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13 Comments

What's your best advice for working from home?

Mine is to put pants and shoes on. Get dressed like you're actually going to work. Designate a spot that is only for work which is relatively distraction-free.

on March 2, 2020
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    • Create the right work environment and that includes making sure your workspace is ergonomic (being hunched over a laptop all day is terrible for your posture!)
    • Start the day as you mean to go on and get dressed
    • Stick to a routine that best suits you
    • Work in 90 minute spurts and take regular breaks to help with critical and creative thinking
    • Write to-do lists and tune into your own productivity levels
    • Stay in touch with your teammates and don't be afraid to pick up the phone (communication doesn't just have to rely on instant messaging)
    • Set boundaries to keep work/life balance and stick to your working hours
    • Resist the 'work from home' guilt and let people know when you're online so you don't feel pressured to constantly prove you're working
    • And enjoy it! Use the opportunity to find out how you work best.

    If you'd like to read more, I wrote an article about the topic: https://blog.emailoctopus.com/how-to-successfully-work-from-home/

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    • Get into "the office" (wherever that is for you) at a reasonable time every day (e.g. 8am)
    • Get dressed for work
    • Maintain a good prioritized to-do list so it's clear what you need to work on
    • I have a separate cell phone dedicated to work: email, social media, etc. When I'm done working for the day I put it on silent and leave it charging on my desk. I think a work/personal life separation is important.
    • Get out to go to lunch or happy hour with friends and old colleagues regularly. Working from home can feel isolating.

    Don't be so structured that you miss out on the benefits of working from home!

    • If you are feeling really uninspired at 2pm, go for a walk. If you're feeling really inspired at 10 pm, go ahead and work!
    • If you're sleepy, take a nap. You'll feel better and be a lot more productive afterward
    • Work from somewhere else (e.g. a coffee shop) now and then for a change of scenery
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    I wrote about this on my blog: www.jwbaldwin.com/blog/3-ways-i-improved-my-remote-work/

    Though there are tons of things I think are worth doing, here is a TLDR of the 3 I picked:

    1. Transition In/Out of Work
    2. Take Breaks
    3. Make Time for Focus
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    Making a to do list for the next day helps get your mind off work when you go to bed. Cleaning your work space when you're done for the day can help you feel more motivated to start the next day.

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    I heard this advice months ago, "when you work from home, work"
    get things done, that's the essential thing
    feel free to wear as you want
    stand, sit, sleep
    it doesn't matter
    what matter is that you focus and get work done

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      Agree totally with @faouzi - dress, hours and routine has never been an issue for me. Then again neither has loneliness..

      The benefits of wear what you like, start and stop when you’re ready, are huge. Embrace it I say.

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      I really do think wearing work-appropriate clothes helps, though haha.

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        You're right. They do - it's a mental trigger that tells you you're in work mode. Changing into and out of work clothes helps separate your work from your home, and keep your balance healthy!

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    Remotehour enables you to connect with your coworkers/clients seamlessly. It's a call app for not a meeting, but for coworking.

    Like you work in the same office with them even if you work from home :)

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      Interesting. I've never had much problem with accountability. If I need extra motivation, I leave the house.

  7. 1

    I cant survive without focusmate.com. Structures my time and removes distractions.

    1. 1

      I signed up!

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    This comment was deleted 6 years ago

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      Oh yes! I start around 8, lunch at noon, work until 2:30, nap at until 3, workout, and then officially call it quits. But I feel free to work more if I want to.