The Blank Label Working From Home Guide
Across the United States, and the world, people are changing their daily lives and habits to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. One measure that’s been adopted by millions is the sudden shift to working from home—or as everyone is calling it these days, “WFH.”
Few workers may miss their daily commute, but the cold turkey-transition from working in an office to working in your living room presents its own challenges. If the change has you feeling out-of-place or unfocused, don’t sweat it. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite WFH strategies below.
Change out of your pajamas
As a company that sells custom shirts and suits, we’ll admit to being a little biased on this question. However, we don’t think it’s necessary for you to pull on a suit and tie each day at home (but if you want to, by all means go for it). What we do think is important is changing from your sleep or lounge wear into day-wear, whether that means a button-down shirt and chinos or denim and a tee. Doing so may help you ease into “work mode” mentally, even if the day’s commute is from bed to couch.
Maintain a schedule
Just as dressing for the day can prove a potent mental motivator, sticking to a daily schedule can greatly help with focus and accomplishing tasks. Rather than sleeping in, set your alarm for the same time each morning. If cutting out your commute affords you more time in the a.m., you can use it to exercise, cook breakfast, or spend a little more time with your loved ones before work begins. It may also help to break for lunch at the same time each day, and work until the conclusion of your normal hours.
Establish a workplace
You may not have had a home office before—but you have one now. Which doesn’t mean you have to order a desk and a swivel chair; instead, try to carve out a single place at home where you know you can sit comfortably and work outside of clutter and other distractions. It could be a seat at the kitchen table, a favorite armchair, or even a couple of thick cookbooks stacked on a kitchen counter to improvise a standing desk.
Set boundaries
If you happen to share your home with other people—significant others, children, roommates—let them know the hours of the day that you plan to set aside for work, and politely ask that they keep disturbances to a minimum during that time. And by sticking to that schedule, you’ll be able to spend more quality time with them once you clock out.
Clock in, clock out
Speaking of which, try your best to remain in work mode throughout the day until all of your tasks have been completed or it’s time to sign off. It’s tempting to sneak a Netflix show into the afternoon and shift your work until “later,” but as everyone knows the hardest part of any project is starting it. Having to continually restart your work day after fits and stops will cost precious time and drain your focus.
Go outside—safely
We just made the case for not interrupting your work day, but here’s one exception: go outside (so long as you maintain social distancing, and are permitted to do so in your locality). Whether you’re feeling anxious from your work, the news, or being cooped up inside, taking a quick walk around the block can do wonders for energy and focus.
