Tips for working from home

Designate an area in your home specifically for work. For example, consider changing a spare bedroom into an office space, or carving out a space in your basement or attic. You'll have to purchase a desk, office chair and the essentials you use in your day-to-day job to make this a real workspace.

While most companies provide the technology required for you to perform your job, you may still want to purchase some of your own technology such as a printer, laptop, headphones with a microphone, monitor and even a high-performance router if you need a boost. 

Even if you have no plans to leave the house, remember the phrase “dress for success.” Working in your pajamas is comfy, but that comfort can affect your productivity. Changing into different clothes can prepare you for the workday and get you into the right mindset. 

Working from home gives you flexibility. However, there are distractions at home that can creep in and prevent you from getting down to business. It’s important to set aside the hours you plan to work each day so you don’t get bogged down with household duties or other things.

On the other hand, it’s easy to get carried away with work. It can sneak into your home life if you’re not paying attention. The best way to handle this is to shut down your laptop and step away from your office area when your workday is over. Try to keep work and home life separate as much as you can - it will minimize distraction while you're working and also signify when the work day is done and it's time to leave the office. 

Remember to be flexible. Last-minute changes, uncontrollable home distractions and poor communication with coworkers may arise beyond your control. Sometimes life happens — dogs bark, cats play with keyboards, and someone knocks on the door at the most inconvenient time. Take a deep breath, give it the necessary attention it needs in the moment, and then get back to what you were doing. 

These days, most meetings are scheduled via Zoom Opens in a new window.  or Microsoft Teams Meetings Opens in a new window. . There are a few things to consider when joining a call: 

• Mute your microphone: This prevents everyone on the call hearing whatever sounds may be in your background. 
• Turn on your camera: Without the daily in-person interaction, seeing each other virtually, while not quite the same, helps make and keep connections with your colleagues.  
• Choose a clean background: Make sure what people are seeing behind you is work-appropriate. 
• Dress appropriately: No pajamas. 
• Lighting: Make sure people can actually see you on screen. 

Manage your time by keeping a calendar up-to-date with scheduled meetings, appointments and work tasks, etc. Building a schedule can help you work through that to-do list so you know what needs to be done and when. 

When do you have the most energy to tackle projects? Is it first thing as soon as you have that morning coffee or is it in the afternoon? Balancing your workday according to your natural rhythms will always yield the best results.  

It’s important to update your daily to-do list every day before you jump into your tasks. Having a sense of what the priorities of the day are will give you structure and help you develop and keep realistic expectations for your day. 

The bandwidth you've set up at home probably isn't as fast as the one you experience in the office. Test your internet, Wi-Fi connections and internet speed to confirm they meet your needs for downloading, streaming, web conferencing and anything else you may need to do your job effectively. 

How often do you take a break to connect with your coworkers? This might be more difficult when you're working from home, but it’s important. Consider using applications such as Slack Opens in a new window.  or whichever tool your organization uses to stay in touch with your colleagues. 

Being at home so often can negatively affect your attitude toward work. A great way to counter this issue is to maintain a strong morning and evening routine that you enjoy. Keeping this consistent can help you ease into your work and stop when it's time to do so. Be sure to keep your work life in line with your wellness goals by including exercise activities, meals and anything else that helps you stay happy and healthy.