another gem from EDP Contributing writer Marissa

Whenever I met someone who worked from home, I would become insanely jealous. What do you mean you can work from your couch in your pajamas? For a while, this option didn’t suit my career path and I came to terms with the fact that it might not happen for me. I had forgotten about it until I applied to work with Ashley and one of the job descriptors was working remotely a few days a week. Tuesdays and Thursdays became my favorite days of the week. (It’s something to be said that I enjoyed working with her out of her home office, just as much as I did my own couch.) When I started working with her full time, I still went ‘into the office’ two days a week, but sometimes things would come up and I’d have an entire week at home. This would only partly prepare me for the transition to being 100% remote. Here’s what they might not tell you.

There’s a learning curve

Leaving the house for work was all I had ever known. When you work from home, work begins when you open your computer and your to-do list is waiting for you in your inbox. You have the ability to create your schedule for the day, whether it’s waking up at 5am and getting everything done early or leaving it for later in the evening, simply to enjoy a slow morning. There’s the option to work in increments, getting two hours of work done and then taking a break and going for a walk or doing something fun. Figuring out what’s right for your schedule takes hard work and discipline, and if I’m being honest, I haven’t found my groove yet. Traveling through different timezones for the past year and a half has made it virtually impossible to set a schedule for myself for the longterm, which has made me crave a more permanent location (Hi, South Carolina). The challenge to figure out what works for me is one I’m extremely grateful for, especially because it’s afforded me so many great memories and opportunities.

Some tips:

• Create a morning routine you love and stick to it. Get up at the same time Monday - Friday, make some coffee, and get ready for the day.

• Separate your lunch break from your work. Disconnect and close the computer for a set amount of time each day.

• Find a couple of coffeeshops that you like and work them into your weekly schedule a couple days a week. Getting stuck in trying new shops every day means you’ll spend most of your time searching for outlets or reliable wifi and spending stupid amounts of $ on coffee.

• Plan your workouts. Just like you plan out your schedule for work, add in your workouts to your calendar. A bonus of working from home means you get to hit those less popular times in the middle of the day.

Real clothes vs. pajamas

To be honest, if I don’t have to get dressed, it’s not a high priority on my personal to-do list. Give me a pajama set and you’ll likely find me in it come 5pm. The novelty of this wears off after a while, so don’t get too excited. At the end of the day, there’s something about changing into a new pair of pajamas from an old pair that makes me feel supremely lazy, even if I did work all day. Sometimes though, there is no motivation to sit uncomfortably in a pair of jeans all day long. After working from home for so long, I’ve found that getting dressed, painting on a game time face with makeup and being ready for someone to walk through the door does make me feel good. It genuinely changes my attitude from ‘I’m a piece of work’ to ‘I am ready to get work done.’ It’s all about finding a balance: working on the couch in your pajamas is the best but also feeling like you’re the best version of yourself is great too. Nevertheless, real world appropriate pajamas are on my shopping list.

Human interaction 

Let it be known, it is completely possible to become friends with dogs and talk to inanimate objects when you’re subject to so much alone time. I used to give Ashley the side-eye for going to Starbucks every morning during the week. I didn’t understand why she didn’t want to save some money and make her coffee at home. Her reasoning? Her meetings with the Starbucks baristas were sometimes her only human interaction until Andy got home from work. I understand this on a new level. It’s hard to come by other remote workers who have the luxury to take lunch outside of the office. When you find them, hug them tight. On the other end, this is a formal PSA to not take your work wives and husbands for granted - they’re doing more for you than you know. 

Some Tips:

• Schedule weekly re-occurring Facetime calls with other WFH friends or retired family members. Not having a conversation for 8 hours straight is not something to be taken lightly.

• Utilize Gchat to keep up-to-date with friends. Getting work done while chatting with your bestie is a win-win.

• Get outside! A walk to your local coffee shop or deli can do wonders for you.
  

Losing the perks is the worst part 

In my past jobs, I had an employee discount on clothes, free food, unlimited coffee, and most importantly, benefits like health insurance and dental. I lovingly think about one of the break rooms at a past job that was always stocked with the best bagels LA had to offer - the extra 15 pounds were worth every bite. Don’t take these perks for granted. Be appreciative of them, especially when you’re searching your brain for reasons to be grateful for a job that has you in the shower at 6am. When you work independently, lunches and a health check up are on you. It forces you to prioritize, put yourself first and really figure yourself out.

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