We’ve had approximately four thousand snow storms this year (okay four, but I’m being dramatic, because it’s spring, darn it). When you work in public relations and a snowstorm comes, it only means one thing – a work-from-home day.
According to GlobalWorkplaceAnalytics.com, 3.7 million people work from home at least half the time. But for those of us who telecommute only when the need arises, working from home can stress us out – Do we have everything we need? How will I work with my team? How can I make sure everyone knows what I’m doing?
Here are a few tips for irregular telecommuters to make sure their work-from-home days are as productive and stress-free as possible.
Create your to-do list the day before.
The days that you work from home can often be the most productive. You have fewer interruptions and more quiet time. Preparing your list of to-dos the day before will help you be sure you have all the materials you need for your projects and let you start as soon as you power up the computer.
Avoid distractions.
Don’t watch a Golden Girls marathon while you’re working from home. It’s tempting, I know, but in order to make sure you’re the most productive, you need to guard against disruptions.
Get dressed.
It may be tempting to stay in your PJs, but dressing helps you to be more productive. I admit, my definition of getting dressed on a work-from-home day is vastly different than when I’m in the office (hello yoga pants!), but I do make sure I don’t sit around in PJs all day.
Check in with your coworkers.
If you were in the office, you’d have the chance to have conversations about your work. You want to do that when you’re home, too. We use Slack to communicate. On days like today, each of us says, “Good morning,” and lets our teammates know we’re online and ready to work. We also check in throughout the day to see how things are going and if anyone needs help.
Take breaks.
It’s easy to plow through the day when you’re at home, but it’s important to stop every now and again, just as it is when you’re in the office. So, get up, stretch, throw in a load of laundry (my personal choice) – do whatever you need to do to reset your brain and get moving. Oh, and, don’t forget to take lunch.
Stop when the workday is over.
Many people are tempted to work longer when they’re at home. If you wouldn’t do it in the office, don’t do it at home. You want to stop when the day is done – unless, of course, there’s a pressing matter. The day is over whether you’re in the office or not. Don’t forget to let your coworkers know you’re signing off.
As I sit here, finishing this blog post (not on my regular to-do list, but hey, I’m flexible) and looking at the snow fall and fall, I know I’m lucky I have a job (and a boss) that allows me to work from home when necessary. I’ve been productive on the job and have gotten some laundry done – what more can a worker ask!
Do you have any tips to add?