After working from home since mid-March, many professionals probably feel like seasoned pros by now. But with schools officially out and summer kicking off in earnest, a friendly reminder about effectively working remote may be in order.
If you thought working at home while your kids tried to attend school virtually was tough, try doing so during the summer when many summer camps and activities are canceled, public pools, museums, zoos, and other attractions are closed, and many kids will give their parents major side eye at the mere suggestion to “go to play outside and don’t come back home until dinner.” Almost makes you long for the bygone days of haphazard online classes again.
Under normal circumstances, working from home during the summer can be difficult, but 2020 has already proven so far to be far from normal. With that said, here are seven best practices for working remotely this summer.
1. Stick to a schedule (as much as possible)
One of the biggest keys to working remotely is to maintain a regular schedule, as close to your normal work hours as possible, recommends Jim Jeffers, metro market manager of staffing firm Robert Half in Madison. But that’s a lot more difficult over the summer when the kids are bored and the lure of sunny day beckons. So, make that schedule work for you. That may mean going to bed early so you can wake up before everyone else at the house and get a few hours of uninterrupted work in. Or, set clear expectations with your family and co-workers that you’ll be working until noon each day, but then taking the afternoon off for some quality family time before resuming work for several hours in the evening.
2. Limit distractions
Distractions are inevitable whether you’re working from home or the office. While some workers have found working remotely presents fewer distractions, it’s not like they go away altogether. It might be tempting to work from the kitchen table, in front of the TV, or from the patio, but while a change of scenery is a good idea every now and then, it’s important to have a dedicated space in your house for doing your work. By separating your workspace from your family space, you can create a better work-life balance.
3. Take regular breaks
With that said about limiting distractions, it’s important to step away from your work periodically to recharge. And let’s face it, you can only tell your kids “no” so many times when they ask you to join in their games. Take 15 minute breaks to get in some quick meditation or stretching, check in with a friend or family member, or go for a walk to get some fresh air to re-center yourself, advises Jeffers. Or just take a quick dip in the pool and splash around for a bit like a kid again. Doing so can help you return to your professional duties refreshed and refocused.
4. Keep up appearances
We get it. #FormalFriday aside, work-from-home attire is going to lean more toward casual than business. Not to mention, it’s tank top and flip-flops season. However, don’t let yourself become the work-from-home cliche of someone who’s stopped grooming and wears pajamas all day. Keeping your normal morning routine of showering and changing into clean clothes, if not “work” clothes, can put you in the right mindset to get down to business, notes Jeffers.
5. Have a positive mindset
At some point, the stress levels will mount and frustrations will boil over and you’ll feel like you’re about to lose it. That’s normal. That’s OK. But staying positive most of the time will be key to helping you survive the summer months. Take advantage of those opportunities for breaks mentioned above and make sure to laugh a little. A pandemic isn’t something any of us wanted to happen, but it won’t last forever, even if it sometimes feels like it already has. The new normal already feels pretty normal, which goes to show how quickly we can adjust to just about any situation. You got this.
6. Communicate early and often
If you and your co-workers are continuing to work remotely this summer, communication will be key more than ever. Especially as employees alter their working hours to better accommodate having time with their kids during long summer days, keeping your co-workers apprised of your schedule and progress on joint tasks is imperative. Take advantage of every means of communication at your disposal, including phone calls, video calls, and group chats, says Jeffers, to let your team know where you are and what you’re up to.
7. Embrace the adventure
When all else fails, remember what it was like to be a kid on summer break. At the beginning, the summer seemed endless. Every day was a new adventure and you probably did stay out all day until it was time to come home for dinner. And when summer was almost over, you and your friends probably made those daily adventures count even more. When the pandemic eventually ends, even if you don’t return to the office full time, things won’t be like they are today. This is an adventure in seeing what we’re all capable of, and so far it’s been pretty incredible. Just think what tomorrow may hold!
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