I’ve been working from home for the past 2 years and you could not pay me to go back to office life! That’s not true. You probably could. Anyways, the point is while it has its advantages, working from home certainly has its challenges. Especially if you’ve got roommates, kids, pets, and/or a lover working at home, too. Since we will all be working from home for the foreseeable future, here are six things I've learned that keep me sane.
Shower, you filthy animal One of the glorious things about working from home is getting to spend all day in comfy spandex with no makeup on. But a routine is critical. Start your day by getting fresh n’ clean. You can still wear your PJ bottoms all day, but trust me, #lookgoodplaygood
Get a hit of endorphins, early Feeling stressed, anxious, sad, lonely? First, off, call me. And what I will tell you is to start your day off with a sweat! Moving creates endorphins and endorphins make you happy. It’s as simple as that. What's cool is that companies like Peleton and Corepower are offering free online classes for the next several months so there are literally no excuses. Think of it this way... if endorphins make you happy, why wait until the end of the day to take a free dose of happiness?
Get creative with your “office” space Many of you do not have the luxury of an extra bedroom or a nice home office. Whether it’s your kitchen table or your counter, spruce things up! I will never forget Christmas break, 2016. While at Harpoon, Carolyn and I had zero vacation days so we were the only dopes left at the office. We decided we'd start 2017 with a new attitude which we decided started with a new and improved cubicle. And let me tell you, it worked! We looked forward to going to work... insanity I know. Get yourself a plant, a new calendar, and some fun art, and ride that inspiration train as long as you can!
Take Breaks Just like you would meetings, pencil in small breaks throughout the day for yourself on your calendar. Have a meeting where you’re required to be there but the only chance of you speaking is if Rachel throws you under the bus again? Take your call while taking a walk! Either way, taking breaks will keep you energized. You can call a friend, jam out to Miley or just be. Either way, take a break and get outside!
Curb your snack monster Are you finding yourself snacking like a mo-fo? Two words: Intermittent. Fasting. My feeding window, for example, starts at 10 am and ends at 8 pm. It sounds crazy but after the first week (or two) of hell, it’s life-changing. Sure, some days it’s 8:42 am and I don’t know how in God’s name I’m going to make it to 10 am but I do. And strangely, I think about food less. It’s wild, try it.
Pick a time you start AND a time you end your day This one is no doubt the hardest lesson to learn and in full disclosure, I have zero business giving you advice. But, I try every day and so shall you. Decide when your day is going to start and when it’s going to end. Not only will this help you, but it will set expectations for the people you're working with. If you’re answering emails and text at 7 am, Bob’s going to keep writing and texting you at 7 am. Bob can wait (for god sakes, Bob, check Google for once in your life!) and you deserve some healthy structure.
The trend of remote work has been gaining steam for some time now and I predict after COVID-19, it will be the norm, not the exception. It's definitely not for everyone but there are some simple things you can do to at least make the best of it while you've got no other choice. God speed, friends!
About the Author: Founder. Dreamer. Master of None. It's been 9 years since Jules has been paying off her Master's Degree in Social Work loans—zero years of which have involved doing actual Social Work. Instead, she's built a career decoding the puzzle that is the internet and digital marketing. Experienced. Humble. Often burned by auto-correct. Jules created Rolling Hills Media so she could write her own rules and to help brands do the same.
Comments