By Scott Nuanes, COE Employee
It was just one month ago that we started hearing about plans to temporarily work from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. For most of us, who are used to the daily routine of going into the office, a quick shift to at-home work was a challenge. Now, weeks later, through trial and error, we've each adapted new processes that may or may not be working as well. Without a clear timeline for when we can return to the workplace, it's advisable to begin learning some effective long-term strategies.
Here are some best practices to help:
1. Maintain Regular Hours:
Set a schedule and stick to it. Establishing clear hours for when to work and when to call it a day helps maintain work-life balance.
2. Create Routines:
A routine can be more powerful than a clock. Create a predictable daily process that signals, "It's time to go to work." Likewise, have a process for ending the day that says, 'I'm done working for the day." Be intentional about shutting down your computer and walking away from your home office.
3. Breaks:
It's easy to lose track of time when working from home. Schedule them regularly and take the entire break. Don't shortchange yourself, especially at lunch.
4. Make Space:
Have a dedicated work area that's preferably not the kitchen table. You need to set up a space that doesn't have to be broken down every day. Having a workspace encourages productivity.
5. Look the Part:
When working from home, looking professional on video calls is just as important as when you work in a traditional office. There are a lot of research findings that link work production and perceptions about workers to attire. You don't have to wear a power suit or sweats to work at home every day, just something in between the two.
6. Build and Maintain Boundaries:
Transitioning to work-from-home is a process. So, think about "building" instead of "setting" boundaries. It's easier to adapt and change when you're in creation mode. "Setting" boundaries at the onset makes it harder to adjust them later.
7. Be Positive:
Less face time means it's harder for others to interpret your tone in writing. Attitude creeps out whether or not we are aware of it. Being overly positive is better received than the opposite.
8. Over-Communicate:
Communicate your schedule to everyone that needs to know. Maintain visibility through the Gmail chat function. Let people know when you are taking a break and when you return. Tell your team so they know when you accomplish an important task. Doing so will help maintain a focus on shared work.
9. Develop a Growth Mindset:
A belief in improvement versus a fixed mindset which says, "things can't be changed," is your most useful strategy in getting through this difficult time. Humans are the most adaptable creatures on Earth. Acting on the belief that you can learn and develop through this experience will energize you to accomplish much more than a belief that nothing can be done.
