Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many universities are implementing voluntary or mandatory work-from-home policies. This can be an unusual challenge: working from home for the first time, full-time.
These tips will help you get your work done and make sure you and your family stay mentally sane.
1. Get Dressed
You don’t need to dress as formally as you might for work, but the simple act of changing clothes serves as a signal that it’s time to wake up and get things done. Taking care of your appearance can go a long way toward helping you feel like you’re taking care of yourself. Besides, just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean that no one from work will see you. At some point you might have a video call that looks more professional when you are seen.
2. Designate a Workspace or Home Office
If you’re used to going into an office each day, the separation between work and home is physical, and you want to try to recreate that as much as possible with a designated physical workspace at home. Your workspace doesn’t have to be its own room but it should feel as separate from the rest of your home as possible.
3. Keep Clearly Defined Working Hours
Just as you designate and separate your physical workspace, you should be clear about when you’re working and when you’re not. You’ll get your best work done and be most ready to transition back to the office if you stick with your regular hours.
4. Build Transitions Into (and Out of) Work
Your morning commute not only gets you to work—from one physical location to another—but it also gives your brain time to prepare for work. Give yourself something that will signal the end of work and serve as a buffer.
5. Don’t Get Too Sucked in by the News—or Anything Else
Distraction is one of the big challenges facing people who work from home—especially people who aren’t used to it. Right now, one of the biggest distractions is the news. And if you’re working remotely because of the new coronavirus, checking in on COVID-19 updates is going to be at the front of your mind. It’s good to stay informed, of course, but it’s also easy to scroll yourself into an anxious mess.
6. Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
If you don’t usually work from home, chances are there will be some bumps in the road if you have to suddenly go fully remote. The key to steering through these bumps is communication—especially with your manager and direct reports. And you don’t have to stick with only text-based communication, make a phone call or video chat sometimes.
7. Don’t Forget to Socialize
When the whole office suddenly starts working from home, you’re cutting off a lot of the casual social interactions you’re used to having throughout the day that help you feel less lonely and break up the monotony of work. Don’t hesitate to reach out to a coworker just to ask how they’re doing.
Check out video by NWHC Library Associate, Lashel Gipson on working from home with children during this pandemic.