The Young Money Club

Working from home is new to a lot of people. It can be difficult finding a groove and getting used to a new way of working. To help make the transition smoother I’ve put together a list of tips for working from home that can help you stay productive and comfortable in this new, yet familiar working environment.

Get Dressed

Since no one at the office can see you, it can be tempting to hang out in your underwear or robe all day. While much more comfortable, this can negatively impact your productivity.

You don’t necessarily need to put on a suit and tie, but something you wouldn’t mind being seen wearing in public. This also applies to morning rituals like showering, brushing your teeth, fixing your hair, even makeup if you’re a woman.

These seemingly little things can go a long way for improving your productivity and moral when working from home. (plus it helps to be presentable if you have to hop on an impromptu Zoom meeting)

Create a Workspace

Designating an area of your house as a workspace is extremely important when working from home. This will allow you to draw a line between your work and home life so that the two don’t start to blend together.

If you can’t fully disconnect from your work when the day is over, it can put pressure on your personal life. The same goes for starting your day, if you don’t have a set workspace you may never enter “work mode” and find yourself distracted.

Here is a link to an article with tips on creating the perfect home workspace.

Eliminate Distractions

This goes hand in hand with creating a workspace. You should try to find a space with minimal distractions. No kids, pets, TV’s, or anything else that might pull you away from your work.

With a lot of people working, going to school, and overall spending more time at home, this can be a challenge. If private space is difficult to come by a good pair of noise cancelling headphones can greatly diminish the impact of distractions.

Implement Transition Time

During normal times most people enjoy or endure (depending on your circumstances) a commute to work. This is something that most people take for granted or overlook completely. Mentally those minutes you spend driving are a transition period both into “work mode” and out of it.

It can be helpful when you work from home to implement a transition period both before and after work. You don’t necessarily have to go drive around the block for a few minutes either. It can just be sitting at your desk while you drink coffee and check the news or checking personal emails.

This will help you have a smooth transition between working and your home life. Without a transition period you may find yourself rushed or otherwise frazzled when starting your day.

Work During Work Hours

Now this one seems like common sense, surely people don’t want to work more than they need to right? Well when you’re working from home there are no physical cues that the day has started or ended. It’s very easy to lose track of time or get wrapped up in whatever work your doing and go overboard.

Likewise, without someone over your shoulder making sure you’re working 9-5, you may feel like your would rather work at your own pace. That can throw your schedule out of whack and hurt your productivity. Staying on a regular schedule will help you maintain some semblance of normal while also keeping you prepared for an eventual return to in-person work.

Communicate With Your Employer

Now more than ever, it’s important to maintain good communication with those you work with. It’s not as simple as just popping into an office and asking a question or giving an update. It’s important to be proactive in communicating with your bosses and coworkers.

If you find yourself struggling or twiddling your thumbs, reach out to a boss or HR and see if there are adjustments that can be made. Don’t assume that everyone knows what’s going on people tend to get wrapped up in their own little world. When in doubt it’s better to overcommunicate than under communicate, you can always dial it back later.

Working from home is a new experience for a lot of people and there isn’t just one way to make it work. It’s important to find what works best for you and personalize your working experience. These tips should help you set the framework but if something doesn’t work for you or you find something that works better, go with your gut.

Feel free to comment on this post with any tips of your own or things that worked for you.

If you’d like to read more check out some of my other articles:

HOW TO MAKE MONEY DURING THE CORONAVIRUS

HOW TO STOP LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK