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How to Work From Home and Not Go Crazy 10 Simple Tips

How to Work From Home and Not Go Crazy – 10 Simple Tips

written by Parita 15 Comments

I’ve been working from home full-time since June of this year.  And at first, I was really excited.  In my head, that meant not having to dress up every day, not having to wear makeup, squeezing in a lunchtime workout every now and then, sleeping in a little bit later, not having a commute (!!!), etc.  While it’s still amazing that I was able to keep my job with this one year move, the novelty wore off quickly. 

Truth be told, I’m not one of those people who can permanently work from home.  I need an office to go to every now and then.  I want to see and interact with other people.  I want to take coffee breaks with my colleagues. 

I’m no dummy though.  I realize how lucky I am to be able to keep my job, work from home for a year, and transition to the Chicago office next year.  BLESSING!

I’ve also come to realize that I haven’t done my part in this whole working from home transition.  I just expected it to be perfect, and as we all know, that’s not how the world works.  You have to put in the effort to get the results you want. 

And in this case, it’s fairly doable.  Working from home (at least temporarily) can be pretty great if you take some simple steps to set yourself up for success. 

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up over the past few months.  

How to work from home and not go crazy

1. Try your best to wake up and go to sleep at the same time every day. 
Even though I’m one of the most structured people I know, I haven’t been the best at this.  And when Vishnu’s schedule isn’t “normal,” I absolutely suck.  But I’ve come to realize that it’s probably one of the, if not the, most important and helpful things you can do when working from home.  Personally, when I have set schedule, I feel more productive.  So create a schedule for yourself and stick to it!   

2. Have a morning routine.
I look forward to my morning routine because it’s my one constant.  Again, depending on Vishnu’s schedule, this can look different from month to month.  But for the most part, I wake up, make Vishnu breakfast, work out, shower, eat breakfast, write in my gratitude journal, and start work.  This not only helps with productivity, but it ensures that your day starts off with a few great accomplishments.  And who doesn’t love that!

3. Dress for the day.  
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I wore my PJs/workout clothes ALL DAY EVERY DAY.  I didn’t realize what a negative impact this was having on me until I took the initiative to dress for the day and wear “normal” clothes (i.e. jeans/leggings and a casual top).  I feel better about myself, I’m happier, etc.  Dressing for the day makes me feel like the professional that I am.

4. Ensure that your home office is “you.”
I don’t have a home office.  I have a corner of our bedroom.  BUT, I’ve done everything in my power to make my corner my own.  I have little trinkets and picture frames on my desk, I have my file folders all set up, I have two screens (thanks to Vishnu).  Having my own space keeps me organized.  And it brings an element of fun to the day.  I may not have an office to go to, but I do have a pretty great corner!

5. Find a non-home office place to work from.
I’m going to be 100% honest here – I have yet to do this.  But I totally see the value and benefit in working from a cute little coffee shop for a few hours a week.  It changes things up and gives you something to look forward to. 

6. Schedule regular catch-up calls with coworkers and/or friends.
Working from home can bring on feelings of loneliness.  My weekly catch-up calls keep me sane and help me feel connected.  A must do if you’re working from home 100% of the time. 

7. Get up every 30 minutes and walk around your house/apartment.
We all know sitting for extended periods of time is physically unhealthy.  Well, after working from home for a few months, I’ve come to realize it’s mentally unhealthy as well.  When I sit at my computer for hours at a time, I literally (ok, not literally but you know!) feel my brain turning to mush.  But when I get up and walk around, I feel energized and focused.  This is a simple tip that goes a long way.  And if you’re looking for a great little tool to keep track of time, I recommend this one. 

8. Enjoy your lunch break.
This one is easy for me because my stomach’s rumbling by lunchtime.  But I know how easy it it is to make lunch and eat it in front of the computer while doing work.  Don’t!  Take a true break for 30 minutes to an hour and enjoy it.  It’s your right!  My lunchtime routine includes making lunch and watching Chopped on Food Network. 

9. Get some fresh air every now and then. 
I’m not proud to admit it, but there are times when I don’t go outside for days.  Sure, I’ll go to the apartment gym or go check the mail, but that doesn’t count.  I’ve come to realize how important it is to go OUTSIDE, walk around a little, and breathe in fresh air.  This is another one of those things that keeps you sane and helps you feel connected.

10. Unless there’s a work emergency that needs to be taken care of, when you shutdown at the end of the day, keep it that way!
When I worked from our Miami office, I found that it was easier for me to shutdown at 5:30, go home, and not think about work until the next day (with a few exceptions).  But now, it’s a bit harder.  I find myself checking my email after dinner and responding to things that can clearly wait.  It’s not a good habit because it feels like you’re never really turned off.  Working from home does not equal working all the time.  It’s easy to blur the lines, but again, in order to stay sane and not feel overworked, you have to shutdown and keep it that way.

What’s your day job?  Do you work from home?  If so, any tips?

