Working from Home or Living at Work?
Tips for Working From Home Effectively
Zoom meetings and contactless delivery are here to stay. The digital age has made our lives easier in many ways but it’s also been quite the learning curve.
Millions of Americans are now performing their work duties from the comfort of their bedrooms. While most of us aren’t missing our morning commutes or unpleasant coworkers, this new normal has raised its own set of concerns.
Now, many of us are asking the same question: Are we working from home or living at work?
With the blurred lines separating work and home life, boundaries and clear expectations are important now more than ever. After all, it appears this new normal is here to stay. That being said, your sanity and health are non-negotiable. This transition calls for a new approach!
Like always, Soar to Excellence Coaching® is here to save the day. Over-demanding bosses who overstep work hours? Check! Zoom fatigue? Check! It’s time to get your need-to-know tools to make work from home work for you.
Set Clear Boundaries.
In the good ‘ol days, when the clock struck five, the work day was over. There was no ‘last minute push’ on a presentation or updates in a client account. If it didn’t get done during office hours, it had to wait.
This new setup has blurred the lines of home and work. Toxic workplaces are now abusing their virtual access to employees. They set unrealistic timelines for huge amounts of work. Then, they’ll make you think it’s your fault when tasks aren’t finished. They want you to work overtime (and for free) to play catch up.
Don’t fall into this trap. Recognize this behavior as harmful and manipulative. Set clear boundaries separating work from home. No matter what your inbox looks like, there’s no reason to be glued to your laptop for 10 hours a day. A lack of boundaries invites a lack of respect. Do not allow someone to get comfortable taking advantage of your kindness, boss or otherwise.
Some companies let you choose your own hours and use time tracking apps that record your screen while you work. Others assign projects and meetings to be completed during the business day. If your company operates like the latter, make it clear that after five o’clock, you’ll be unavailable.
If you’re on the fence about whether your workplace is toxic, check out this checklist by CareerContessa! Full of healthy tips to escape these draining environments, this resource has 10 signs to keep an eye on.
Combat Zoom Fatigue.
Video conferences have exploded in the past year. They help us communicate but they aren’t necessarily natural. A recent study published in Technology, Mind, and Behavior highlights the negative psychology of staring at our coworkers on laptops for hours on end.
For one, our nonverbal cues are limited through the screen. That means we have to work harder to communicate during meetings, which is mentally exhausting.
Not only that, the spatial proximity of our faces on Zoom simulates intimacy or conflict with people we barely know. Being nose-to-nose with Jerry from accounting is a surefire way to stress yourself out.
And who likes staring at their own face for that long?? Seeing ourselves in real-time is nerve-racking. Especially if you’re an introvert, constantly being on video is one of the most vicious effects of Zoom fatigue.
Experts at Stanford University recommend taking video breaks when you’re not presenting and setting your laptop a little further away to give yourself space. Something we should all be doing to preserve our sanity is turning off the self-view.
Make the necessary adjustments to combat symptoms of Zoom fatigue while we continue to meet virtually. Click here to read Stanford’s full list of solutions.
Maximize Your Environment.
It’s difficult to stay productive in the same place where you binge-watch reality television. That’s why it’s important to have a space that your brain can associate with work. If you don’t have an extra room to use as an office, sit at a quiet desk or countertop to get in the zone.
Best practices for working from home include getting dressed before beginning your day. Doing so will alert your brain that lounge time is over and it’s about to get serious.
Try to prevent distractions. Turn off the television, close all social media apps and be alone if you can.
Keep in mind that we are merging what used to be two separate worlds. There’s going to be some overlap. Don’t be embarrassed if your dog barks in the middle of a conference or if your child pops in to ask for a snack. Remember: this is your home.
If you do find yourself unable to concentrate, look into renting an office space. Explain to your company that working from home is not productive and see if they can reimburse you. Perhaps they can even supply you with tools like an ergonomic chair, mouse, or additional monitor to streamline productivity.
Ask Questions.
Without in-person support, training can be tricky. Questions that used to be a quick lean over your desk have turned into, “Should I really reach out to her about this?”
The answer is yes, you should. Set up a quick phone call, screen share or instant message. It’s a lot more difficult to communicate instructions through email, especially for kinesthetic learners. As much as we’d like them to be, video conferences aren’t equivalent to hands-on learning.
If you’re unsure about something, just ask. It’s not annoying and doesn’t take away from your expert status. Getting extra clarification is a preventative measure that ensures you aren’t wasting anyone’s time or efforts. It also exhibits desirable leadership qualities and a willingness to learn.
Read more about the surprising power of asking questions in this article from the Harvard Business Review.
Team Work Makes the Dream Work.
Because we’re still adapting to not having constant supervision, it’s almost as if there’s a race to see who responds to messages the quickest. Depending on your work environment, if you step out to grab the mail when your boss pings you, you may be in hot water.
Obviously, that’s not an optimal environment for free-flowing communication. This new structure calls for fluidity. It’s okay to allow whoever is available to answer questions that arise, as long as the problem is being solved.
Remember that in the digital workplace, nothing is a one-man show. We all have our designated assignments, but having multiple eyes on a document cultivates fresh ideas and prevents mistakes. Use collaborative efforts to polish each other’s projects and everybody wins!
Set Designated Time for Breaks.
Coordinating meetings is hard, especially when everyone lives in different time zones. That doesn’t mean you should be scarfing down your quesadilla in-between Zoom calls.
Make sure you have a buffer before each meeting that allows you to gather your thoughts and center yourself. Doing this will give you a clear mind and make you more attentive. It can be as simple as taking a walk, stepping out for fresh air, or taking a lunch break. Productivity actually increases when we do these things!
Studies show that our brains don’t function at their best when we’re hungry. No matter how busy you are, there’s no excuse to skip a meal. Every day, block out at least 30 minutes in your calendar to eat lunch.
Hang in There!
The new way of working is unfamiliar but we’ll get it figured out. This certainly isn’t the first time humans have adapted to new systems and it won’t be the last. As long as we make informed adjustments, the transition will be easier on everyone.
That means being more productive in your prioritization skills. More specifically, it means putting yourself first. Stop putting yourself last on your looooong to-do list. Take time off for that vacation you’ve been craving. Listen to your body and take a mental health day. Stop being a doctor and start seeing a doctor to evaluate your own health concerns. These activities are not an indulgence. They’re a necessity.
Interested in even more work-life balance tips? Check out Trello’s blog post with detailed suggestions for remote workers. And remember—boundaries are your friend! It’s time to start putting them into practice for your own peace of mind.