How to Live: Guide to Working from Home from a Serial Hermit
Working from home is something I know A LOT about. As a budding/struggling author/writer I have cursed myself to live a life of daytime solitude. When my partner goes off to work at 8am every morning with nothing in his backpack but a pair of shoes and a Monster, I start the long grueling process of turning my home into my workspace. (I'm exaggerating. It's really neither long, nor grueling but it does take some ol'fashioned self-motivation.) Here are my top tips to survive working from home.
- Get dressed.
This is an important/often overlooked step by the WFH crew. Although it might be a novelty to WFHIP (work from home in pyjamas) at first. I promise, it's going to lose its appeal. Especially when you realise it's been four days and you haven't changed your pants or brushed your hair and that thing you smell is you. Now I'm not going to say that you should dress in your workgear... You're gunna feel rediculous wearing a suit/tights/whatever I don't know what people wear to an office. But just change out of the stuff you slept in, you grubby buggers. - Set a Schedule.
I know that this may be enforced by your employeers but I'm not necessarily talking about sticking to your 9-5 routine. I'm talking about the rest of the time. One of the worst things about working from home is feeling that you have to be 'on it' all the time. You don't have to wake up and immediately begin working. You also shouldn't feel compelled to work into the night. So set up a 'normal routine'. Get up, shower, drink coffee, have breakfast, play with the dog/kids. Just do a version of what you'd normally do before starting work. - Build an Office Space
You actually don't need a desk at home to have an office space! I know! Crazy, right! If you have a table and a chair that you can sit in comfortably then you can build you WFH office space. Create a ritual out of setting it up in the morning. Clear up the breakfast things, put out your laptop, get out your planner, make a cup of tea. Even if it's a temporary space, make it a moment! And if you're sharing the space with others, make sure that THEY know it's a work zone. - Be Kind to Yourself
I used to be my worst boss. I was mean to myself when I didn't do enough work in the day. I was also mean when I did. You know what that does? Lower moral... You know what that does? Reduce work performance. You know what that does? Leads to you spending your work day watching reruns of random 00's TV in a blanket. So be a good boss to yourself. Take breaks and celebrate the little wins. - And Finally, Keep Your Lunch Hour 'TV Free'
Seriously, it's a dangerous slope... it starts off as a lunch hour. Then it's a two-hour lunch. Then it's a 'light afternoon.' Then you're just taking 'me time'. Then it's evening so you're allowed to watch TV. Seriously. Don't get on this slide!!
Here's My Working From Home Survival Kit
- Headphones
- A Blanket
- Fun stationary
- Water bottle
- Chocolate
- A really NICE mug for tea breaks
- A window with natural sunlight
- Comfy clothes (but NOT pyjamas)
- Something cute/decorative like a candle or plushie
- Inspirational poster/artwork
So I'm gonna get back to trying not to watch the news.
Thanks for reading!