking care of 3-4 rounds of tasks and including small and larger breaks where needed. A break is a good time to clear your head, check on the kids, or let the dog out.
Get out of the house. Try to go out at least once each day. It helps both your mental and physical health to get out of the house for at least a little while each day. You could run to the store, take a walk, or do anything else that takes you out of your home for a bit.
Communicate more. Communication can be less effective when you don’t have face-to-face contact all the time. That means you’ll likely need to communicate more to make up for the lower quality of communication. Communicate as frequently as necessary to ensure everyone is on the same page, not just clients or customers but team members or employees, family, friends, etc.
Have a dedicated workspace. It can be tempting to spread out on the kitchen bar. But are your papers going to stay where you put them? Can you have a decent phone conversation here? Are there too many distractions? Set up a dedicated workspace that everyone in the house will respect as such. Remember to enforce your boundaries as needed. You don't want a case of the "dog ate my homework" if you leave documents and work items in a space outside of your work area.
Get some exercise. Whether you plan time before or after your set schedule, be sure to incorporate some form of exercise in your daily WFH life. Some people start the day with yoga or a light workout to wake the mind up and get the blood flowing. Some finish the day with an intense workout or long walk to wind down. Do what your body can handle.
Working from home can be more challenging to get things done, and it’s much easier to waste time if you’re not cautious. There are more distractions and it can also be psychologically more challenging if you’re alone all day.
Take a look at your job responsibilities, home life, and your own idiosyncrasies. Develop a process that works for you. And nothing is 100% failproof, as life and work changes, you can make adjustments to these as needed.