How to Effectively Work From Home

Blogging is a great hobby; however, I spend most of my time at my day job working in Diversity & Inclusion. Working with my company’s leadership and employee resource groups to promote a culture of inclusion and engagement requires me to be in the office – but not all of the time. I regularly work from home two days per week.  Still, last week had me feeling trapped and practicing poor habits. I let my anxiety get the best of me, but this week I’m back on track.

The Rona has forced many people to work from home for the first time and getting into the swing of it can be a bit challenging. Your productivity from home has to be intentional and all it takes is a few small things to set you up for success. Here’s what I recommend:

WAKE UP EARLY

If you wait until you have to log on to get out of bed the rest of your day can be a drag.

GET DRESSED

Try to maintain as much of a normal routine as possible. You don’t have to put on your finest suit, but ensure that you are well groomed and have on a nice shirt. I like to look put together on top and then throw on some leggings and fuzzy socks for comfort.

AVOID WORKING IN BED

One time I fell asleep for like 2 minutes and woke up in a panic because it felt like hours. Trust me you don’t want that stress.

CREATE A WORKSPACE

Don’t have an office? No worries! Just find a space in your home that is comfortable to work from and make it your own. I used to have an office in my old place and never used it. Now I just work from the kitchen island.

STEP AWAY FOR BREAKS

You should do this at work anyway, but it’s much easier to forget when you’re in the comfort of your own home.

EAT MEALS AND SNACKS THAT ENERGIZE YOU

If you choose to snack on unhealthy foods don’t be surprised when you get the itis and start drifting off. I don’t really snack a lot, but I’ve been meal prepping as I typically would to avoid reaching for the wrong foods.

GET ACTIVE

You still got to get those steps in. To keep your energy levels up do a home workout in the morning, after work, or even during lunch. YouTube has some great options to follow along to.

STAY CONNECTED

To stay connected with your coworkers opt for a video chat instead of a call, or a call instead of an email. Be sure to check in and not just regarding work. Ask how they’re doing and how their family is holding up. It will go a long way - this is a challenging time for us all.

Hope this helps 😊

XOXO Shay