Working from Home Unexpectedly: 9 Tips

It seemed a bit unreal at first, but I’ve now officially worked from home for seven weeks. Prior to March 2020, only 3.4% of the U.S workers held remote jobs. Now I don’t know what the stats are but it’s fair to say that the numbers are astronomical. Many of us are working from home with different levels of preparedness/support for this drastic change. While I have always had the flexibility to work remotely when I needed to for one or two days here and there, it wasn’t the norm. I serve clients and spend 80-90% at my clients and not actually at my firm’s office. I’m learning and tweaking my approach every week. If you’re working from home or are managing a team remotely, here are a few lessons I have picked up while working remotely during COVID-19:

1. Where You Work Matters: Designate A Workspace

After a month of working on a high stool at my kitchen island, my back told me I needed to get a chair. Sitting in my chair from Wayfair, I’m not sure why I waited so long. The truth is, your workspace matters. As someone that previously worked in bed, on the sofa, or in the kitchen, I tried it all for a month! If you have the option, please designate a specific work area in your home even if it’s a small desk in a corner. Get up walk over to your ‘office,’ grab a chair with back support and get to work. I’ve been so much more productive since I left the high stool in the kitchen. This also helps me separate work time from meal time!

2. There Will Be More Meetings and Maybe That’s Okay

Well, technically this depends on your line of work. For most people, there will be more meetings and for different reasons. For those of us that manage teams, and are in the business of client service, all of the people we serve are now in different locations. For the first few weeks it honestly felt as though I was on calls from 8 – 5 and then I’d have to do my ‘real work’ before or after business hours. I’m learning to block out time on my calendar to not be on calls during the day, to actually step away over lunch. I’m also making a point to check in more with my team members at all levels, checking in with the managers, senior associates, and associates that work with me and also check in with my bosses. I’m setting expectations that I expect the managers to reach out more to the senior associates and associates daily and I’m holding myself to similar standards. Sometimes all we need is a 15-minute check-in, but it is on the calendar. While it might feel overwhelming, when I compare the number of meetings to the in-person conversations I had pre-COVID, it’s not so crazy.

3. Embrace Technology For Collaboration

Slack, Zoom, and Microsoft teams! These three tools have been around for a while, but we can all agree that they have come in clutch at this time. Slack’s communication platform connects employees with messaging and collaboration activities. Slack was designed to replace/reduce email traffic (can somebody say AMEN to less emails!). 

Zoom’s video conferencing and remote collaboration tools have gained momentum both in and out of the workplace. Zoom is amazing for group video calls, I hosted a work call with 40 participants and it was great to see everyone in one place. I’ve conducted interviews, and also met a new class of interns via Zoom calls in the past weeks. WebEx is pretty similar to zoom but Zoom is better for videoconferences, but both are great for presentations. For a detailed comparison of Zoom vs Webex, see this PC Magazine Zoom vs Webex Face-off. 

My firm rolled out Microsoft Teams about a month before the Rona hit, and now it is a life saver. I have learned how to use it much better now that we’re all working remotely and I’m a fan. The downside though, while on video calls, you can’t see everyone on the screen like you would on Zoom.

All of these tools were created to help us work better together, regardless of our physical locations. Embrace it and encourage your peers to embrace it as well. Isn’t it crazy that the technological advancements of the past decade were preparing us to get through these times?

4. Set Up Boundaries ASAP

The way my days were set up for most of the first month of working remotely, I ended up working some ridiculous hours. I needed to be better at drawing the line between work and life because … there was no separation? I found myself sitting at my computer at odd hours just I had nowhere else to go. If you can relate to my experience, then it is time to take back your time. It is time to separate your work hours from your personal time. I have done this by designating a workspace and making a list to stay on task throughout the day and then physically stepping away from my laptop once I’ve accomplished my goals for the day. It’s work in progress but I am getting better.

5. Productivity Will Be Different

Everyone’s work from home situation is different and managers should expect this. I live alone so aside from my own wandering mind, and my neighbor deciding to play interior decorator in the middle of the day, I don’t have a lot of distractions. This is not the case for others. Working parents have suddenly acquired titles of teacher, and baby sitter in addition to cook, mom, dad, and employees! Others might be living with roommates or family members, making work from home challenging.

As an employee, communicate your situation to your supervisor, clarify what you can/cannot accomplish, and ask for the help you need. As supervisors and employers, how you manage your people now matters. Reach out to find out how people are coping and how you can help. It is not only the right thing to so, but it is also your responsibility as a leader and manager. During a crisis, employees need leaders that will acknowledge the emotions but also give them a sense of context and reality. Lead with heart but also with honesty. Answer the difficult questions, dispel rumors, and be transparent about the key priorities and changes. If you missed this, read key lessons from my global career as it also touches on leading teams

6. Loungewear Needed

My wardrobe is 70% business casual or business professional and now my wardrobe is 70% useless. I’ve been recycling my college t-shirts, 2 pairs of leggings and work out clothes. I’m stocking up on sports bras, and leggings. Who knew? 

In the past week I’ve also started wearing maxi dresses. They are so comfortable, I think I’m on to something here. 

What’s your wardrobe like? Do you have enough lounge wear? Or do you find yourself wearing the same 5 outfit combinations every week?

7. Some Days Are Better Than Others

As we cope with the drastic changes in our world, know that its okay to have some great, some okay, and some bad days. I’ve learned to let myself feel and the feels and them move forward. Life isn’t a competition, coping with life during a pandemic is not a competition. Give yourself grace and finetune your approach every day. It gets better.

8. Make Room To Socialise

I enjoy my own company and space. I need ‘me time’ to recharge but even people like me miss the ‘choice’ to go out and interact with our loved ones. I didn’t start out prioritizing socializing but after my first zoom happy hour, I was sold! I’ve had game nights, happy hour, or just video calls with friends and family even more than I did pre-COVID19. 

Make room to socialize, use your lunch time to make a quick 15-minute call to your family, have a game night with your partner, have a picnic in the backyard with your family, have a happy hour with different groups of friends, or plan a Netflix work party. Have coffee chats with colleagues where you talk about anything but work. We are built for community!

9. The Future Of Work and Business Will Not Be The Same

We can all agree that COVID-19 is likely the ultimate ‘disruptor’ of our generation. In some cases, it will widen the gap between the have’s and have nots. In other cases, it will level the playing field, and make room for new players solving new problems. Regardless, the world as we know it will not be the same. The number of employees working remotely in the US will definitely be multiples of the previous recorded 3.4%. Do you anticipate working remotely more when we can move about again?

Are you able to work remotely? What does your routine look like and how has it changed over the past few weeks? What are the best tips you’ve tried and what does not work for you?

Till next time, 

Dee (Ms. Heels)