How to Make Working from Home Work
You may not know this, but many of the wonderful things that have happened in my life came out of tremendously frightening and depressing situations.
First: In 2014 I was fired from my desk job. They called it “letting me go,” and everyone still likes everyone and all is good, but I was definitely fired. It was from that unplanned and (then) unwanted life event that sprung my freelance writing career. And I never looked back.
Second: In 2017 I found myself in a deep depression. I’m generally a happy person. I have a higher level of anxiety than other people, but there has never been a time in my life when I’ve been so sad that I couldn’t get out of bed — except in 2017. I needed something to pull me out of it, and fast. So I founded Vaera Journeys. And I never looked back.
This is all to say that the majority of us are currently finding ourselves in a situation we didn’t ask for — many of us have lost our jobs, are uncertain about our jobs, cannot do our jobs, or are figuring out how to work from home effectively. Whichever of these you may fall into, it’s understandable that you might be feeling anxious, sad, nervous, or even downright depressed. I’m here to tell you that I HAVE BEEN THERE. Trust me. But if you’re willing to give it a shot you can use this time to dig deep and discover whatever it is that you really, really want to do. You may find that working from home increases productivity, whether that’s at your current job, or whether that’s diving into that side project that you’ve always secretly wanted to turn into your actual hustle.
I’ve been working from home effectively for more than five years. And while it certainly took a lot of trial and error to figure out how it works best for me, I have developed a list of working from home tips for success.
Adjusting to Working from Home
Whether you’ve made this decision for yourself, or whether it was made for you, doesn’t really matter. The point is: you now work from home, and it can be a major adjustment. But by shifting your mindset you can begin to harness and embrace all the benefits that come with it:
You can maximize your commute time. Think about it - you are saving a minimum 20 minutes a day (each way) alone, and for many of us you’re saving much, much more than that. What can you do with that time? It can be as basic as “sleep more.” The point is, you’re getting a minimum 40 extra minutes of “you” time. Answer emails, do an online yoga class, linger over a damn cup of coffee. It doesn’t matter. It’s your time.
Anything that you typically had to reserve for the weekend (haircuts, errands, post office) can be done literally any day of the week. This will be true more so when we are allowed outside of our houses. But even now, you have time to pause and do an afternoon workout, take a walk, or go to the grocery story. You have been given the gift of YOUR TIME.
If you learn how to do this well, you can do it from anywhere. And that, right there, is the most liberating thought in the world. You could technically do this from anywhere. Now the entire world has opened up to you. Welcome to the world. (Again, after this whole pandemic thing is over, of course.)
Working from Home Tips for Success
I know a lot of people who work from home, work remotely, are their own bosses, etc. And they all do it differently. But there are a few things I think the majority of us can agree on.
1. Organize a workspace.
Maybe you’re one of those people who can be productive in a horizontal position on the couch in your robe with the TV on. (I, for one, am one of those people.) But if you’ve just found yourself in a new working from home role that’s a very, very precarious position. Before you know it the laptop is inching its way closed and soon you’re just watching TV. Or asleep.
For most people the best thing they can do when they start working from home is to organize a workspace. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have a spare bedroom or home office. Or maybe you just need to map out a corner of the living room or bedroom. Wherever it is, make sure it’s in a place that is well-lit and free of distractions. I have a corner in my living room by the window. I face into the living room, but if I had a better layout I’d want to face OUTSIDE the window because David is always roaming around and it distracts me.
But my home office has my laptop, my chargers, a phone charger, plenty of post-its (I am big on post-its for lists and organization), business cards, and a fan. I have headphones, as well, for when I really need to drown out the noise pollution.
My space is also still a work in progress. What I’d love to add are an essential oil diffuser (I have my eye on this one), a candle (because I like candles), and a plant (but probably a fake one because I am not meant to nurture living things).
2. Plan the day
When you’re suddenly faced with endless amounts of free time, it can (believe it or not) be overwhelming. The mantra, “I have ALL day” seems to ring true in your head louder than ever. Before you know it it’s 5 p.m. and you’re reaching for the wine and nothing got done. The most important thing I learned when I started working from home full time was to structure my day. Everyone’s optimal day looks different and it may take a few weeks before you figure out yours. I make lists on post-its. There’s nothing more gratifying than crossing shit off of a list.
