{"id":2321,"date":"2020-06-20T03:11:14","date_gmt":"2020-06-20T03:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dougburgett.net\/blog\/?p=2321"},"modified":"2020-06-20T03:11:18","modified_gmt":"2020-06-20T03:11:18","slug":"9-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougburgett.net\/blog\/9-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-working-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"9 Ways to Get the Most Out Of Working From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cProgress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.\u201d<\/p>Robert Heinlein<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

COVID-19 forced me to work from home, as it did for many people, and during that time I gained some valuable insights. I learned to appreciate the many efficiencies that come with working from home and I discovered ways to take advantage of the situation, both personally and professionally. Here are nine takeaways from my experience that will help anyone get the most out of working from home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Create a Workspace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This seems like a no-brainer, but many of my colleagues did not do this. Find a space that you can dedicate to your work. It doesn\u2019t have to be an entire room. It can be a corner, a closet, or a hallway. Whatever the situation, just make sure you have a dedicated space that is for your work. This makes it easier to draw a line between your workspace and your living space. Because if your workspace is the kitchen table, every time you sit down to eat you will be reminded of work. Not good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do this step as soon as possible and get creative. Think about what makes sense not only for your home, but also for you. Do you have enough privacy? Are you too close to things that will distract you? Are you taking advantage of the space that you have available? The faster you figure this out, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Take Strategic Breaks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is good advice no matter where you\u2019re working, but you have the ability to do more things during a break at home, such as cleaning, cooking, house projects, etc. Think in terms of small steps toward a goal. You just finished something up and you want to step away from your work for a few minutes, maybe you can grab the dirty clothes and start a load of laundry. Or maybe the small step is simply gathering the dirty clothes so when you have more time to do the laundry you\u2019re ready. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a list of things you want to accomplish and then use your breaks to make progress. The list doesn\u2019t have to be focused on chores alone. Perhaps you have a hobby that isn\u2019t getting much attention lately. Can you use your break time for that? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Schedule Short Meetings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remote meetings are very different from in-person meetings for one main reason: chit-chat. When there\u2019s an in-person meeting with ten people, it\u2019s very easy for small one-on-one conversations to take place before and after the meeting. This doesn\u2019t happen with online meetings. What normally takes an hour to accomplish during an in-person meeting might only need thirty minutes now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have the ability to shorten meetings or suggest shortening them, try it out. This may not work as well if you are the only person working remotely. However, if all your colleagues are also remote then perhaps it\u2019s something you can try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Take Time to Socialize<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It may seem weird to schedule time to socialize, but it may also be necessary if you\u2019re working remotely. Conversations don\u2019t happen as they would in an office. You don\u2019t run into so-and-so on the way to the bathroom and talk Star Wars for five minutes. You don\u2019t see your colleagues when you go to the fridge to get your lunch. And as I mentioned earlier, you don\u2019t have the same casual conversations walking in and out of meetings. Make time to call your co-workers and chat. Label it networking if it makes you feel better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Keep a Schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are few cues at home to start and stop working. At five o\u2019clock you don\u2019t see your co-workers leaving for the day, indicating it\u2019s time to go home. You\u2019re at home. You\u2019re at work. The line is blurred, so anything you can do to keep those boundaries in check is good. Set a work schedule and be disciplined with keeping it. If five o\u2019clock is your stopping time, do whatever you must to transition to being off work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Get Outside<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Working at home may offer you more opportunities to get outside. Do you have a laptop that you can use to sit outside and work? Can you use your phone or another mobile device for an hour outside while you check email or take a call? Maybe you have a bike and can take a fifteen minute bike ride as a break. Whatever the reason, step outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Walk and Talk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have the opportunity to walk while you\u2019re on a meeting, take it. Go outside if the weather allows, or walk around your home. Anything to get you up and moving instead of sitting at your desk all day. Meetings can be a great time to walk since it gives you space to listen as well. Of course, all this depends on what type of work you do and whether or not you have meetings conducive to this behavior. If you can make it work, walk. Maybe this is a good thing to do during your social calls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Plan Your Meals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to step into the kitchen whenever you\u2019re hungry, but a little planning with your meals goes a long way. By having a plan you\u2019ll avoid wasting time during the workday. This includes the timing of your meals as well. Plan what time you\u2019ll be taking a lunch and have in mind what you\u2019ll be fixing, or have it already prepared. The more you plan your meals, the more smooth your day will run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Experiment With Routines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Working at home gives you a certain amount of flexibility, so why not use that and find a routine that fits your life. Play around with this until you find something that works. Maybe your Monday routine is different from your Tuesday routine. Maybe your routine varies depending on your schedule and you plan breaks around activities or weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal is to find elements of a routine that work long term, but otherwise always experiment with your routine. Embrace the flexibility as much as you can. Ultimately, this will prevent you from falling into mindless repetition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m no expert on this topic but merely a person that was forced to experience working from home. The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 made my situation quite different from someone that works from home during \u201cnormal\u201d times. However, I felt the need to document and share some of my observations. I hope there\u2019s a takeaway in here somewhere for you, even if you don\u2019t work from home. Many of the things I learned during this time will forever change the way I work, even when I\u2019m once again commuting to an office. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Appreciate the efficiency of working from home and take advantage of the situation, both personally and professionally. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2322,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-betterment","is-cat-link-borders-light"],"yoast_head":"\n9 Ways to Get the Most Out Of Working From Home - Doug Burgett<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dougburgett.net\/blog\/9-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-working-from-home\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"9 Ways to Get the Most Out Of Working From Home - 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