What Works for Me While Working From Home
Living in uncertainty and working from home is the new normal for most of us. We find ourselves working from home in the role of an employee, manager, home-school teacher, or student, dealing with anxiety about the new unsettled and unknown days ahead. If you feel stressed, you are not alone. We all are doing our best to navigate this uncharted time.
In the past few years, working from home has been the norm for me. I have had the opportunity to work from home to complete my current PhD program as well as serve as an online adjunct instructor. So, you might say, I am a bit of an expert on how to get work done while at home.
I would like to share four tips that have helped me work home with ease:
1. Create a schedule prioritizing the top 3-5 daily tasks from the most important to the least. Make sure your tasks are realistic and can be accomplished within that day. By doing so, you can minimize crises and endless tasks, focusing focus your attention on what is urgent and immediate. Grouping similar tasks can maximize your efforts. For example, if you need to make several calls, make them at a specific time to reduce interruptions. Or set aside a block of time to pay bills, complete your work, and run errands. Also, try to answer all your emails at a designated time, rather than sporadically as they each come through.
2. Do difficult tasks during your high-energy time. Complete tasks that are important first, when your energy level is at its peak and your concentration is highest. I would suggest assessing your energy level during the day to determine when your energy is at the highest so that you will know when to work on top-priority goals. You will discover, as you work at your highest level of energy, you are more alert and focused and you will typically feel more energized.
3. Multi-task when possible. If you are in a position that requires caring for others while working at home, you may find that certain tasks can be done simultaneously. For example, it may be ideal to use flashcards or listen to audio recordings as you cook dinner or while supervising children’s homework/playtime. You can preview reports, skim summaries, review definitions, brainstorm ideas, outline a paper, quiz yourself or explain a chapter and its concepts/terms out loud. Any work that requires deeper concentration should be saved for your time alone. Completing more than one task at a time can free up additional hours for self-care or relaxation later.
4. Finally, reward yourself. After you have accomplished enough tasks to motivate yourself and keep going, rewarding yourself can be beneficial. For example, if you finish tasks in advance, make sure to reward yourself by taking that spare time and use it for your leisure. Perhaps treat yourself to an extra healthy snack, read a few book chapters, or enjoy a privilege you normally would not indulge in.
Remember, during this unique time, the most important thing is your health and well-being. While these work-from-home approaches work for me, find ones that work best for you. Try different strategies until you find the right fit that can be used even after the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.
Author: Valamere Mikler MA, LSSYB, APA Leadership Development Fellow
For more tips on working from home from APA, see Psychologists’ advice for newly remote workers.