Tyler’s Take: Working From Home
Hey Folks,
I’ve been helping to flatten the curve by working from home for the past month. Working remotely, like everything, has advantages and disadvantages, and over the past few weeks, I’ve gotten some insight on what works best for me. Have a look and please respond with your thoughts to tylerw@rvssystems.com!
Designate A Workspace
I live in a 450 Sq Ft studio apartment with Kelly, my wife. We are both working from home right now, and it’s been tricky in such a tight space. Designated workspaces for our computer and notebooks help create a difference between our work and home lives. Having a work corner helps me turn “on” at the beginning of the day and turn “off” when work is over. Finding a workspace with lots of natural light was key, as I’m not spending my usual time outdoors commuting from New Jersey to Brooklyn.
Communicate, Communicate, Then Communicate
A big change with remote work is the method of communication. I’m not sitting next to my boss in the office right now, but still need to maintain communication. We use Google messaging, email, and Trello on the marketing team, but I find screen shared video chats particularly helpful for project check ins. This cuts down on miscommunication and mitigates the social isolation that can come from remote work. Every morning Kelly and I discuss our respective call schedules. Sometimes we have calls at the same time and that’s when it gets interesting.
Improvise + Compromise
When Kelly and I have calls simultaneously, we move to opposite sides of the apartment and talk quietly. This is one of the only times our apartment feels small. Our living /kitchen area is conference Room A and our bedroom/closet area is Conference Room B. Please check the sign in sheet and be sure to mute your microphone when you’re not speaking. Our marketing team is currently shooting videos away from our office studio. You’ll soon be seeing more of my freshly shaven face and flowing hair in videos shot by Kelly.
A big part of working from home is being creative and improvising to get the job done. Kelly and I have slightly different work hours (she starts and ends an hour earlier), so we know not to distract each other during the overlap. I’m very chatty, so I make it a point to keep to myself if she’s working and I’m not. I won’t watch TV while Kelly is working , but doing dishes or running the washing machine is fine if she’s not on a call.
Change Clothes (Or Don’t)
While it’s always tempting to work in pajamas, changing clothes helps me get into work mode, to draw the line between being at work and being home. Putting on an outfit that I would wear to the office Working from home doesn’t mean no one will see you, video meetings are probably in your future. Everyone is different, and if you feel more confident or productive in your PJs, why not? Find what works for you.
Keep A Routine
Though I’m not currently commuting from New Jersey to Brooklyn, that doesn’t mean I’m skipping my morning routine. I get up, shower, brew coffee, make breakfast. The only difference is that when I'm ready to start working I walk to my desk instead of the PATH train stop. More time in the morning can mean making eggs for breakfast instead of just grabbing a yogurt on the go. I also try to spend a bit of time outside before I start my workday. I usually take a few laps around the outside loop of the apartment complex. Spending time outside, even a small amount, is something I highly value and recommend if you can do so safely.
Distraction
Distraction can be a big challenge when working from home. Whether it’s the pile of dirty dishes sitting in the sink, or a news website with COVID-19 updates, distraction is all around while working remotely. check news updates before work and after work. When I was working in the office, I listened to music to help me focus. I do the same thing at home.
So, that’s a peek into how I’m working from home. Bottom line is, I’m incredibly thankful to still have a job and am grateful to all those helping to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including firefighters, truckers, paramedics, nurses, doctors, grocers, pharmacists, sanitation workers, postal workers, and educators.
Stay Safe, my friends.
