Working From Home

Recently daily life as we know it has taken a 180-degree turn due to the Covid-19 outbreak and resulting mitigation efforts.   Thanks to computers and the Internet, millions of people can effectively do their job remotely from home while complying with social distancing measures.  Our hope is to contribute a few ideas to help with the challenge.

~ Set up a dedicated workspace if at all possible.  A dedicated home office is obviously the ideal choice but in lieu of that, consider converting a spare bedroom or the unused space above a garage into a temporary office. Even carving out a spot in your bedroom would be better than the kitchen.

~ Consider repurposing old hardware or breathing new life into a tired system with a minimal investment. My work computer is running a mid-range processor that launched in early 2011 yet still feels zippy enough to stick around for at least another few years.

~Set boundaries, both with yourself and your family. It’s imperative to be able to eliminate distractions during business hours and maintain a routine. When working at home, this can mean being mindful about setting a schedule for yourself and sticking to it. Be disciplined.

~Take pride in your workspace by keeping it tidy. Each day after work, I force myself to clean my desk.

~Expect an adjustment period. I’ve said for years to anyone that would listen that working from home isn’t all it is cracked up to be.