WFH: The guide

602 words

Like most people over the last couple of years working from home has been at least part of their work life, not their entire work life. I can still count on my hands the number of days I've actually spent in an office since COVID, so I thought it might be fun to go through what's worked for me, and what hasn't.

1. Have something to play with before work

I'm not saying you need to get a dog or buy a bunch of LEGO (although they would both be great options) but have something completely unrelated to work that you can focus on for a bit each day. It can be something you'd do normally but finessed a bit.

I have a coffee machine, and I try to make the best coffee, choosing different kinds of milk and coffee. I'm not taking notes, but it's fun to see what works and what doesn't. Also, it's nice to spend a bit of time making something nice for myself and ease into the morning, I'm going to be making one anyway, right?

Image credit: "Cappuccino at Sightglass Coffee in San Francisco", Jonathan McIntosh, 2014 CC-BY

Sometimes it's the little things

Your thing can be anything you like, you don't have to spend much time doing it, just something to get you ready for the day.

2. Make the most of lunchtime

When it's time to eat I like to watch something with my girlfriend and eat something warm. We normally cook enough for 2 meals so we don't have to spend all of lunchtime making food and washing up. It's nice and quick to just cook some rice/pasta and have it with leftovers.

Sometimes it's good to walk in the park and see some dogs and squirrels and have a think about things. Sometimes I'll go to a cafe or go skating and hit the deck a couple of times. The point is, it's hard to work for 8 hours straight without a break. Make time to do something fun, don't just do housework unless you find it really satisfying.

3. Don't stay inside all day

This can tie in with lunchtime but honestly needs to be said. My mood is influenced by the weather, and going out for a stroll in the sun does wonders. I manage to spend a bit of time outside anyway walking to and from the gym.

...going out for a stroll in the sun does wonders...

When you're out and about you see things you wouldn't otherwise, especially in somewhere like Brighton, where there's always something going on. I don't advocate for letting FOMO take over your life but a healthy curiosity in the area you live in is always nice.

Image credit: Ashley Oldershaw, "Brighton West Pier on a Sunny Day", 2022

When this is a 10 minute walk away you kind of have to go every now and then

4. When work stops, stop working

I was so guilty of this at one point. When your home is your work it's easy to keep going if you're having fun or have something semi-urgent to do, but honestly, it doesn't work for everyone. Burnout is a real thing and I know from experience that being able to consistently work is better than being fast and then slow constantly.

Luckily I work for a company that is really good at dealing with boundaries and trusts me to get the job done (which I do), and that culture is something I can reinforce with the rest of the team.

5. Keep in touch!

I've worked in offices and I've worked remotely, both have their pros and cons but the biggest con is the lack of interaction - unless you make it happen. I am always available for the rest of the team if they want to go through a problem or get me to show them how to do something. I also like talking to stakeholders and sharing information about new features if I know it's something that's going to make their life easier. Most people are happy to chat, it's a matter of reaching out.