Five ways to work from home effectively
This blog is brought to you by Holly Brennan, Account Coordinator, MAVERICK
It’s been over a month since we at MAVERICK temporarily closed the doors to the MadHouse and began our work-from-home adventure.
The abrupt switch from office to living room is challenging - we get it! While some enjoy working from the comfort of their home, many struggle to adapt to their new work environment.
With the help of my team, we have compiled a list of tips that help us stay productive while working remotely.
Routine, routine, routine 📝
Rise and shine! Sure, the idea of rolling out of bed five minutes before a morning meeting sounds ideal, but believe me when I say waking up at your usual hour, making the bed and giving yourself time to enjoy that morning coffee will make you feel more settled and ready to give it your all throughout the day. The extra bit of downtime allows you to organize, prioritize and focus on what’s ahead.
Keep it profesh 💯
Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin’ with no makeup quickly became my work-from-home uniform. However, after two weeks of working in what I slept in, I realized that sprucing up my personal appearance drastically improved productivity and gave me a feeling of normalcy. Since our usual routines have been interrupted, wearing something a bit closer to what I’d normally wear to the office made me feel more at ease.
Hydration station 💦
Drink water! Your skin, hair, mind and body will thank you! If you’re drinking less water than you usually did at the office, like me, you might me feeling extra tired. This is because the oxygen levels in your blood are significantly dropping, making you feel lethargic. Place a cup or bottle of water near your workspace to remind yourself to take a few sips! Besides, no one likes dull skin.
Clear your mind 💆
It’s easy to get completely immersed in a project and in the blink of an eye, several hours have passed. Maintaining your physical health is vital to keep your mind sharp and it also reduces stiffness and fatigue. To remind yourself to get up and move, try setting alarms or reminders and take 20 minute breaks to boost those endorphins. There are a ton of YouTube tutorials on how-to do at work homeworks without equipment. A healthy you is a happy you and a healthy state of mind will translate to producing the best work!
Communication is key 🔑
Everyone is trying to find their footing with technology -- be patient and keep an open line of communication. Be transparent with your coworkers on what your day looks like and when you’ll be logging off to take a break. Having clear communication lessens the distance felt between staff and ensures everyone is always on the same page. Working from home might cause you to feel lonely or isolated, especially if you don’t communicate with your team. Video conferences are a great way to avoid this and are an easy alternative to face-to-face communication. If you can, set up a bi-weekly virtual happy hour with your team and discuss how you’re coping under the new circumstances.
We hope that you’re staying safe and staying home so we can all get back to our regular routines soon! In the meantime, keep your chins up and don’t be too hard on yourself - we’re all trying to navigate through this difficult time together.
