If your business, employment or education has unexpectedly and suddenly transitioned online, you may be experiencing some difficulty adjusting to a new routine and daily workflow. Don’t worry — it’s totally reasonable to be feeling overwhelmed. That’s why we’re here to lend a hand! As virtual assistants, we’re no strangers to the working from home lifestyle. We would love to share some insight on how to stay productive, keep a healthy work-life balance and, most importantly, feel fulfilled and confident along the way.
Organization
An all-important first step in navigating a new work-from-home schedule is getting organized. The specifics of this will depend on your situation. If you’re a business owner, you’ll likely need extensive task tracking tools. If you’re an employee, you’ll likely need to download certain software. Lastly, if you’re a student, your academic planner will probably benefit from an extensive upgrade. No matter what your circumstances, you should consider the following.
Daily Routine
Plan a repeating daily routine for yourself, and try to stick to it. You might expect this routine to look a lot different from your in-person routine. The truth is, it shouldn’t. As much as you may want to complete your work from bed, the difference in clarity you’ll have if you get up, shower, drink a morning beverage and arrange yourself at a table or desk before getting started is not to be taken lightly. Make sure that when you set your routine, you think about your boundaries. Set a time when you’ll be “Done for the day,” and stick to it.
Online Meeting Tools
Download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, Google Hangouts, and any other meeting tools that are being implemented in your workflow. Familiarize yourself with them to the best of your abilities. You can also use these platforms after work for other activities. You can meet with friends for book clubs, cocktail hour, yoga classes or whatever else you’d like to collaborate on.
Online Organizing Tools
Create an account with an online tool like Asana or Trello, and a time tracking tool like Harvest if needed. Keeping track of all of your upcoming responsibilities is a great way to relieve stress about new systems and tasks that you’re learning how to navigate. Plus, you’ll feel great about being able to check tasks off your list and see a visual of the time you’ve spent at work.
Tidy Workspace
Make sure your work environment is tidy and full of all the things you need to best complete your tasks. Do you have an upcoming Zoom meeting? Toss your blazer on the back of your chair. Will you be taking notes? Keep your notebook and pen handy. The more you have within arm’s reach, the less time you’ll spend interrupting your workflow to go find something you need.
Work-Life Balance
Take Breaks
As part of your daily routine, plan regular breaks. These can be for things like snacks, a walk with your dog, a quick phone call, a five-minute meditation or a household chore. Be sure to limit these breaks to about 20 minutes, and define what they will be before you start your day. You want to give yourself space to breathe, but you don’t want to encourage complete distraction.
Eat, Sleep, and Get Moving
Working from home all of a sudden is likely a bit overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to retain as much of your usual routine as you can. Things like keeping regular sleeping hours and eating well are vital. If you don’t typically exercise, but you are used to leaving your house for the day, you might benefit from a daily walk. If you do exercise regularly but that part of your routine has been altered, consider virtual exercise classes and build those into your daily routine.
General Tips
Maintain A Cheerful Environment
Light a candle, open a window, put on your favorite music, move your dog’s bed or your favorite wall art near your desk area. Making these little changes can allow you to feel both the comfort of home and the energy boost of the office.
Remember: It’s Ok to Feel Overwhelmed
Working from home can be difficult. New challenges may arise, and the transition may not always be straightforward. Remember that communication is key. Whether you need to email your boss, coworkers or instructor with your concerns, take a break or try new solutions. Be gentle with yourself as you learn what works best for you.
Did Your Business Just Transition to Online-Only?
If you’re scrambling to keep yourself in business and have taken the step to move all of your operations and marketing online, let us offer more than tips and tricks. Allow us to collaborate on any task that has you feeling overwhelmed! As a business owner these days, delegation is the difference between burnout and sustained success, and we are more than happy to be here with you on your journey. We can help put together your website, reframe your social media marketing or anything else you can think of that can be accomplished remotely! Reach out today!
