For many of us, a two-plus week imposed
quarantine has become a crash course in discovering how being at home all day
can be…overwhelming. From fighting off a crushing sense of loneliness to
struggling with motivation, this stretch of time can be a real challenge,
especially for the socially inclined.
As someone who has worked remotely before, I
get it. I can tell you firsthand that it is very normal to feel ready to
climb the walls after just three days. Even worse, the creeping worry of the
state of humanity (and, yes, our global economy) has added a significant level
of stress to it all. The number of sick and deceased grows every day. Entire
countries and cities are on lockdown. Many people are facing job insecurity.
Many people have already lost their businesses and jobs, and are stuck at home
trying to figure out their next steps.
At the start of this week I had a call with
James Ridd, Americas CEO, and at the end of our call I blurted out that I was
feeling incredibly anxious about everything going on and concerned about the
future. What is the world going to be like when it’s finally safe for us to all
leave our homes?
James gave me some really sage advice that I’ve
been passing along to anyone who will listen: “Focus on what you can control.
Focus on what you can influence. Take it one day at a time.”
(Can I get an amen? Amen!)
The best we can do right now is the best we can
do. To that end, it’s important to prioritize staying productive, staying calm,
and staying sane. If you are lucky enough to be able to work from home, these
tips will help you stay on track. If you are in a situation where you find
yourself starting over, this is also for you—looking for a job or launching a
new business is work, too!
1. Dress for your day.
It’s easy to tell yourself that a major upside
of being at home means not changing out of your pajamas for…days. Doing that,
however, can have a major negative impact on your productivity levels.
Personally, I’ve found it a lot easier to find myself 30 minutes deep into a
YouTube black hole when I haven’t switched out my sweatpants for slacks. That’s
not to say you need to don a suit to successfully power through your to-do
list, but changing into a new outfit for the workday will help put you in the
right mental space for productivity. (Even if you don’t have any video calls
scheduled…especially if you don’t have any video calls scheduled!)
2. Set a schedule and dedicated workspace.
Working from home can mean sleeping in a
bit later (those with regularly long commutes: rejoice!), but it’s important to
differentiate between your working time and your personal time. If you’re
hitting snooze until 8:59 AM and then checking emails while you brush your
teeth and make coffee, you are not setting yourself up for your best
day. Wake up earlier, go about your morning routine, and “clock in” at your
regular time. Make a to-do list and block out your calendar so that you
maximize your working hours. When your day is done, close your laptop/home
office door, and “leave” just as you would from your regular office. For those
of us who really dread the feeling of always being at work when working from
home, this can make a huge difference!
Having a dedicated workspace is key, too. Not
everyone has the luxury of a home office (especially if you live in New York,
where a glorified closet is passed off as a “SPACIOUS JUNIOR ONE BEDROOM!”),
but making small adjustments can go a long way. Make sure your workspace is
clean and free of distractions—or situate yourself so that you are facing away
from them. If you don’t use it for work, put your personal phone in a different
room (or a cabinet). Light a candle, put on quiet soothing music…do little
things that will set the stage for focus.
3. Take mini wellness breaks.
This is critical! Especially during a time like
this, remember to build into your schedule (or take as needed) breaks to care
for your mental, physical, and emotional health. Whether that means meditating,
a light at-home workout, or going for a (solo!!!) walk around the block, be
sure to integrate these moments into your day. This social distancing exercise
can be very isolating and is a petri dish for feelings of anxiety and/or
loneliness. Pausing to breathe and check in with yourself is incredibly
important. (For those of you who don’t know where to start, check out online
programs like Barre3, SkyTing TV, Gaiam, and CorePower for movement, or apps
like Headspace for mediation—they all offer free trials!) You will find
yourself refreshed and of more mental clarity as you dive back in to your work.
4. Take time with your meals…and eat breakfast!
The greatest advantage (and I’m not just saying
this as someone who is highly food-motivated) of working from home—and having a
doomsday-ready stockpile of groceries at your disposal—is getting creative in
the kitchen and really having the time to eat mindfully. Instead of grabbing
something quickly between meetings, you can slow down and prepare something
thoughtfully. This doesn’t necessarily mean you should be making lobster
thermidor for lunch every day, but it does mean sitting down to eat your
sandwich instead of shoveling it into your face while standing at the kitchen
counter. And there’s never been a better time to try new recipes: there is a
remarkable wealth of meals that can be prepared using your canned
goods—Pinterest or a simple search will produce hundreds of ideas. Most
importantly, eat breakfast every day! It’s the most important meal and will
keep you fueled and sharp.
5. Check in on your colleagues.
This is a difficult and stressful time for many.
You likely have colleagues who are in lockdown alone, and may not have anyone
to talk to. Check in with them periodically to make sure they are doing OK and
find out if they could use your support (especially if a colleague is sick or
caring for someone sick). Don’t be afraid to give them a call—you might be the
only person they talk to all day.
6. Work with your friends.
Have buddies who are also working remotely these
next few weeks? Set up video conference dates to work together! Zoom, Skype,
Google Hangouts…take advantage of this time to get the (virtual) coworkers you
always wanted. (No offense to my darling coworkers IRL whom I love very much.)
That being said…
7. Remember to save personal business for personal time.
This is the biggest disadvantage to working from
home. No matter how hard you try to self-discipline, there always seem to be an
endless array of distractions waiting for you (be it a load of laundry in the
corner, Instagram, or your mom calling to make sure you have enough toilet
paper). If it’s not an emergency, save it for after work hours. If the
temptation is just too strong, consider turning your phone off entirely and/or
installing website blocking apps that will prevent you from “accidentally”
ending up on TMZ…again.
8. Keep communication channels strong.
Look, it’s easy to become a little lazy when
you’re working from home. The sense of urgency just may not be as strong as
when your boss is less than 10 feet away. This is the time to step up and light
a fire under yourself! Take initiative in keeping communication channels
strong. From managing expectations to creating accountability, apprising your
team and supervisor of what you’re working on, your goals, and your deadline
commitments will keep you goal-oriented and on track. (This will also keep you
from having stretches of procrastination that you fill with signing up for
coronavirus updates from every news source on the planet.) If you are job
hunting or taking this time to launch your own business, ask a friend to be
your accountability buddy—hold each other to your goals and be each other’s
cheerleader.
9. Be compassionate to yourself and others.
This is a very difficult time. It is okay to be
afraid. It is okay to be worried. It is also okay to have more questions than
answers, and to feel overwhelmed at times. Take time to pause, breathe, and
care for yourself. Check in on your loved ones and neighbors. Be mindful.
Remember that we are all in this together, and we are all going to get through
this together!
