Are you working from home these days whilst your normal routine is generally at the office? It can be a bit of a struggle to initially transition and feel as productive in your home office, but the girls here at Arayla have put together some of their tried and true favorite tips for working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of us are working from home when we haven’t worked from home before and learning can be a real challenge. But it’s not impossible.
But first, how did we come upon such great ideas? Several of us are busy mothers and as a mum, there are always those days when you find yourself working from home with a sick child or perhaps one that is on a school holiday. One of the true perks of working for a women-owned and run company is the flexibility, genuine compassion (been there, done that!), and wholehearted support for fellow working mums. Without further ado, the Arayla girl’s favorite tips for a successful work from home day!
Working From Home Tips | Get dressed
It may be really tempting to stay in your snuggly pajamas all day (or maybe just change out your top if you have a Zoom meeting), but you will find yourself feeling more professional and by extension, more motivated if you are out of jammies. Of course, it would be silly to dress up for the office, but even just putting on your casual Friday look (maybe even swapping out for those cute Lululemon pants) will make a big difference. An odd day here and there working from home might work in your pajamas (video meetings excluded), but since many of us are in it for at least a few days (or even weeks due to social distancing to help with the coronavirus pandemic), getting dressed will help. Trust us on this one!
Starting Right
Treat yourself to a soothing hot coffee, tea, or a lovely bit of drinking chocolate. Take a few minutes to plan out your day. Some of us prefer to make a physical check-list, some use the Post-It note system, some a bullet journal, whilst others simply keep a mental tally. In any case, giving yourself a schedule will help keep you productive, and having that soothing cup whilst doing so will get your day off to a gentle and mindful start. Getting the most pressing, then the most challenging tasks out of the way whilst our minds are most fresh can help with productivity.
Short Brain Breaks
We say short because we may have been guilty of becoming side-tracked with that bit of online shopping. That shopping turned into a whole new wardrobe, or a new Netflix episode (or two) of our favorite show if we allow too long of a break. That said, breaks are super important (including lunch and those hydration breaks!) and can boost productivity as well.
Leave the Office
A big struggle for some of us whilst working from home is that the day never really ends. There is always something more to catch up on. Having the office right there can be very tempting. However, you may find that this leads to burnout. It might be a bit more difficult to feel excited about your next workday. Especially when the previous one ended at midnight. Staying in quite a bit could cause the days to feel like they are starting to run together. That could be rather depressing. So just as you would at work, leave when the day is done! Workout, cook dinner, play with your children (or furry children), binge a little Netflix (or Disney+ as it tends to be in this household!). Our time with family is so very precious and should be fully enjoyed.
Striking a good work and home life balance is a difficult thing on a good day…in an actual office. Working from home can present unique challenges that add to that. But it also brings a huge amount of benefits. After all, you’re in your own beautiful, comfortable home, and did we mention no traffic? It can make for an even more productive day than expected.
With love and wishes of good health,
The Arayla girls x
