Working From Home

If you were lucky enough to have avoided losing your job this spring when COVID-19 swept the nation, the home office fantasy suddenly became a reality. And that reality can sometimes be harsh. Certainly many find themselves enjoying the benefits of staying at home while working. That holds especially true for anyone suddenly able to get their job done in their pajamas. And yet, many others have overturned the persistent misconceptions of self-management. Are you one of those suddenly feeling displaced and looking for some perspective? How can you possibly complain about working from home? And is there anyone to actually enjoy it? Read on for some answers.

WHAT NO ONE TOLD YOU ABOUT WORKING FROM HOME

• Contrary to a commonly held belief, sleeping late is not always an option while working from home. Especially not when you factor in the following: deadlines, conference calls, time logs, and of course, making sure you make a good impression. After all, now is not the time to get downsized during the next wave of lay-offs
• Working at home with your loved ones can be stressful. Unless you establish boundaries, partners can find it hard to give you the space you need. And children and pets? They’ll constantly be vying for your attention.
• Your desk at home might not be your favorite place to work. Sure, it seems like it will be far more comfortable than some cookie-cutter cubicle. But does it have everything you need to get through your work? And how fast and reliable is your Internet, really?
• When it comes to eating at home, lunch can suddenly seem like a monumental task. If you have to stop in the middle of your day to prepare something, you could lose valuable time on an assignment. No more quick visits to pick-up a salad at the counter place across the street. If you want something healthy, you’ll have to think ahead. Otherwise, expect to use the microwave.

SURPRISINGLY MISSED ASPECTS OF THE OFFICE

• Regular hours might have seemed like a bummer, but they can be helpful in creating a defined schedule. If the boss expects you to arrive and start everyday at 9 am, then that’s when you’ll start. But left to your own devices, you might linger a bit while reading the morning news, or spend an extra hour while drinking coffee. Well, what’s the problem with starting work in the afternoon? Who wouldn’t want to work late in the comfort of their own place? Except you may find all your energy gone by 5 pm. Working through the early evening can become a painful experience of trying to stay awake or on task. Even worse is attempting this while trying to meet a deadline.
• Your co-workers might be close friends, or they might be just some people you happen to see everyday. But you might be surprised how much being around your team delivers focus to your habits. When you are the only person at home working, and your 6-year-old is asking you to join them in the other room for cartoons, who can resist? A strong, steady work environment provides some focus and can help you power through the day.
• The computer terminal at work might seem like a ridiculous thing to miss. But there’s something about having a dedicated work machine. Sure, most bosses don’t begrudge a little retail therapy at lunch or a quick Twitter check. So it’s not like you suddenly have to deal with the temptation of a browser history full of non-work URLs. But at the same time, do you really want to work everyday on the same machine you use to Netflix and shop on eBay? Habits are hard to break and the web is synonymous with distractions. Don’t forget to close all your social media windows before you start in for a day’s work.

FANTASTIC BENEFITS OF WORKING FROM HOME

• There is absolutely nothing to miss about commuting to work. Even the time you spent listening to music or your favorite podcast can be applied to sitting at home, staring out the window. Say goodbye to traffic, public transportation, crowded streets, bad weather, you name it.
• Even if you can’t wear pajamas everyday, you can definitely cut some corners on wardrobe. When you can, indulge, and stay comfortable in loose fitting clothes and skip the make-up. But try not to go too far. Pick a time to get dressed and “go to work.”
• If you love acquiring new skills, then working from is the perfect chance to master one the hardest: self-responsibility. And actually, the feeling of finishing all your work tasks on your own time can definitely be its own reward. The paychecks help, too.
• Staying at home means not having to worry about your home when you aren’t there. Sure, the kids in the other room can be tough, and having to schedule extra hours to make sure the dog is walked can disrupt the day’s flow. But during a time of crisis, it’s good to be secure in your house, apartment, or wherever you hang your hat. And if you have any important deliveries coming, like some nice masks or groceries and toilet paper, you’ll be there to receive them.

A FINAL FEW TIPS

• If you are really struggling, try showing up to your desk at home in nearly the same readiness you would have at work. You don’t have to have your exact work clothes on, but do something similar to the usual routine. Get dressed, wash up (brush teeth, shave, etc.), and sit down ready to work a full day at the same time you normally start. Little signals like this get your brain firing. Work is a habit. If follow through your typical routine, you might find you jump start a hidden reserve of energy.
• Sometimes you can’t get everything done in a day. You’ll have bursts of energy where you get things done. Then you’ll have to spend some time doing menial tasks best finished while listening to your favorite dance music. And just like those after lunch hours at the office, you’ll have to divvy up your day accordingly to maximize your efficiency. And if you don’t, you won’t get anything done. Just like always, there will be days where you are staring at your computer, asking yourself if you should just get up and walk away in disgust. You feel there’s no way do you have the energy to complete the report that’s due tomorrow. The problem while working at home is this: now you can walk away, and no one will stop you. So open another window in your browser and work on something that requires less brain waves. Then take a five minute break with a snack. Now try to finish the report.
• Snacks are not meals. It’s easy to get in the habit of eating things like a handful of nuts or a pre-wrapped snack at your home desk. But don’t eat at your desk excessively. If you ever need a snack, take a five minute break and actually use it to recharge. So if you are hungry, just pop out into the kitchen for a second, grab a bite, and then pop back. And while snacks are fine sometimes, make sure not to over do it. Start your day already fed and be ready to work. Pick a time for lunch and stick to it. Use it for lunch too. You can answer a personal email or two if you’d like, but try to get away from the computer screen.

After the chaos of this April, you may even find themselves falling in love with working from home. Work is a challenge no matter where you are: at the office, in your home, or even on vacation. But with new challenges come new strategies, and, yes, new perks. Some jobs really are easier at home than they are at the office. So even if the past month has been tough, keep working at it. Part of being human is being adaptive. Make sure to take time to relieve stress by working out or relaxing after work and show up the next day. Who knows? Maybe after quarantine, you’ll be blessed with a new favorite way to work.