Written on October 30, 2015 Related:Health, Self, Work

Indian couple at their engagement pooja ceremony

Ruchi’s Work-Life Balance

written by Parita 9 Comments

Today we have another guest post from Ruchi that is all about how she balances (or tries her hardest to) her life as a wife, a daughter-in-law, the Head of HR for the family company, and the owner of her own company – Pink by Ruchi.  Phew!  I’m tired just thinking about all of that!

Please welcome my friend Ruchi!

* * * * *

In preparing for this post, the title I chose has really tested its meaning.  Because I’ll be guest posting over here, it is forcing me to get even more organized and hit deadlines.  Yes, I have goals and lists and tasks I try to accomplish on a daily basis, but when you’re running your own business, there’s a lot of flexibility AND a lot of room to get nothing done.  Throw in living with other people, and you’ve really gotta learn how to balance everything and wear multiple hats.

Okay, I’ll start with the first hat.  I’m a wife.  Now, don’t get me wrong – Jai doesn’t really have many demands.  But, there are still the daily expectations that come along with being in this role.  Does he want his lunch packed or is he going to come home?  Picking up after him and honestly myself.  Handling the few things he’s asked me to take care of.  Making sure we’re getting enough alone time and fulfilling our family and social obligations.

ruchi jai eng ganesh puja
Jai and me during one of our engagement events!

This leads perfectly into my second hat.  I’m a daughter and a sister.  When you live in a joint family, you have to be respectful of everyone’s time, space, and likes/dislikes.  Besides Jai and me, there are 4 other people – my grandmother-in-law (Maa), my father-in-law (Dad), my mother-in-law (Mom) and my sister-in-law (Didi).  So, what I’m trying to get at is we’re dealing with many ages (me being the youngest), personalities and schedules.  It is so nice living in a big family – the support, the full feeling of a home, the traditions, all of it.  Along with this though come quite a few distractions.  Either, I’m helping Mom with house chores (which is a whole other topic in this type of set-up) OR I’ve found myself trying to spend time with Dadi OR we’re stopping everything because Dad and Jai come home for lunch (at different times everyday) OR we have a random visitor OR an artisan shows up – you get the point, right?  And, each day is totally different and unexpected (so it’s difficult to stick to your plan, and I’m a huge planner).

Well, this is a great time for my third hat.  I’m the owner of Pink by Ruchi.  This means I need time to sketch designs, purchase fabric, work on current orders, create my new season line, meet with tailors (who are very unpredictable), be active on social media – once again, you get the point, right?  It’s crazy!  And, as many lists as I have going on, other things always pop up.  And, I know I’m not alone in this – every woman, everywhere in the world deals with this.  WE can ALL relate.

Fabric Shop
Deciding on fabric at a local shop!

Finally, my fourth hat.  I’m the Head of Human Resources for the family business (we grow and manufacture tea).  Jai needed someone part-time who could help him organize and implement certain processes in the company, and with my background from the States, I was the perfect fit in his opinion.  So, I had to figure out when to fit this role in as well.

I decided I would spend the first half of the day at home (splitting up house chores and meeting with tailors, running to fabric stores, etc.), and then the second half would be dedicated to the office (with mainly HR and some Pink by Ruchi work mixed in).  Perfect, right?  I wish.  But, it works ohhhhh, half of the time.  Ha!  Throw in our crazy travel schedule, weekly weddings, monthly pujas (rituals performed in the house on auspicious days), committee meetings and other random things, and I’m lucky if one list actually gets completed!  Hehe, I’m being a little dramatic.

I’m still figuring it all out and learning how to balance my personal needs with my professional ones, and I may not ever have it completely sorted out, but it will work in my little world.  It’s exciting that I get to wear so many hats, and some days I just want to throw them all in the closet, but hey, that’s normal, right?

Side note (because I just can’t help myself):  People in Kolkata refer to the day in 2 parts – either first half or second half.  No one ever wants to give a specific time.  It’s literally like pulling teeth to get an exact meeting time from someone.  The conversation usually goes (I have translated from Hindi):

Me:  What time?
Random Person:  Uhhh, Wednesday.
Me:  What time on Wednesday?
RP:  Uhhh, second half?
Me:  What time in the second half?
RP:  You will be there in the second half?
Me:  Yes, that’s why I asked you ‘what time’?
RP:  Uhhhh, second half, madam.
Me:  I need an exact time.  I have other work.  I am not sitting around for only you.
RP:  Oh, right, right, of course not madam.  Uhhhh, between 2&4?
Me:  That is a two-hour gap.  Will it be 2 or 4 or 3?
RP:  Okay, okay, we will keep it for 4.
Me: OK.  Please call when you are on the way.
Day of, approaching 4:00pm…
RP:  Madam, I am on the way.
Me:  You’re only on the way now?!  You were supposed to be here at 4!
RP:  Madam, I had some problems.  I will be there as soon as possible.
Me:  Okay, fine.  CLICK.

Now, try planning your day!  Well, at least he called!  ‘Til next time!  Thanks for tuning in!  And feel free to follow along on my blog.

* * * * *

Great post, Ruch!  And I think it’s safe to say that you are not alone in your quest to find balance.  I think that’s something all of us are striving for!

Written on May 20, 2015 Related:Uncategorized

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