Work from home they said. That sounds so cool and tranquil.
I love working from home, but here’s the thing… it’s not so easy. So today we’re exploring How To Work From Home without the stress and potential loneliness.
It takes planning and discipline and skills and community support, even if that has to also be online.
I think people are finding this out trying to adjust in the midst of the coronavirus spreading across our planet.
via MEME
And while I don’t think the Avengers are coming, there are many things we can do to stay healthy and sane.
I know it is hard and sad. We can pray for others and do our part with the precautions that have been set forth. My hands are so dry. Anyone else? But we can also use this time to expand ourselves with new skills and ideas, draw close to our families, and think about alternative ways to greater financial freedom. That gives back to the planet.
Since I am already in the how to work from home, entrepreneurial, and freelance space, I have been receiving a lot of info about how you can successfully work from home during this time. So I want to gather many of those tips for you here along with my experience. Feel free to scroll through to find the info that best applies to you and look out for some learning resources below too.
My heart goes out to each of you and your families as everyone seeks to navigate this new challenge. Let’s ban together in this online space and help each other out.
Here’s How To Work From Home
Treat Your Work Like Work and Be Productive
First things first, when you are learning how to work from home it is easy to stay in your pajamas all day and feel less than productive. But to successfully work from home you need to actually work. This means treating your business and work as a business. Get up and get dressed. Have a dedicated space even if it is temporary.
If you are feeling stuck in your pajamas, check out this interview FROM STYLE CLASS™TO CLOSET GOALS WITH ROSE JUBB FOR LADY BOSSES
In an article, I wrote for Forbes about freelancing I talked about a performer I met at the Renaissance festival that did his act with Macaws. In the middle of some tricky maneuvers, he said,
“You think this is hard? Try convincing your mother-in-law that playing with birds is a real job.”
Convincing your family that you still have a “real job” when you are working home can be a huge challenge. The interruptions are fierce.
If you have children, it is even more difficult. As a former preschool teacher of mostly boys this post on Facebook really cracks me up:
We have to learn how to work from home while figuring out how to set healthy boundaries for ourselves and with our family members. Easier said than done, I know.
I had to start setting boundaries with people to make it clear that I still had a job. And if I took time off during the day, I would likely have to make up for it in the evening. Once I began to tighten up my boundaries, I was able to get more done and take back control over my schedule.
Amy Morin: How To Set Boundaries With People Who Think Working From Home Means You’re Not Actually Working, Forbes
Creating new schedules and routines can go a long way in lowering your stress while working from home and while learning how to work from home. You have permission to adjust as you go.
Amy’s tips include putting on pants and making lists.
How To Work From Home with Amy:
One way to stay more focused is by setting an intention for your work from home day. It may sound a little woo woo but it’s a great tip that I cover in one of my ClearVoice articles on using the time to set an intention as a transition strategy. Which is Something I learned from Brendon Burchard’s book High-Performance Habits.
Put on pants, close the kitchen, and more #HowToWorkFromHome tips for your health and sanity #workingfromhome
Click To Tweet How To Work From Home
ClearVoice is an awesome resource by the way when it comes to working from home and freelancing tips. Meet Me Over at ClearVoice! I work with them quite a bit.
How To Work From Home with The Financial Diet:
In this episode of The Financial Diet, Chelsea talks about creating a “commute” for yourself to separate your work and home time. I love that idea!
How To Work From Home with Your Space
I am fortunate enough now to have a home office space that I share with my husband, that I can walk out of to feel back at home. But I have definitely had times where I didn’t have that and have even worked out of my bedroom. Even if you are working from the dining room table you can set up little space for yourself and a routine to get in work mode then back in home mode.
If you have an outdoor space, try working outside for a while on a nice day. This could give you a creativity boost!
You could even put all your things inside a caddy to move them to and away from the workspace as needed. Or if you have a cool utility cart like this one you can put your laptop and office essentials on there and roll them out of the way when not needed.
If you are creating a home office, check this out MARVELOUS AND INSPIRING HOME OFFICE STYLE It has some fun quizzes and resources. And HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR SMALL SPACE HOME OFFICE EDITION
Chelsea also talks about creating a reward system for yourself and getting accountability.
As far as easy to use online project management platforms, I prefer Trello.
How To Work From Home When There is Team Work
Team work does not always make the dream work. Sometimes it is hard. So here are some resources…
If you have to participate in those Zoom meetings be sure to check out these tutorials 5 Tips: Starting with Zoom Calls The Introvert’s Guide and How To Clean Up Your Zoom Background With Canva
If you are feeling lonely working from home you are going to want to check out our interview with Kat Vallos: The Work From Home Guide To Connection
If you are working remotely but with a scattered team, Laurel Farrer has some advice via Forbes on Remote Work Culture. Working remotely is different and it may have you connecting with people across countries and cultures.
