Tips for Working From Home
Illustration by GoodStudio
During times like this, we have to support our communities however we can. For HDco, that means sharing valuable content where we can. We welcome your kind feedback.
With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation and world, more and more people are being introduced to remote work. We understand that remote work can be difficult, and we applaud any company that encourages its team to work from home if it’s at all feasible. It’s the best thing we can do for our community’s health and safety.
While it has its perks, working from home presents unique challenges. Take it from us—everyone in our office works remotely on Tuesdays. Whether you’re an employee or business owner, here are some of our best tips to help you adjust to the challenges of working remotely.
Mindset Changes
Trust your team. Remote work will be nearly impossible if you don’t trust your team. We are all adults and we can all handle working outside of the office. But the truth is, remote work does look different. Instead of skepticizing your team’s productivity, trust that they are getting their work done. This means being understanding if a coworker is late to a video call because they were dealing with a toddler’s tantrum and showing empathy to people having Wi-Fi problems. Trust that they are doing their best instead of assuming the worst. If you show them this courtesy, they’ll pay it back to you.
Make adjustments for your family. Chances are, if you’re working from home due to COVID-19, your kids are at home, too. We know that not everyone is working from home with kids, but a lot of people are, and that means big, new changes times two. For parents to get work done, we recommend:
Sitting down with your kids and explaining that you will be working and what that means for them.
Carving out a few hours during the day to spend with your children, and then making up the time later in the evening.
If you have young children, consider waking up extra early to do a few uninterrupted hours of work prior to your kids getting up.
Use naptime as a time to power through important tasks.
Talk to your spouse about sharing the duties of watching your children. If you both work from home, maybe you can take shifts during the day. If one of you needs to go into the office, consider leaving some of your work to complete in the evening while your spouse spends time with the kids.
Have some compassion. We’re all going through a weird, unprecedented time. Be patient with your coworkers, especially if they’re trying to work and care for their kids simultaneously. We’re all trying our best. A kind word from you while they bounce a two year old on their lap on the video call will go a long way.
Technology
Familiarize yourself with the video conferencing platform. Log in five minutes early if it's new to you, and be sure to locate your audio and video mute buttons.
Limit background noise. If you’re unable to do this—like if your kids are home, too—mute yourself when you’re not talking.
Find your light. It helps everyone on a conference call see you when you’re well-lit. Sit in front of a window, or turn a lamp on in front of you. Plus, setting yourself up in front of a view is a natural morale booster.
Staying Focused
Designate a work space. That way when you sit down in your dedicated space, you’ll signal to your brain—and your children—that it’s time to work.
Have a morning routine. Get the day started more easily by having a set routine that gets you in your work groove—whether it’s starting the day with a jog, a cup of coffee, or just getting dressed.
Take meeting notes. When you’re on a call, stay engaged by taking good notes and asking questions.
Set up a sign for your kids. If you’re on a work call, hang up a color-coded sign that signals if your kids can come in. Feel free to use our downloadable print-out sign here. With this printable, blue means that it’s okay to enter, and red means don’t disturb unless there’s an emergency. (It’s worth a try, right!?)
Sanity Tips
Schedule a little extra time for unstructured “water cooler chat.” If you’re not used to working solo, having a few minutes before or after a virtual meeting can help you feel more connected.
Walk the dog and recharge your brain. Even if you don’t have a canine companion, taking a walk is a great way to reset. You don’t have to be out and about in a crowded area, but getting some movement and taking in the natural light and fresh air will do your body good.
Pour your favorite tea or coffee. If you like working from coffee shops but aren’t as comfortable working from home, replicate the coffee shop experience the best you can. Make a specialty coffee or tea to transport you out of your living room and into your local cafe.
Eat lunch away from your computer. Lunchtime is a wonderful opportunity to step away from work. If your kids are at home with you, use this midday break to spend quality time with them. They’ll be excited to eat a PB&J with you!
Our favorite WFH tools
We couldn’t do remote work without the Google Suite. Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Sheets make collaborating easy, even when you’re far from your coworkers.
Zoom is one of the most popular ways to host video conferencing. It can accommodate large groups, and it’s easier to use than many of its competitors. Zoom does offer free accounts, but even the paid plans are affordable for many companies.
Our office runs on Slack. We use it for all internal communication. It’s easier to organize than emails, and our team responds much quicker thanks to the chat-like nature. It keeps us connected while working remotely.
Basecamp is a project management software that makes remote work a breeze. The online platform offers everything from file sharing to organization solutions, which ensures everyone on your team is on the same page.
Not sure how to maintain office culture while working remotely?