6 Telecommuting Tips: Making WFH Work For You!
YOU’VE GOT THIS!
So you’re working from home…now what? For some of us, telecommuting is totally uncharted territory, but just because it’s new doesn’t mean it has to be bad. Here at Maggy London, many of us opt for a more flexible routine in our weekly schedules (some days worked in the office, some days spent at home), and we’re here to share what we’ve learned.
We’ve rounded up some of our best tips for making WFH work for you, even if you’re usually more comfortable clocking in in-person. Read on as we show you six ways to stay on track, in touch, and tuned in—even when you’re away from the office.
EASE INTO YOUR DAY
Enjoy your non-commute! If your day starts at 9am, try your hardest not to wake up at 8:50. Make it your mission to ease into the workday effortlessly. (The alternative? Oversleeping and making a mad dash to open your laptop before the first Slack message of the day arrives. No, thanks!)
2. ADOPT A DAILY RITUAL
Anchor each day with a daily ritual. This is a simple practice recommended for any remote worker, and proves especially helpful during stressful times. The best part? It’s totally up to you! Choose something you look forward to, something that grounds you, something that brings you peace, or maybe even something that just makes you feel a little more human. Ideas we’re loving: recreating your favorite café drinks at home, trying an at-home workout on YouTube (there are SO many to choose from!), or taking a morning walk around the block.
3. GET DRESSED
Two words: get dressed! (Even if it’s just from loungewear to loungewear.) Something as simple as a costume change will help you transition from foggy morning brain to alert and ready to work!
4. KEEP IN TOUCH WITH COWORKERS
Working remotely can certainly get lonely. The easiest way to brighten your WFH blues? Keep in touch with coworkers! For work: try to schedule daily video conference check-ins to keep everyone on-task and in the right mindset. For play: start a group chat with your team—this is where you can enjoy all of your usual desk chatter and inside jokes. (Just because you’re physically separated doesn’t mean you can’t continue to nurture relationships!) Our team is super tight-knit in and outside of the office, so we have definitely been missing each other!
5. AVOID TEMPTATION
To keep it short and sweet, treat your at-home office like your in-office office!
The Dos and Don'ts of Avoiding Distractions
Don’t: fall victim to focus-crushing temptations; we’re looking at you, Instagram Stories, online shopping, and lurking laundry basket. Save the “fun stuff” for your lunch break (which you should absolutely still take).
Do: find a new podcast to keep you company during periods of solo work between team calls and video conferences.
The Dos and Don'ts of Creating Your Workspace
Don’t: give yourself too many work-from-bed days. In our experience, lounging on the couch with Friends re-runs playing in the background is not doing you any favors.
Do: invest in a new office chair! Your workflow, and your posture, will thank you. Win, win!
6. HONOR YOUR STOP TIME
One of the unexpected struggles of working from home is knowing when to stop. Make sure your day ends when it’s supposed to end. In our experience, 6pm can easily turn into 7…8…9pm. (Whoops!) Honor your hours, because right now, burnout won’t benefit anyone.
From Our Team
We send support and hugs to those who are navigating new routines. Change can be frustrating and scary, but now is the time for us to dig deep, work together, and power through.
We send gratitude to those on the front lines who don’t have the privilege to stay home right now: healthcare professionals, transit workers, emergency responders, government employees, and so many more.
CALLING ALL REMOTE SUPERSTARS
Have a few of your own tricks? Fill out the form below with your best tips for successful telecommuting and help us make sure that WFH can work for every woman. #MyLifeInMaggy means always showing up for each other.