Our Top Tips to Survive Working From Home
The Covid-19 pandemic has seen huge numbers of people start working from home. For many, it’s the first time they have worked remotely and the loss of companionship and potential dip in creativity and productivity can put extra strain on an already-stressful situation.
Here at Cake Media, we are used to working from home. It has always been that way and there’s a lot to love about it – certainly the flexibility it gives us, the ability to work from anywhere with Wi-Fi and precious time to spend with our young children. However, it is not without its challenges - from distractions around the home, to feelings of isolation and the sense that you can never really unplug.
Pre-Cake Media, both of us worked remotely – Jenny as a designer and Laura as a writer. Between us, we have chalked up approximately 14 years of working from home. Our experiences have shown us what works and what doesn’t and we wanted to share a few tips for anyone new to, or struggling with, working from home.
1. A Dedicated Workspace
It doesn’t matter if it’s a laptop on your coffee table, a desk in your spare room, or a computer in the corner of your living room, try to dedicate an area in your home to be your go-to workspace. Using a designated “office” space will mentally prepare you for work every day.
2. To-do List
If you go into your work week with a clearly defined list of what you need to achieve and when, you will hit the ground running. Prioritize each task, set manageable deadlines and break your week into a day-by-day list of goals. We find it extra helpful to set aside a few minutes on Sunday to make our list for the week ahead.
3. Daily Routine
It sounds so simple but this one is key. Start your day as if you were going to work at the office – set your alarm so you don’t sleep in, take a shower, get dressed, have breakfast, make coffee, whatever morning routine works for you. It doesn’t have to be too rigid, but try to arrive at your desk around the same time every morning – you will really feel like you are there to work and your productivity will benefit as a result.
4. Video Conferencing
We aren’t going to deny it, remote work can be a lonely endeavor. In 2019, a study of 2,500 remote workers by online brand development agency Buffer found that loneliness was the second-most reported challenge, experienced by 19% of respondents. It’s something we have struggled with ourselves. In more “normal” times, we would suggest going out to a coffee shop, a library, a shared workspace – somewhere where you can get the sense of working alongside or among other people. But with current social distancing measures, video conferencing is a lifesaver – bot only to collaborate and communicate with your colleagues but also to stave off feelings off isolation. FaceTime or WhatsApp video chats work well, we also love Slack for its text-based instant messaging and group discussion for the workplace. If you have started using Zoom recently, you may want to be aware of their privacy and security issues. We have chosen not to use this app any longer.
5. Take Breaks
It’s easy to get lost in your work, pausing only to wonder why your neck aches or why you suddenly feel so tired. Sitting in one position all day doesn’t do anyone any good and we can’t stress the importance of breaks enough. Stretch, get a glass of water, take the dog on a quick walk, move your body, have lunch away from your desk – whatever you can, work it into your day and you will come back refreshed.
6. Music and Noise-Canceling Headphones
If you have problems focusing, we feel you! Noise-canceling headphones are a game changer, allowing you to block out background noise and focus on the work in hand – listening to your favorite music is an added bonus!
Is there something about working from home that you struggle with, that we haven’t mentioned above? Let us know in the comments as we would love to help.
Please stay safe and be well, thank you for visiting!