Working from home is something millions of people had to adjust to last year, and so far 2021 is picking up with back in office roles! WFH is an acronym for “work from home” which defines work being done remotely, instead of at an office. Yet some of us are still in our home offices, joining zoom meetings, ordering delivery services to our driveway, and adding more plants to our desks. This may be temporary however many people across the nation are contemplating what this structure will look like beyond this year.

If you're new to the WFH lifestyle, whether due to the pandemic or because you've managed to find a remote-based job, you'll need to change some of your habits to make working from home a success. It may sound like pajamas, your coffee maker, and more time with your favorite pet—however it can be quite the contrary! There are many wonderful benefits of WFH such as no rush hour traffic, the ability to use your kitchen for meal breaks, more time at home, less money spent on public transit, reduced carbon emissions from those commutes, and yes more lounge wear….However the key to successfully managing your work responsibilities and efficiency can be harder than you think. This week, the team at Backwoods Promotions gives you 10 tips to excel at conquering your WFH game!

 1. Stick to a Schedule - Initially you may be nervous moving into a WFH role, or flat out uncomfortable with how you will manage your responsibilities. Do not let your anxiety trump your work confidence! Near your desk, place a clock so you can keep an eye on time. If your workplace has an online calendar, make sure to set your office hours and stick to them! Sometimes you may be influenced to get on your computer after work hours and chip away at projects, or answer emails—which is fine to do—but be sure to manage your time efficiently so you aren’t constantly on call. 

 2. Organize your desk - Changing your workplace desk to a home office desktop can be challenging. Your desk layout at work benefitted you in that setting, so create the same space in your home! Now is the time to add things that give you focus during your work day. Plants are highly encouraged!

 3. Set Boundaries With Others - Many people working at home live with a spouse, children or a family member. When you are working feel free to close the door so that interruptions do not cause you to lose that work momentum. If you have video meetings that require audio it is fine to communicate to others in your home that they cannot interrupt or visit your office. Set a lunch hour to visit with them or share your office hours with them—that way everyone knows when you are available.

4. Dedicate Space - If you have an extra bedroom, basement, or any type of room with a door in your apartment or home start to create that as your home office. Having a door to your dedicated work space can limit distractions and also help you maintain a schedule for work tasks. If you live in a place where you do not have a separate area for your desk—convert any table or countertop to your new work space. Although this is not ideal as it may come with distractions, eventually you’ll find the perfect atmosphere for your computer work.

 5. REALLY take a Break - In a normal office setting employees often take a lunch hour, go and run an errand, or leave their desk for meetings. Obviously in a work from home environment you will not leave your desk as often, so utilize the breaks you have to help you regroup and relax in between work tasks. If you do not benefit from taking a lunch break, feel free to walk your dog around the block, sit on your patio and enjoy a coffee, or take a stroll to the mailbox and enjoy the weather.

 6. Take Advantage of Training Opportunities - If your workload has changed due to the pandemic, your employer may offer you resources for workplace development. Often these are video series, online conferences, or even training podcasts. Take advantage of these outlets to develop your skills in your current role, future skills to advance your career, or related work practices to new ethics of the company culture. 

 7. Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself - When transitioning to WFH many people experience the change of an environment to be a source of stress. Curbing anxiety can be done by communicating any roadblocks you are facing to your coworkers (they may have valuable advice!) or others in your household who have moved to remote-work as well. All in all, anxiety of WFH often stems from the feeling of unstructured time, and by setting goals and managing expectations with your team you can overcome it all!

 8. Still Take Personal Days/Sick Days - While working from home you may find it silly to request a sick day or request a vacation day, because let’s face it you are already at home. This is not the case! To enforce a positive work-life balance you must enjoy the enrichment of hobbies and quality time with others. Taking a day off work is not a negative thing, it is something that will bring you back to your computer refreshed and rejuvenated for the tasks ahead. 

 9. Communicate with Coworkers - Instead of congregating at the water cooler or copy machine to discuss every day chatter, you now are a computer screen away from your coworkers. If you have developed friendships or mentorships through this community it will still benefit you to call or video conference with the team you worked with. Enjoy the community of your fellow teammates by keeping in touch with them through emails and team meetings as well. Simply because you are far away does not mean that the camaraderie cannot continue!

 10. Routines Are OK - At your employer’s office you probably had a routine before you ended the day (grabbing a coffee at 3PM or visiting the vending machine for a quick snack) and now that you are working from home you may feel those routines are out the door. Instead of abandoning them try to create new ones. Enjoy a coffee on your patio, a mid-afternoon snack at your desk, or something else to mimic your previous habits at the office. 

All in all, everyone finds their WFH balance by personalizing their environment to best fit their needs. We understand that what works for one person may not work for another, so we encourage you to take our suggestions and personalize them to fit what works for you!  

Want to learn more about maximizing your productivity at home? Read HERE!