Learning to Work From Home

With the CA Governor’s order for shelter in place, the way we work looks a little bit different. There are many people working from home for the first time and the transition can be uneasy but I’m here to encourage you and help you with a few ideas and suggestions.

Working from home can be a great thing if you have a designated organized area that helps you feel confident and ready to charge the day. Having an organized space allows you to begin your day free of clutter and subconsciously frees up mind space too. Which means you get to use your brain for creativity to tackle your tasks.

If you haven’t worked from home before or it’s been a while since you claimed your space then hopefully this post will help you organize your desk. Yes, it may make a mess, but when you’re through, you’ll be ready to work from the comfort of home.

Grab a box and use it to collect all of your home office supplies from all over the house. Clean out the kitchen junk drawer, raid your children’s rooms to rescue tape scissors, or whatever else they tried to claim as their own. Check the dog’s bed for anything shiny they tried to hide that belongs in the office and so forth. Paperclips, pens, pencils, folders, files, grab everything!

Now throw away anything that broken or anything that doesn’t work. Yes, there may be things that don’t work right but not broken but get rid of it. If you can see last year’s notes on your whiteboard after you’ve erased it, then yes, toss it.

After all of your supplies are in one place and everything is in working order, you can easily group your like items and decide if you have too much of one thing. Do you need three staplers? How about 800 paperclips? If you do, perfect, you’ll need to find them a place, but if you don’t, then put aside your excess and find a place for everything you’re keeping.

Are you trying to figure out what to do with those extra 700 paperclips? Check out this Pinterest Board for craft ideas or donate them to a teacher, a church, or someone else who is also having to work from home right now.

After all of your supplies have a designated home next, tackle your paperwork. Decide on you will keep these papers. Will you scan them and then shred originals, or are you filing originals in a cabinet—either way, you need to be sure to follow through on the process. Once you have completed your filing system, you should feel even more accomplished.

Next, do a wall check. Do the pictures around you make you feel happy? Be sure you have inspirational words speaking life into you and the people who will be peeping through your Zoom conference window. Be intentional about what decorations you place around you. Be sure they are something that can bring a moment of serenity or a smile after a stressful conversation.

Plan for distractions. If you have kids at home or a pet needing some attention, then anticipate distractions and plan for them by leaving your area every hour to check on the littles or the fur babies. By doing this, you will allow them to feel your presence in the home and help them understand that you will be available during specified times. Having different activities planned for children on an hourly basis will help them with time frames too.

Take breaks often and keep hydrated. Stick to your schedule, if you’re off at five, then leave the area at five. If your office space has a door close it, if it doesn’t have a door, then be sure to shut down the computer.

Lastly, and most important, pray over your space. Pray at the start of your workday and the end. Ask for wisdom, productivity, and joy. Pray for your children and your animals, and always keep a positive attitude.

Have a blessed work week.