Invest in reliable office equipment

Any remote worker will tell you that access to consistent WiFi is integral to their success, but there’s more to a successful setup than an internet connection. Along with having the ability to take video calls without losing connection, you should consider what tools and tech you’ll need to do your job well.  Be sure you have a comfortable chair and a clear workspace.

Pretend like you are going into the office.

If your kids go to daycare, stay with the grandparents, etc.,  continue the same routine.  They won’t understand that you have a job to do and will want to play with you when you can’t.  Be sure to get dressed, eat breakfast, walk any pets, etc. the same way and time as you would if you were going into the office. Wear decent clothing. —no working in PJs or underwear.  You’ll maintain a more professional perception of your job and your tasks at hand.  Fast Company said this regarding how to dress: (https://www.fastcompany.com/3064295/what-happened-when-i-dressed-up-to-work-from-home-for-a-week)

Choose a dedicated workspace

Just because you’re not working at an office doesn’t mean you can’t have an office. Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the couch — spaces that are associated with leisure time — dedicate a specific place or surface in your home to work. Turn off any TVs, video games, and any other distractions.  Soft, background music is good, but everything else should be off.

Get started early

When working in an office, your morning commute can help you wake up and feel ready to work by the time you get to your desk. At home, however, the transition from your pillow to your computer can be much more jarring.

Believe it or not, one way to work from home productively is to dive into your to-do list as soon as you wake up. Simply getting a project started first thing in the morning can be the key to making progress on it gradually throughout the day. Otherwise, you’ll prolong breakfast and let the morning sluggishness wear away your motivation.

Sign into your computer and check your tech.  Make sure you can access the portals and websites that you use.  Check to make sure your headset is configured correctly for use with Dialpad, Teams and whatever applications you use.  (how to troubleshoot headset here).  You might even place a quick test call to your cell phone to confirm.  The last thing you want to do is troubleshoot these issues as a webinar is starting.

If you’re a manager, you want to continue your daily meetings with your staff as you usually would if you were in the office.  I recommend a standing Teams video call.  Video is more powerful than just an audio call.  People tend to be more focused and alert if they know others can see them, versus being on a phone call where people mute the call and answer email, get a drink of water, etc.

Avoid Distractions

Social media is designed to make it easy for you to open and browse quickly. At work, though, this convenience can be the detriment of your productivity.

To counteract your social networks’ ease of use during work hours, remove them from your browser shortcuts and sign out of every account.  

Plan out what you’ll be working on ahead of time

Spending time figuring out what you’ll do today can take away from actually doing those things.   Try solidifying your schedule the day before.  While it’s important to be flexible and let your agenda change if needed, it’s equally as important to commit to an agenda that outlines every assignment before you begin.

Use technology to stay connected

Working from home might help you focus on your work in the short term, it can also make you feel cut off the larger operation happening in the office.  If the office becomes distributed, be sure to stay connected via Teams, Dialpad, and regular phone calls throughout the day with your manager and co-workers.

Take clear breaks

You’ll likely be more productive working from home than you would normally be in the office due to having far less distractions at home.  It’s easy to get in a groove and go several hours without taking a break. 

Don’t let the guilt of working in the same building you sleep prevent you from taking five to relax. Rather than just opening YouTube and watching some comfort clips, however, use your breaks to get away from your desk. Go for a walk outside or spend time with others who might also be in the house.

Prepare your meals

Make sure that you have your food prepped for your breakfast and lunch.  Try to keep it simple. You might even cook your meals the night before so you can heat it up for lunch the following day.