Working Remotely

Here’s how one of our remote workers summed it up:

“Ten years ago, when it became evident I’d be working from home, I had an uh-oh moment.

Where do I start? How do I do this?

There is no manual, nor is there a boss or any colleagues physically present. There’s no tech team or custodial staff down the hall and no closet brimming with office supplies. Even if there was, there’s nobody designated to change the ink when the printer runs dry. What to do? What to do?

Then I had an aha moment. You will too.”

All of you who have suddenly found yourselves in the unknown territory of working from home – and under extraordinarily trying circumstances – likely could use a few tips. Never fear. Here at LLS, we have a deep bench of remote workers who have stepped up to the plate to share the tools and tricks they’ve adopted to stay disciplined and productive in a home environment.

Space Oddity

Art by Callie Sadler, age 6

Set up a "real" work space, even if it’s just the dining room table. Working from the couch, while it sounds attractive, is more likely to invite distractions from family. It also gives you the sense that you are always working, since the computer is right there beside you on the couch
Have a work space that allows you to close the door.
When we have meetings, I simply shut the door. Everyone in my house knows that means a meeting is in progress and to stay out; even the little ones honor that because of the established schedule.
To make my work space feel good, I love to have relaxing music, mantra or even tracks of wind chimes, playing low in the background.
Sitting near a window or in a space with good natural light is great to keep you alert and your mood high.
Natural light is best, but I have a sunlamp by my computer, so the light shines on me and not the computer screen to avoid glares
I have Post-It Notes with quotes I really love and find inspiring, along with photos and artwork that I enjoy.
Have a workstation set up that stays in a particular location. This way, you are working when you are there, but can walk away when work is completed.
Have a designated work space with only the equipment you need for work to avoid distractors.

Time After Time

Art by Greyson Book , age 7

Get up and get “ready” for the day before work. It can be tempting to stay in pajamas all day, and while I certainly don’t get dressed in business attire, I do have a morning routine rather than just rolling out of bed at 7:55 and immediately starting work.
Wake up at normal time, shower and get ready for work.
Get your A-game on – whatever that looks like; for me that means sharp outfit, hair, makeup, and morning meditation.
I’ve been working from home for five years now and the thing that works best for me is to work for an hour, then take care of a chore, and repeat. I am part-time so I understand the timing may need to be different for a full-timer in order to not get behind on work.
Set small measurable goals for bigger tasks.
Create a schedule that is similar to a schedule you have at the office.
Get ready for the day. Put on real clothes, do hair and a little makeup. It truly is the difference between a good day and a bad one sometimes.
Make a list of things to accomplish for the day. Sounds simple enough, but it feels good to cross items off and stay on task.
I have always sat down at the close of the work day and created a list of tasks to be done the next day. I prioritize them in order of importance, time sensitivity, scheduled meetings, etc. This helps me stay focused as those emails begin to fly in during the day!
Go to bed and wake up around the same time that you normally would (or sleep in no later than the amount of time it would take you to drive to the office).
Stick to your same routine – eat breakfast, let your dog out, feed your pets, brush your teeth, etc.
Close your computer at the end of the business day.

I Will Survive

Art by Trey Book, age 11

Placing your phone on vibrate and upside down, or away from you, is my biggest suggestion. It is so easy to get distracted. Especially in today’s world where everything seems so fluid, and we want to know what the heck is happening.
I open the doors and windows once a week for at least 20 minutes to get fresh air in the house, even during the winter.
Coffee is definitely king in the morning or even all day. I recommend grinding your own (you can get a nice, reasonably priced burr grinder and consider joining a monthly coffee club for freshly roasted beans.)
Work on creative tasks and ones that require concentration (like writing curriculum or assessments) first thing in the morning -- without checking on email. Instead, check and respond to emails hourly or when you’re done with important tasks.
Allow yourself flex time while you get used to this new normal. There are days that I take a longer lunch and work later or work after my kids are in bed.
If I am in a meeting or focused on finishing up a task I place my headset on (sometimes with music) and then others in the house know they are not to walk in the room and talk to me. When I remove the headset, they know they can talk to me.
My eye doctor recommended the 20/20/20 approach to help my vision from getting blurry: every 20 minutes, look 20 yards away, for 20 seconds.
Dress down. Take advantage of social distancing and make yourself at home, because you literally are at home! Wear yoga pants, sweats, your favorite T or hoodie…be comfortable.
In times like this, especially, we want to keep up on the news, but it’s best to take a break and watch the noon news rather than thinking you can watch and work.
Take the computer outside on nice days, maybe even overcast, while the kids run the yard.

Get on Up

Art by Charleigh Book, age 10

Give yourself short breaks where you can get up and stretch and move around.
I do yoga on my lunch break or walk/run my dogs. It helps me focus, and again makes me feel productive which makes me feel good about myself.
Move at some point, preferably first thing in the morning. This is often the difference between a good day and a bad one.
It can be very easy to stay at your computer for long periods of time, so it is a good idea to get up once or twice an hour and walk around, do push-ups, squats, yoga poses, etc.
Give your eyes a break from the screen and get your body active. It makes it way easier to be productive when you aren’t a slug in the same place all day.
My primary tool to redirect focus is mediation….love it, love it, love it!
Use breaks to walk, exercise or stretch! (YouTube has tons of free workouts like yoga and step aerobics.)
I joke that I am my own custodial staff, so when I need to stretch my legs, I’ll do something like empty the trash from my office or vacuum.
Walking my dog makes me feel great, because I’m out getting fresh air and exercise and she is too!

Art by Dionizy Dudkiewicz, age 10

Working Remotely

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