Six Ways to Work from Home Alone During COVID-19

Like so many other New Yorkers, when Governor Cuomo sent us all home from work recently, I was relieved and dismayed at the same time. Before that, I was fearful of my exposure at work-—thinking that I was going to catch the coronavirus from someone in the office who was asymptomatic, so working at home was a relief—at least at first. But now, being at home alone 24/7 introduced additional concerns.

Sitting in my living room solo, I found my fear of getting sick was almost matched by my worry about money and the future of the economy. Was I falling down the rabbit hole?

But no, the reality was that I still had a job and that there was work that needed to get done —only this time at home.

I needed to be productive and fast!

Historically, challenges like this have spurred me to invention. Now was no different. I came up with six strategies that are helping me get through this time and do my work at home effectively.

Get centered before you begin each day. It may be a tall order to start each day free from the distractions of the current environment. News conferences flood the Web and TV with bad news. We can acknowledge this and also recognize that work can be a refuge from the realities that we face right now. Above all, working in this milieu effectively demands that you be in the right frame of mind. For some it may mean starting the day by listening to a favorite piece of music for a time, doing a rigorous work-out, meditation and/or yoga or some other type of activity that engenders your focus and a positive mindset. Take the time to determine what works best for you and go for it each day.

Plan by setting a clear schedule for every workday. Start by putting time aside to analyze your workload and determine what needs to get done--and by when. Break your work up in segments. This will help you avoid feelings of overwhelm—a productivity killer! Next, craft a game plan for the week that details those pieces of your work and what you will need in the way of research, feedback/direction from the office and time. Allot your schedule accordingly.

Create the proper work environment. Organizing your workstation without clutter and disorder can go a long way towards supporting your productivity. Having files strewed all over your desk contributes to feelings of confusion and distraction. If you want to be razor-sharp and positive then organize, organize, organize!

Make the best use of your time. People work best at different times of the day. Arrange your schedule so that your energy levels match your tasks. For example, I do my best creative labor in the morning and interact best with people in the afternoon. By doing this you will find that you get things done much quicker and with more satisfaction.

Eliminate Interruptions. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy. My mind tends to wander and before I know it, I am sitting in front of the television watching Cuomo make the next announcement that makes my hair stand on end. Obviously, this is not productive. The best strategy can often be to create a separate work area, let any phone calls go to voicemail and resist the temptation to check the latest social media posts. Work towards creating a mental oasis in your mind that focuses on your ultimate work goal for the day and stay with it.

Combating loneliness and isolation. Interruptions when working are tempting because of the social isolation we are all feeling right now but try to compartmentalize your feelings and keep work time separate from social time. It’s important to stay in touch with friends and family often so schedule those video and voice calls like FaceTime, Zoom, or the good old-fashioned phone during breaks from work and other down times in your work schedule

It’s good to know that I am not alone out there in this world—that we are all in this together. Keeping this in mind helps me stay focused and able to get my work done. And, the techniques I have mentioned here have also been helpful--but they have not been stress erasers.

Bottom line, it’s best to remember that this too shall pass. Be gentle with yourself. No one is perfect and we are all under tremendous strain right now. Tomorrow will be a better day!

Sharon Fenster is a publicist and a freelance writer. Contact her at sharonfenster@gmail.com