Work from home advice
Hard times are what we are currently living, with a quarantine that we still do not see a clear end to. There is no doubt that the world will be different once this ends. Yes, because this will end.
One of the things I am sure will change drastically will be the way we interact with our clients/bosses/collaborators. Not being able to leave home many of us are finally experiencing the wonders and challenges of working outside a formal office.
That's why I've decided to take a little boredom off and write some advice I've learned over five years of remote work.
1. Keyword: "Work"
One of the biggest problems I had at the beginning of my remote adventure was: the lack of supervision, and almost no discipline. I must be honest, the excess of freedom, the extremely flexible schedules, and the fact that I only needed my computer and an Internet connection made my productivity drop considerably; "I still have time", "I'll do it at night", and many more excuses with which I deceived myself almost got me into a huge problem.
The solution was to do everything I could to mentally prepare myself that yes, I am at home, but I am WORKING. I'm not resting, I'm not paid to be lying down. And I had to learn to discipline myself.
2. Business in the front, party in the back
When you work from home there can be two big dangers:
- You work very little
- You work too much
Both have been my case, the problem is that, either you get distracted and work very little because you're at home. Or you focus too much because you're at home. Let me expand on this, as you only need your laptop, you can work from:
- Your study
- Your room
- Your living room
- Your dining room
- Your kitchen
- Your garden
- Your bathroom
- ... You get the idea
Not having a clear definition of when to enter, and when to leave work mode can dangerously lead us to burnout, and believe me, it's not a place you want to be.
The solution is quite simple, define zones within your home where you can work, and only work. Just as you should define zones where you can rest, and only rest. I recommend not mixing them, at least until we get used to going up and down our work/rest switch. For example: I set up a room in my house to be my office, I go in almost every day to work, and I do nothing else. Once my workday is over, I leave there, and I don't go back until I want to work again. Over time, my laptop became that switch, and now I practically only use it for work.
You don't need a complete office, you can choose just a desk, the important thing is that every time you approach it, it's with the mindset of working.
3. Choose your hours wisely
As I mentioned earlier, when I started in this world one of my biggest problems was the excess of freedom, and the lack of discipline. The dark side of flexible hours seduced me and I decided to take a break between work, and the plan was simple: I would work 4 hours in the morning, and 4 hours at night.
The result? I worked 4 hours a day...
It turns out that a life of getting up early, going to school (and then to work), to then return home with the sole idea of resting, had conditioned me to... rest. I never went back to work in the evening, and it began to show.
After a very uncomfortable meeting with my managers of the moment, I decided that if I wanted to keep this beautiful lifestyle I had achieved, things needed to change. I found that since my mornings were my most productive hours (and the only ones), I would extend them. I work from nine to five, and only from nine to five.
Once my workday is over, I forget about everything, and I don't go back until the next day. This is a good balance for me, which allows me to make a complete change in my work/rest mentality.
Some more advice
Dress for success
Yes, working in boxers, or in pajamas seems very attractive, and can work for some. But remember, the point here is to maintain the work mentality. Put on pants, maybe you can even shower...
Let the other people in your house know
Video conferences are very common in remote work, and we all have a story that involves an important call, and someone opening the door behind us doing (or wearing...) something quite embarrassing. ALL OF US.
Don't be a hermit
For those of us who live alone, remote work can be a lonely thing. Spending the day at home working, to then spend the afternoon at home resting is not exactly a good way to socialize, and we all need someone from time to time. Luckily we live in a world where we don't even need to be on the same continent to be able to chat. Slack, WhatsApp, Facebook, parties on Zoom, Instagram, etc… There are many ways to keep in touch with our friends, there is nothing wrong with using them.
Decorate your life
Working from home means spending most of our time at home, it doesn't hurt to have a decoration that helps us like to spend our time there. Pictures, ornaments, portraits, whatever doesn't make us think that we are in another jail.
Conclusion
Remote work, or the home office, can be a blessing or a nightmare, it is definitely not for everyone, as many of us learned the hard way. But I hope these tips help the next generations not to make my mistakes and start this beautiful adventure on the right foot. Good luck!