Personally I’m more productive in the morning so I wake up extremely early, have a cup of coffee, and dive right in. I break mid-morning for the gym, and leave the afternoon for phone calls, additional articles, Vaera Journeys marketing stuff, and other administrative tasks.
3. Limit your email responses
One of the best things I did for my productivity was I stopped responding to emails immediately. Once you do that you’ll notice how much time you free up. I answer my emails in the morning, and then again in the late afternoon. Unless something is truly pressing, I let it be. Just because someone emails you does not obligate you to responding immediately.
4. Set a quiet period
There are times when you may find your attention slipping away - usually during the times when you need to concentrate on work. For me I start to lose my momentum around 3 p.m. That’s when I dedicate myself to do “deep work.” Deep work is steady, uninterrupted work. Sometimes I put my headphones in, or I close my gmail. I may put my phone on Do Not Disturb. Whatever it is for you, find that thing that forces you to push through. You’ll be happy you did.
5. Make a budget
This may not apply if you’re salaried and find yourself working from home. But if you’ve gone off on your own and suddenly you’re the one entirely in control of how much money you make and when, you’re going to want to make a budget.
My friend, confidante, and de facto financial advisor, Joni Sweet, gave me the greatest advice: save what you need in order to live for three full months (or more!). Save that as quickly as you can. You’ll be happy to have that safety net. After that you can begin paying off things like debt, or contributing to a “fun” account.
Also, if you have switched to contract work, be sure to take 25% out of each check and put it aside for taxes. You will thank yourself come April. Keep a detailed record of your expenses, as well. If you have the right accountant, you could save thousands in write-offs. For example, if you’re a “public figure,” aka anyone with a social media presence that is linked to their brand, you can write off beauty treatments. It’s true.
6. Utilize social media
For the most part, for me, social media is just fun. I like to do it. I like connecting with you guys. And I really like sharing my adventures, tips, and tricks. But social media is actually an extremely effective marketing tool, and if you know how to do it correctly then you can extend your reach, promote yourself, and promote your brand to thousands of people A DAY.
Don’t look at me as the expert. I’m not. (But I can point you towards those who are.) I’m definitely still learning, but I find the more I learn, the more traffic I drive to my site and to my portfolio, and the more business I earn.
7. Eat healthy
It may be tempting to snack 75 times a day - especially during COVID-19, when we are stressed beyond belief. But do yourself a favor and take care of yourself. It’s easy to fall down a rabbit hole of indulgence under the guise of “self care,” but truthfully, you’ll be way more productive if you keep a healthy routine. That said, you SHOULD treat yourself. If you want happy hour at 4 p.m. on a Thursday then just do it. We’re going through some shit right now.
8. Take time for yourself
Whether you’re working remotely because you wanted to or because you had to, remember to enjoy this time as best you can. If this was your dream and your choice, then remember that while it’s important to be disciplined and diligent, you also did this so you wouldn’t be chained to a desk anymore.
If this wasn’t your choice, then make the absolute most of it. You have truly been given a gift. And if you’re not able to work from home, then what is something you always really wanted to do? Write an e-book? Learn a language? Get ripped? It’s time to stop dwelling on the things that are out of our control and focus on the things that are entirely in our control — ourselves.
Work from Home Accessories
I don’t need much to work from home - a desk, wifi, my laptop, and my phone. Still, there are a few things that I’ve been using, especially during COVID-19 quarantine.
Headphones - I don’t have noise cancelling headphones, so can’t really recommend. But I’ve been using Skullcandy wireless headphones and they work really well. They stay in my ears, are comfortable, and drown out much of the exterior noise.
Brain.fm app - This app has a bunch of creativity-provoking playlists, organized by specific tasks. I usually turn it on around 3 p.m. and do the 90-minute Deep Work playlist, and that carries me through the afternoon.
Alo Moves - This is a website I’ve been using for at-home workouts. I am NOT an at-home workout girl, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I have been incredibly impressed with their variety of at-home workouts, intensity, and professionalism. Plus, if you message them on Instagram they will help you find the right workout for you.
And that, my friends, is a basic guide to how to make working from home...work. If I didn’t address your concern, or if there is more you’d like to know, please leave it in the comments or send me a message and I will be happy to get to it.
For now, stay strong, stay motivated, and remember that every situation, no matter how shitty, is an opportunity to learn and grow. This is just life stepping in and making that call for us. What we do with it is entirely up to us.