As Natalie mentioned in a previous blog, Campfire has always been a company that allows employees to work remotely. Like many companies in the Seattle-area and around the world, all of our employees are working from home for the foreseeable future. Because this is such a formidable transition for workers everywhere, we’ve asked our staff for their tips and tricks on working effectively away from the office.
We would first like to note that we recognize Campfire is in a privileged position due to the nature of our industry and business in that working from home is an efficient and relatively smooth process. We appreciate and commend all essential workers for whom this isn’t possible such as healthcare workers, grocery and delivery, and many other important jobs.
Routine
“Don’t just roll out of bed and sit down at your desk or open your laptop. Maintain a routine as if you’re going into the office. Shower, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, exercise, etc.; then sit down to work at around the same time each day.”
“I've found that setting a schedule for childcare works well for us and I'm not shy about sharing with folks the hours I will or will not be available.”
Office Set Up
“Set up your space somewhere away from things you know will distract you (if possible), like working near the kitchen is a disaster for me.”
“Set up a workspace that’s separate from the rest of your home, that’s dedicated for work. This can help create a distinction between home life and work life. If you work in a common space it can feel like you’re always at work.”
“Don't skimp on ergonomics at home. Work from an actual desk. Use an actual office chair. Use a keyboard and mouse. Use an actual monitor. Don't just work from a couch bent over your laptop screen.”
“Having a solid desk set up with monitors and a comfy chair is a luxury but worth it if you often find yourself working from home.”
“Noise cancelling headphones can also help relieve the urge to glare at your spouse as they shout on conference calls or click incessantly or whatever your person's quirk may be.”
Taking Breaks
“When you complete something - take a break (get some sun). It refreshes you, so when you start the next task, you can stay in the groove longer.”
“Forced breaks to walk around to switch the laundry or make lunch instead of the usual getting up to make a coffee or catch up with a coworker for a few minutes.”
“Take breaks regularly and drinking lots of water helps.”
Productivity
“Don’t be surprised if you are less productive initially (especially if you have kids or other distractions at home) but over time you will find yourself more productive in fewer hours.”
“Set small goals/checkpoints for what you want to accomplish each day. Some days this may just take maybe 4 hours, others the whole day. But be realistic with what you hope to accomplish, taking into consideration other things going on in your life (e.g. childcare, errands).”
Communication
“Don't feel like you must respond immediately every time someone contacts you. In an office setting, people can normally see if you are busy and will wait until you are free to ask you a question. When you are working from home, they don't have this luxury.”
“Embrace Slack.”
“If you share a workspace with another person who is working from home, it can be helpful to review calendars, so you don't have too many overlapping meetings where you both have to talk.”
Camper Rebecca called out the important distinction that working from home in the current Coronavirus pandemic is different than working remotely in a more normal context. While working remotely pre-COVID meant a shorter commute but otherwise very similar routines, working from home for many people currently includes caring for children or older generations, trying to get groceries at off-peak hours, etc.
Have any tips of your own for working from home? Let us know on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram!