15 Mar 5 Tips For Working At Home

With the global spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, many employers are encouraging or requiring their employees to work from home to help decrease the chances of the virus spreading. For many of you, the work-from-home lifestyle is new and will require you to change or adjust some of your daily habits. At East + Sunset, although we do have an office space, we are pros at the work-from-home lifestyle. We’ve put together our top 5 tips to make working from home a success.

1. Maintain Regular Work Hours

Working from home can be extremely productive, but your day can also easily slip away if you get distracted. Set a work schedule, and stick to it (as best you can). Having clear guidelines for when you’re working and when you’re folding your laundry will help maintain a successful work-life balance.

2. Create A Dedicated Work Space

Creating a dedicated work space is extremely important to maximize your daily productivity. In a perfect world we’d suggest designating a specific room in your house as an office but most people who don’t typically work from home won’t have the space. Instead, turn a desk or a corner of a room into your designated workspace. Create a place where you can sit down, away from your daily routine, and focus.

TIP: To keep your work life and regular life separate, we suggest you avoid setting up your work space in common areas like the living room. When you’re “at work” you want to be focused on that and when you’re relaxing you don’t want to be staring at your work. Having your workspace in a separate room will allow you to get up and “leave” your work day and be able to relax in the evening before starting all over again tomorrow.

3. Get Dressed

It seems pretty ideal to stay home all day in your sweatpants, and don’t get me wrong, it’s pretty great. But if you’re not used to working from home, lounging around in sweatpants can decrease your ability to focus on your work tasks. Getting dressed for the day (think casual Friday attire) helps set your mind in the morning that you’re ready for the day and ultimately can help you be more productive.

4. Schedule Breaks

Just as if you were in the office, breaks are a crucial part of regaining focus. Make sure you schedule breaks throughout your day and make sure you actually take them! Give yourself time during the day to walk away from the computer screen or phone and regroup. Breaks are the perfect time to throw in a load of laundry or unload the dishwasher. Just make sure you don’t get so caught up in the household chores that you forget to go back to work!

5. Don’t Forget to Socialize

Working from home can get pretty lonely, especially if you’re used to being surrounded by colleagues everyday. Schedule calls with your colleagues or a coffee break with a neighbor. Figure out how much interaction you need to feel connected and productive.

Stay healthy, friends, and don’t forget to wash your hands.