What You Need to Know Before You Start Working from Home for the First Time

Whether by choice or necessity, you’re considering working from home: WELCOME! Those of us already living the laptop lifestyle have a few things to share – stuff we probably learned the hard way when making the transition ourselves – and we’d love to make this as smooth as possible for you.

What You Need to Know Before You Start Working from Home

What are your employer’s expectations?

I own a social media marketing agency, so I am my own boss. But those of you temporarily transitioning to working from home as part of a social distancing measure or in order to care for you children during an extended break from school are in a different boat. Before you start dreaming about sleeping until 10 and pants-optional work couture, get on the same page as your employer:

  • Are you expected to work your regular hours or is your schedule flexible as long as the work gets done?
  • Will there be scheduled daily meetings or progress reports?
  • Will you need to quickly gain proficiency with new tools like Trello, Zoom, or Slack to stay in step with your team?
  • Will they provide the necessary equipment you need (i.e. laptop, headset, service subscriptions, etc.)? 
  • How long is this arrangement expected to last?

Get into a routine – now.

Creating a color-coded, minute-by-minute schedule is setting yourself up for failure (your kids, too, if that’s an added variable you have to work around). Trust me, I work from home and homeschool – what you’re going to need is a flexible routine.

  • If your work day needs to start at the same time it did when you were on-site, then give yourself a little extra cushion to enjoy your coffee, work out, or sleep in during what would have normally been your commute. Avoid workaholism – and that means starting too early! Just because you can start at 6am doesn’t mean you should…unless that schedule works better for your family and other obligations you have.
  • If your schedule is a little more flexible, aim to work during your most productive times of day or try the “pocket” method: I do not sit down at my desk and work for 8 hours straight. I prioritize my tasks and deadlines for the week, leaving room for other “stuff” that pops up unexpectedly. I sneak in an hour of work before we start school at 8, and then wait until we are done with school  (around 11) to do the rest. I typically pick back up at lunch time and work for 2-4 more hours, pausing to break up fights or redirect my kids. If needed, I can squeak in another hour after bedtime or on the weekend my husband is home. This allows maximum flexibility for doctors appointments, extracurricular activities, in-person meetings and visits to grandma’s house.
  • Don’t forget to take brain breaks, stretching/walking breaks, and a lunch break! Not only will they help you from getting cabin fever, but they also help to boost your productivity!

Create A Designated Work Space

If your situation is temporary, you don’t need a full office. The dining room table, kitchen bar, or even the couch will do. But in order to do your best work, be mindful of high-traffic areas where the kids and animals spend a lot of time. 

  • If you have a lot of paperwork and equipment that needs to remain undisturbed, it’s best to find a private spot and instruct everyone to steer clear. In this situation, a corner desk or a room with a door that can be closed is ideal.
  • If your work requires heavy internet use and your kids are going to be streaming Netflix and playing XBOX, your speed is going to suffer. Troubleshoot by sitting close to your Wi-Fi router or upgrading to gigabit fiber.
  • Stay hydrated. Without a traditional watercooler & all the gossip that comes with it, you might forget to get up and get a drink. Yes, YOU, a smart, responsible adult! Keep a giant water bottle on your desk and aim to drink 2 bottles per day.

Try to minimize distractions.

If you’re home with kids and pets – I’m sorry – it is what it is. Don’t expect to be able to work straight through your designated “work time” without interruption. But here are some tips for making the best of it:

  • If you can get childcare, even just once or twice a week, do it. This will take the pressure off the rest of the time that you are acting as primary caregiver and an employee simultaneously during the rest of the week. College students and restaurant servers are two groups facing unprecedented “downtime” right now – if you know one, ask for their help!
  • If you don’t have childcare, make a plan for keeping your kids entertained. This is likely a change for all of you. Little ones won’t understand why they don’t have your undivided attention, and older ones (if their school has closed) are used to a different structure and more social interaction. Ultimately, the name of the game is flexibility, no matter your kids’ ages.
  • Don’t fall down the social media rabbit hole. If you need help understanding just how much time you spend on the soc medes, there are apps that track it. You’ll probably be surprised! If it’s just too tempting, remove social media apps from your phone while you’re working from home (unless you’re working in social media – then you need extra self-discipline) or set limits as to when you can hop on (i.e. only during lunch, only after the kids are in bed, etc.).
  • Invest in noise-cancelling headphones. If you’re the type that cannot tune out the sounds of home life while you work, these might be a necessity.
  • If you MUST have a phone or video call, set the kids up with tablets, snacks, and a drink in another room. It’s your best chance for mitigating interruptions and uninvited whining while you’re trying to stay professional.
  • Steer clear of household triggers. Of course, part of the benefit of working from home is being able to do a load of laundry or dishes during the day without much inconvenience. But don’t let the daily build-up of messes, dishes, and kids activities take over your work time. In our house it works best to “clean as we go”, not allowing piles to grow…but that’s not always possible. Learn to tune out the mess while you have to work, and then institute a Family Clean-Up Time before the kids go to bed.

Don’t forget your friends.

One of the hardest aspects of transitioning to working from home is the loss of human social interaction. The coffee breaks, the lunches, the eyerolls you share with your Work BFF – gone. It’s going to take more of an effort to feel connected – especially if you’re working from home due to social distancing or quarantine.

  • My team stays in constant contact via a text thread, a private Instagram group, and Marco Polo. It is usually only 25% work-related, which is exactly what we need to keep our relationships healthy!
  • If your co-workers are also working from home with kids, try a mid-day meet-up at the park or a nature center.
  • Zoom isn’t just for meetings – Use it to host a virtual cocktail hour or book club after the kids are in bed. It’s not exactly the same as Happy Hour, but it gets the job done in a pinch. 
  • Check on your people, and tell them you love them. Facetime, Zoom, and call your non-work friends and family regularly. Offer to order groceries online for your parents who are less technically savvy or take them to doctor appointments since your schedule is a little more flexible these days. Make special time to be with your kids, too – just because you work from home doesn’t mean you’re 100% available to them. They need to know they’re still your top priority.
Erin Bartel
Erin is a marketing consultant in Wichita KS. She spends her days helping local businesses and non-profits navigate the ever-changing waters of digital marketing and homeschooling her kids. She and her daughter also own Sassy Squid Ink, an imprint designing notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of 2, Erin's hobbies include bribing herself to exercise, traveling with (and without) her family, and trying to remember where she hid the chocolate.