If you’re looking for a remote job or want to outsource tasks to a freelancer or collaborate with any off-site colleagues, you would be wise to invest in some cross-cultural training to smooth the transition between onsite and offsite dynamics.
Planes, Pings And Pajamas: A Guidebook For The Remote Work Culture, Forbes
How To Work From Home and Prioritize Your Health
Working on the computer, especially at home, can be hard on your body. Remember to protect your eyes by taking breaks. Try to eat well and drink plenty of water.
And like we talked about earlier set boundaries so your at-home time and not spent still working late into the night if it can be helped. And take breaks! If you have a furry friend to break with even better. And if you have kids, give them special attention too during your breaks. They will feel better about leaving you to work during your work blocks.
If you watched Amy’s video, she talks about the importance of moving your body- getting in a quick workout during the day and not snacking.
Sometimes you have to just tell yourself that the kitchen is closed. That is something I learned from the book Lessons From France that has really helped me stop the work from home snack attacks!
After breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at home, CLOSE THE KITCHEN. That’s right, just like at a restaurant. When the kitchen is closed, there’s no more food on the way. The kitchen is opened for meal preparations, and closed when the dishes and pots have been cleaned. Done. Over. Non-negotiable.
Lessons From France: Eating, Fitness, Family
It is great to start your day with lemon water for an energy boost then have a healthy breakfast of your choice. I like to keep it light so my mind is more clear working.
A tip is to treat yourself to an actual lunch break rather than scarfing down something while continuing to work.
Some quick and pretty healthy lunch options:
- Quesadillas. You can whip these up fast and adapt them. You can choose whole grain tortillas, corn ones, or even gluten-free ones depending on your preference. You can also pack these full of veggies! I like a combination of onions, broccoli, and carrots. You can use regular cheese, I like a Mexican blend, or you can use a dairy-free alternative.
- Mixed Bowls. These are another go-to for me. I start with a base of quinoa or brown rice and then just saute whatever veggies I have on hand. I like to add a little sriracha for some heat. Then sprinkle some seeds. Sesame seeds or roasted pumpkin seeds are great options. To make this faster, you can cook the rice ahead. I like to cook the rice or quinoa in the morning when I’m prepping breakfast in an Instant Pot. That way at lunchtime all I have to do is to chop and saute the veggies.
- Salad. Another easy option that you can make ahead. Add some grilled chicken or some seeds for protein so you stay full until dinner. I ate so many salads in the past that I got tired of them. But, hello Pinterest, there are so many salad options. Try all different kinds. You can even throw your leftover sauteed veggies on top.
- Pasta. I’m not talking about the kind full of cream and cheese sauce here. But there are so many varieties of healthier pasta now. You can get brown rice pasta, quinoa, buckwheat, and more. And pasta is pretty fast to prep. Saute some veggies or roast some tomatoes to throw on top with a little olive oil. The complex carbs combined with a healthy fat will have you feeling full and satisfied all afternoon.
I do not always stick to healthy lunches, let’s be honest. But these are my go to options that make me feel better without a huge afternoon energy slump.
Eating well, setting the right boundaries, and fitting in movement will keep your energy high on a work from home day.
And don’t be too hard on yourself!
How To Work From Home and Keep Growing and Learning
My favorite online learning platform is SkillShare. I teach there so I may be a little biased. There are wonderful courses on branding, productivity, writing, art, and more. I am excited about some Procreate courses so I can get my artistic side going on the iPad. Art is a great way to relax right now.
Get Two Free Months of Skillshare Premium with my link here:
Greg McKeown, author of Essentialism which I have started reading released A SkillShare Original class called Simple Productivity: How to Accomplish More With Less Which could be super helpful right now so check it out with Two Free Months of Skillshare Premium
Another platform I’m using to take courses right now is Fiver Learn. I’ve especially enjoyed Jon Youshaei’s classes there.
Also check out the free trainings from Grow With Google
Helping you work, teach and learn from anywhere
Grow With Google Free Trainings
In today’s environment, more employees, educators, and students are working remotely. To help, we’ve gathered some tools and resources you can use to stay connected and productive.
How To Work From Home? Take It from An Expert
If you are new to working from home, welcome to the club!
Don’t feel like you have to struggle. Connect with some other work from home peeps who have been doing this a while and follow experts that have been working online for years. Take any tips you can use from people like Pat Flynn who has been working from home for over a decade.
I have been working from home myself for around 7 years now. Wow!
How To Work From Home with Pat:
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