You've heard about eating a good breakfast, making sure your tech works before joining an important online meeting, and making time to stretch and stay active while working remotely. Now, as we’ve entered another month of staying at home to slow the spread of the coronavirus, it's time to take things up a notch. In between continuing to serve our clients and staying busy, the PR Return team put our heads together to provide you with these can’t-miss work from home (WFH) tips:
1) Are those tears of despair or hope? No matter, just remember to drink water to keep hydrated and replenish your supply.
2) Miss chatting with your coworkers around the office? Read instant messages from your co-workers out loud in your best imitation of them. It makes you feel like you're having a real conversation with them!
3) For some people, it helps to dress up to maintain a sense of normalcy, but you’re not one of those people! Instead, compromise by pairing your favorite collared shirt with your favorite pair of sweatpants for all your Zoom calls.
4) Since you're going to spend 8-10 hours a day there, make your office or home workspace your own. Deck out your desk with plants, pictures and pets!
5) Though you're likely sleeping in a little later, don't underestimate the continued importance of caffeine. Equally importantly, don’t overestimate your skills as a barista by trying anything too fancy!
6) To help get in the zone, listen to your favorite music or white noise while working, but within reason. It's really hard to edit while listening to thrash metal, so be sure to hit pause when you need to focus on commas.
Now, from the PR Return team, here are our WFH superlatives, some of our lockdown favorites:
Addie
Favorite song: “Gaslighter,” by Dixie Chicks
Favorite snack: Apples and Trader Joe’s white cheddar corn puffs
Best part: Working in sweats
Worst part: Not getting to see friends and loved ones (co-workers included)
Biggest surprise: I’m working out more often since before the lockdown began – for the sake of my mental health and to balance out frequent snacking!
Parting advice: Be extra kind and patient during this time – with yourself and others!
Kraig
Favorite song: Miley Cyrus’s fireside cover of “Wish you were Here,” by Pink Floyd on SNL at Home
Favorite snack: Mixed nuts, chocolate covered almonds
Best part: No commute (extra time)
Worst part: No commute (missing my bike)
Biggest surprise: A tie – (1) We have restarted our family blog after a 3+ year hiatus – Smituccis.com and (2) all the amazing streaming musical performances we’ve been enjoying
Parting advice: Compartmentalize or schedule your distractions so they don’t overtake you!
Nick
Favorite song: “Boom Boom” by John Lee Hooker
Favorite snack: Popcorn
Best part: Being home when packages arrive so nobody wanders off with them
Worst part: Extremely long conference calls – 2 hours is
doable; more than that gets iffy
Biggest surprise: How cool a lot of people’s home offices are!
Parting advice: Don’t forget about your car – make sure to drive it at least 20 minutes once a week to keep it in good working order
Paul
Favorite song: Lately, anything by Supertramp
Favorite snack: Peanut M&Ms
Best part: Walking my dog multiple times during the day
Worst part: Missing Starbucks
Biggest surprise: Competing with my wife and daughter for the best Zoom background shot in the house
Parting advice: Don’t wait until your work environment is perfect (dishes washed, bed made, etc.) to start work. Open the computer and get going with that first cup of coffee. Fit everything else in during short breaks.
Victoria
Favorite song: “Good as Hell” by Lizzo
Favorite snack: Smoothies and assorted Trader Joe’s snacks
Best part: Frequent worktime visits from my cats
Worst part: Not getting to see my coworkers in person
Biggest surprise: I’m drinking the same amount of coffee and tea
Parting advice: If you have ever considered making cold brew at home, there’s no time like the present!
Do you have a great work from home tip? Share it with us!