With new guidelines we’re facing for social distancing and telecommuting, many people are adjusting to a new lifestyle and a new schedule. To help ease the transition, here are a few tips and tricks for successfully working from home:
Get dressed. Don’t spend the day in your pajamas.
Establish a space that signals “work.” This will help you focus and set boundaries.
Maintain regular hours. Set a starting time and schedule breaks – stretch, dance, take the dog out. Make time to eat lunch and leave your “office” when you do.
Make a stoplight for family members, especially young ones. Hang or tape colored construction paper in your workspace.
Red = you can’t be disturbed
Green = it’s okay to interrupt
Yellow = check first before entering
Keep your health in check and avoid unnecessary trips to the refrigerator.
Check in with your co-workers throughout the day on the status of projects and deliverables.
Set an end time for your work day or determine what your last task will be. If possible, don’t continue to work after you wrap up – that’s blurring the line between home and work.