Working from Home Tips & Tricks
In 2017, I started Soar Media Group Inc, a full-service social media marketing agency located in Toronto. What you may not know is that we are a fully remote agency, which means our team works from home full time. While working from home may sound easy, it does take a while to get used to. Back in 2017, there weren’t many work-from-home tips available, nor was there a need for them. However, now that working from home has become a workplace norm, many people are trying to find ways to make it work.
Here are a few working-from-home tips that have helped me succeed!
Create a routine and stick to it
Starting a routine can be daunting, but take it one step at a time. Itâs the small things that matter. Start with the basics: make your bed, have a cup of coffee, eat a healthy breakfast or start a multivitamin routine. Try setting your alarm and give yourself at least one hour to yourself in the mornings. So that work isn’t the first thing you are thinking of when you wake up.
Make a to-do list
Being productive and busy are two different things. Start each day by making a to-do list to keep track of what needs to be done at work and at home. This will let you schedule your day accordingly and will help you keep track of your tasks. I recommend using Trello to organize your to-do list. You can colour code and move your tasks up your list in terms of priority. Trello is also a great team board/ project management board as every team member can view the status of work items and move them based on the completion stage. We use Trello at Soar and absolutely love it!
Have a dedicated workspace
Working from home can be distracting. It’s crucial that you have a separate space in your house just for work. Creating a dedicated workspace makes it easier to focus which makes things easier for you in the long run.
I’m lucky that I have my own office – an entire room dedicated to my work – but I recognize that not everyone has this in their home. Your workspace could be a dedicated corner in the kitchen or in the living room. Wherever it is, make sure it’s not in your bedroom. You need to be able to distinguish between a resting/ relaxing space and a workspace.
I also recommend making your space your own. I’ve painted my space a beautiful grey green colour which I love looking at, and added greenery to make it a space I want to be in. I also sometimes light a candle or turn on the diffuser for a distinctive aura.
Create boundaries between your work and social life
Since working from home, I noticed that the lines between my work and social life were blurring together. I found myself working till 8 pm at night, I was becoming a workaholic. Honestly, breaking this pattern was hard but it helped me realize that I needed a break. My tip is to maintain your work hours and not to drag any outstanding tasks into after work hours unless necessary. You need rest and ‘me’ time in order to perform your best.
Take a break and go outside
Take it from me, it’s not a crime to take a break. Sitting in front of a screen for 8 hours a day or more is not healthy. To maintain a healthier lifestyle both physically and mentally, take a 10-20 minute break during your workday away from the blue light and just walk around the neighbourhood to destress.
Maintain communication with your coworkers
Communication is key to maintaining interactions between coworkers while conveying ideas and thoughts clearly throughout the day. I find that the downside of working from home, some ideas may not be conveyed as clearly as it would in person. I always encourage my employees and interns to ask questions if they are unsure of something.
Through trial and error, the best solution to make sure nothing is miscommunicated is to write out in length what you need from your coworkers and additionally video chatting if needed.
Dress up for work
Dressing up for work can help you distinguish the lines between work and personal time. According to an article about workwear choices by Forbes, “Whatever people decide to wear, as long as it is designated as work apparel they’ll get more quality work done because theyâll be more focused”. Associating clothes with different tasks and meanings will allow you to separate your work and personal life.
Be creative with the space you call your office
My last tip is to add diversity to your office when you need it. Now that COVID restrictions are over, it is important to maintain your social skills. Try going to the office once a week if possible or maybe try working at a coffee shop. It can be isolating working from home all the time and a change of scenery can be good for your physical and mental health.
