Secrets for #WFH Success
Many companies are encouraging employees to practice social distancing on a whole new level by avoiding coming into the office altogether and instead, working from home. For many of us, working remotely is a new practice. Some may be jumping for joy—we see you millennials—while others may be feeling a little out of sorts. No matter your attitude on the situation, we’ve put together a list of our best tips for staying productive while working from home.
1. Set an Alarm & Don’t Press Snooze
Pandemic or not, there are things to be done and those things can’t be completed if you’re snoozing your day away. We aren’t saying you have to get up at the time that you normally would (let’s face it, there’s no traffic on your commute from your bed to the kitchen table) but pick a time and stick to it. Plus, it’s better for your sleep schedule to stick to a routine anyway.
2. Fill Your Cup
Yes, definitely fill your cup with water and/or coffee… but most importantly, fill your cup emotionally. Do something that makes you feel accomplished first thing in the morning. This could be a task around the house that needs attending to, cooking yourself a hot breakfast, some morning journaling or maybe even getting a workout in. We don’t care what you choose to do, but before you attend to your inbox full of emails, do something that gives you energy and fulfillment.
3. Get Dressed
By all means, wear those leggings or sweatpants… But change out of whatever you slept in, brush your teeth and style your hair. This will help you ease into your work and the rest of your day will thank you for it.
4. Dedicate a Space
Create a place that is solely dedicated to getting your work done. Although it’s tempting to completely disregard this next statement, get out of bed and off the couch. If you have a home office, perfect! If not, consider working at the kitchen table or in a room that you can close the door and focus. Your dedicated space should prompt clear thinking and help you focus on what needs to be done.
5. Create a List of Daily Outcomes
Too often we focus on the small tasks at hand, rather than the results those tasks are milestone markers for. Create a list of mini goals you want to accomplish by the end of the day, and then make your to-do list to cross those goals off your list. This will help you hyperfocus your day and get things done!
6. Schedule Your Day in Time Blocks
Productivity comes and goes, look at your list of daily outcomes and gauge how much time each task will take and when you will be most productive in completing each one. Don’t forget to plan for some “white space”. You don’t need to, and honestly shouldn’t, schedule your entire day. Leave room for life, things come up – it doesn’t need to derail your whole schedule. Make sure you include the non-work essentials in your time blocking too… like that self-fulfillment part of your morning routine we mentioned, cleaning, eating and hobbies! If time blocking is completely new to you or you’re just looking for a little challenge, consider setting timers for your tasks and trying to beat the clock! It’s okay to have some fun, even while working.
7. Find a Friend
Being at home away from your sociable coworkers may be beneficial for your focus and productivity at times, but a little conversation can alleviate some of the negative effects of working in isolation. To avoid getting stir-crazy, find a coworker you can chat with briefly throughout the day. Besides helping you maintain sanity, checking in with one another regarding projects and deadlines never hurts either.
8. Unplug
When you work from home, you don’t get to leave the office and decompress on your drive home. It can be hard to separate work life from home life, so find a time every night to unplug. Shut your computer down, relax and unwind. This will help you feel refreshed and ready to get back to work the next morning.
Hopefully after reading through our tips, you feel more at ease and confident in your ability to stay focused while working remotely. Whether in person or from afar, Cambria® Mortgage™ is always available to provide guidance and answer questions about home ownership. For more information, visit CambriaMortgage.com or call 952-942-0110.