If one thing is certain, is that the new COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic is not only impacting the way we approach one another but, for many of us, how we carry out our daily work.
For many business writers, especially those who freelance, working from home is a normal way of life. But for countless others, working from the comfort of your sofa, kitchen table or bed, is something you only do when waiting for the cable company, if at all.
As someone who has worked from home on a part-time basis, and now full-time due to COVID-19, I found the transition easy even with my children doing virtual learning. However, some of my colleagues are finding this transition a bit challenging. In this blog, I share five tips on how to become a productive "work-from-home" business writer, starting today.
The Five Tips
Make sure you have the essentials.
Establish a consistent routine.
Reach out to your team and communicate.
Avoid unnecessary home distractions.
Schedule some movement time and health breaks.
Tip No. 1: Make Sure You Have the Essentials
Beyond a computer, high-speed internet and Wi-Fi signal, you might need a printer, scanner, chair with back support, and a desk or table that is the appropriate height for you. Luckily, there are free apps you can download on your smartphone that enable you to "scan" (or photograph) individual pages and email them as one PDF. While having a printer or scanner may not be essential, having the right chair and appropriate-height surface on which to rest your monitor (or laptop), keyboard and mouse are a must if you traditionally sit for long periods of time and want to avoid injuring your back or neck.
You might also need office supplies if you’ve never worked from home or haven’t done so in a while. Although it’s easy to take notes on your computer, some prefer to use paper and pen (or pencil) during meetings. Ensuring you have access to some of the same office supplies at home will help you stay organized and feel at ease.
An additional factor to consider is testing different work areas around your home if you are using a wireless router, to ensure it has the proper reach. I learned this the hard way during the middle of a highly urgent conference call not too long ago. Throughout the call, I kept getting an intermittent Wi-Fi signal and was unable to share work files with the team. I later realized it had to do with the reach of my router signal. Once I changed the location of my home office to be closer to the router, the problem was fixed.
Tip No. 2: Establish a Consistent Work From Home Routine
Working from home should not be any different than working out of the office. If anything, it should be more relaxing because you don’t have to worry about your daily commute or the extra time to get ready in the morning.
I find that when working from home, it’s best to establish a consistent routine, similar to when going to the office, to help me stay on track. For example, if you shower in the mornings before going to work, followed by eating breakfast and getting dressed before heading out the door, follow the same routine as before. Keeping a consistent schedule will help your brain and body adjust better to your new work situation.
However, don’t be afraid to adjust your daily routine to meet your current needs. Many working parents are now having to both homeschool their children and meet their work demands. Adjusting your work from home schedule will help you stay sane by carving out time to perform essential daily tasks.
If your work allows, establish specific timeslots for meetings, completing writing assignments, preparing food for the little ones and getting ready for the next work day. Then, share your schedule with your manager and co-workers so that they understand your available hours for meetings and other collaborative endeavors.
Establishing a consistent routine and avoiding distractions will help you work from home more effectively. Photo by Charles Deluvio via Unsplash
Tip No. 3: Reach out to Your Team and Communicate
For those who get their best ideas when collaborating with others, working from home might feel highly isolating, especially now when social distancing is vital to everyone’s welfare. Luckily, there are many collaboration tools you can leverage to stay in close contact with your peers. In addition to using tools like Skype, Slack or Microsoft Teams, you can schedule Facetime or Google Duo video conference calls. All of these tools enable you to not only reach out to others but have face time with your co-workers, managers and even clients.
If your editorial team typically engages in ad-hoc meetings, now would be the perfect time to set up regular daily touch bases to talk about different writing projects and exchange ideas and creative solutions. If you are a manager, don’t forget to continue your regular meetings with your employees or establish a weekly (or maybe daily) touch-base to keep your direct reports engaged and provide any needed support.
Tip No. 4: Avoid Unnecessary Home Distractions
The top complaint I hear from peers and even direct reports who work from home is how easily distracted they become. Laundry, vacuuming and even taking care of your pet are distractions you typically don’t have when you’re working in a business setting. And now that we are to maintain our social distance from our neighbors, those pesky house chores are staring right at us.
To counteract the urge to be distracted, stick to your schedule (see tip No. 1). In addition, treat working from home, the same way you treat working at the office. Therefore, if laundry times are from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, stick to this cadence. If yard work typically occurs every other Saturday morning, ignore the urge to mow the lawn on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. The key is to maintain your daily schedule at home as you would during the week or to commit to your new schedule early on. Doing so will help you have a productive workday while maintaining your emotional wellbeing at the same time.
Taking breaks and staying active will help your mind and body stay healthy and enhance your productivity. Photo by Jeffrey Wegrzyn via Unsplash
Tip No. 5: Schedule Some Movement Time and Health Breaks
Now that you’ve established (and committed to your daily routine), have carved out your new office space, took inventory of all the essentials you need and know how to counteract any distractions, don’t forget to schedule time for breaks. Doing so is imperative to your health.
Many people who work from home (including yours truly) find it difficult to break away from the computer unless there’s a reason for doing so, such as taking a bio-break or eating. While for some, working from home is highly productive, this reward comes with a considerable price tag — lack of movement.
We all know the many benefits of staying healthy and engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day. However, carving out time to stay active might be more difficult when working from home due to the pressure (real or imagined) to always be available. As a result, it is important to schedule time to take breaks, stretch and even step outside for some fresh air and vitamin D.
In Short
There is no lack of advice on how to work from home effectively. And the tips shared above work for all kinds of work from home scenarios — whether you do so every day or occasionally. The important thing to remember is to establish a routine that works for you based on your current demands and responsibilities. Doing so will ensure you can reap the many benefits of working from home and become not just a more productive business writer and editorial manager, but a more well-balanced person in the process.
Additional Resources
Below are recommended articles with great tips on working from home more effectively:
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