Chris Hajer (Support Engineer) …

“My #1 recommendation for anyone new to remote working, or new to working from home, would be: stick to your routine. Get to sleep and get up at the same time of day as when you commuted for work. Work out at the same time. Get dressed in the same way as if you were going into the office. Keep a semblance of a schedule, so you are not easily distracted by “all the things” that could also be done.”

 

In the last couple of months, millions of people across the globe have had to adjust to the challenges of working from home. For some this has been harder than others, and as time moves on, many may find different issues or setbacks emerge. Change on this scale is never easy, but luckily the Gravity Forms team is here to help.

Gravity Forms employees have been remote working for years, so while most people are still trying to adapt to the new normal, our team has it all figured out. By sharing our top tips and expert advice, we hope to empower you with methods and strategies that will help you to comfortably settle into the next few months.

 

Have a Designated Work Space

Morgan Kay (Developer, Product Team) …

“The problem with working from home is that you are always at home, and you are also always at work. Some people find it really hard to stay focused on work – it’s easy to get distracted by pets, housework, kids, etc – and some people find it hard to stop working – it’s easy to work all day and all evening and all weekend.

So it’s really important to keep your work life and home life separate, even when they happen in the same building. It helps to have a separate office: a place in your house that is used for work and nothing else. It also helps to have a separate computer for work and for pleasure.”

 

Of course, not everyone has the luxury of a separate office, but even so, creating an area where you get your work done is a must. A desk in the corner of the room, or even an area of the table where you always sit, will help you transition into ‘work mode’ when you sit down.

Some other top tips for your work space include…

• Keep Your Space Clutter-Free – Try to create a relaxing and clutter-free work environment that is conducive to working productively.

• Beware of your Background – If you are video calling with your boss, you don’t want your kitchen sink full of overflowing plates to be featured in the background. A blank wall, or a tidy room, are better backdrops for a professional call.

• Invest in a Comfy Chair – as you are sitting most of the day, a comfy chair that supports your back is worth investing in.

 

Create a Morning Routine Sets You Up for Success

Travis Totz (Creative Director) …

“There are a number of things that I do daily in order to set myself up for success while working remotely. It starts with a simple morning routine: I get up early, make my coffee, grab some breakfast, sit down at my desk and create a checklist of three things that I plan on accomplishing at work for that day. Generally, this checklist is totally achievable tasks for the day (e.g. create mockup for “X”, send form reminder for the team, create backlog for “Y”). Keeping this list simple, allows you to stay focused on just those items, while allowing you to feel good about your day. 

Next up, I exercise daily. I like to tackle my workout routine in the morning, since I feel like it sets the rest of my day up for success. Exercising daily is good for optimizing health, as well as mental health during the current global health crisis that’s affecting us all. I usually rotate through a set of 3-5 different workouts, so that I’m switching it up daily, but still focusing on specific muscle groups. 

From there, I “get ready for work.” This looks a little different in a remote world, but I recommend actually getting real clothes on every day (feel free to wear comfy pants), but get dressed like you would as if you were going to an office. This helps get your mindset right and prep you for work. Honestly, it sounds silly, but it’s a very real strategy to help you stay positive and mindful about “going to work” each day.” 

 

Everyone’s morning will look different, but creating a routine that works for you, and that you can stick to, will help make sense of your days over the coming months.

To start with, just try and replicate the routine you had when you were heading into the office. You can then adapt this to best fit your home situation (the presence of kids or housemates, or the lack of time or space, may affect what you can and can’t do first thing in the morning).

 

Regularly Check in with your Team

Mark Quaranta (Marketing Director) …

“Tools like Slack and Zoom make it easy to stay in touch with the team. I like to have weekly calls on the calendar for key relationships. It’s a good way to touch base and keep the lines of communication open.”

 

Lack of social interaction with others can be one of the hardest issues many face when working from home. If you are used to a busy office, then suddenly switching to remote working, especially during a lockdown situation, will mean the number of people you actually see day-to-day will reduce dramatically.

Aside from that, working alone can mean that you might be more likely to drift off task, get stuck in a period of procrastination, or find that you are short on ideas without your team to bounce them off.

Regularly checking in with team members, either on video call or messenger, is a great way to touch base, keep on track with work, and stay motivated.

 

Upgrade Your ISP Package

Chris Hajer (Support Engineer) …

“I have Xfinity broadband at 200 Mbps and also Google WiFi with 5 access points, which covers me as far as a couple of houses away and into the back yard and garage (in case it’s nice and I want to work from the back yard!)”

 

I don’t know about you, but a slow or patchy internet service makes me pretty cross. If your pages are slow to load, or your calls keep dropping off, it is likely that you will soon find it is affecting both your mood and your work.

Although a basic ISP package has probably been fine up until now, working from home – uploading and downloading large files, or connecting numerous devices – may well have an impact. Speak to your internet service provider sooner rather than later to find the right package for your new situation.

 

Work Offline for Part of the Day

Mark Quaranta (Marketing Director) …

“I think it’s important to work “offline” at least for a portion of the day. In order to get your big tasks done and recharge after, you have to unplug.” 

 

Although keeping in contact with your team is important, so is getting your work done! If you are easily distracted, then the constant barrage of emails, messages, and other forms of communication that you will inevitably receive when working from home, may well be affecting your productivity.

Working ‘offline’ for a period of the day, when you have a big task to accomplish, or need to process your thoughts, is a more than reasonable request. Although we can never really be offline in this day and age, muting messages and not checking emails for a chunk of time can be a good way to get that well needed ‘quiet time’.

 

Have a Set End to Your Work Day

Ajay Verma (Support Engineer) …

“Having a strict end of the work day works as an imaginary deadline. This forces me to finish tasks instead of postponing them until later.”

 

Working remotely means you never really ‘leave the office’, so it can be hard to draw a distinction between work and home time. However, setting working hours can help.

Depending on the company you work for, you may be told the exact hours you need to work. Others will give you more flexibility. Either way, set an end time for your day and try to stick to it.

 

Morgan Kay (Developer, Product Team) …

“I find it helpful to have some sort of transitional event that marks the end of my work day. When I’m done working, I do yoga – sometimes just 10 or 15 minutes, but sometimes more like 30-45 minutes – and that marks the end of my work day.”

 

Be Kind to Yourself

Karl Potter (Support Engineer) …

“It can be very easy to get too engrossed in your work and lose track of time and end up working far too much or beyond the time you intended to when working from home. Try to take breaks often to stand up and stretch your legs. And always make sure you eat a good lunch and are staying hydrated.”

 

Transitioning from an office place to remote working takes time, and you have to experiment with different routines and strategies to find a way that best suits your needs. However, being kind to yourself, and looking after your health and mental wellbeing, especially during this current crisis, is a must.

Taking breaks, getting outside for fresh air and exercise, and eating well, will all contribute to a more productive, as well as a happier you – so make sure you plan this into your day.

 

What strategies have you implemented so far to help you adapt to working from home? Please share your advice or top tips with our Gravity Forms community in the comments below…