Tips (+Tops) for Working/Studying from Home

Dose of Prose

For those who don’t know, I am a freelancer and have been doing freelance work for about a year. My work involves finance/legal related research analysis for a global litigation firm as well as copywriting/business development for startups. After attending multiple (as of late, virtual) panel discussions hosted by underrepresented founders and hearing their stories, reflecting on my own freelance journey and shifting my education to online synchronous learning…I’ve definitely gathered some valuable lessons along the way on how to stay motivated and productive while working/studying from home.

Although I am used to working remotely, most are not. This COVID-19 pandemic has completely shifted the way individuals live their lives. I’ve actually been tracking/researching trends about the post pandemic world and I have news for you: this work from home life and is here and it’s here to stay.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments, even though I’m used to working remotely. From temporarily going back to my hometown (that I haven’t lived in since I was 18 years old) to quarantine with my parents, to basically being stuck at home all the time…the transition has not been easy by any means. In fact, I’m still continuously learning habits, setting goals/intentions and establishing boundaries that help me to make the most out of this ‘new normal’ environment. If you’ve been riding the struggle bus like me, I have two things to say: 1) we’re in this together and 2) read this blog post. I’m going to give details about what I do and what I wear (I mean, this blog is called Style Prose after all) to effectively and efficiently work from home.

Pro-Tips for Working Remotely

1. Create and cultivate a workspace that works for you.

After years of (good and bad) roommates and living on an extremely busy, noisy street, it’s safe to say that sensory overload is nothing new to me. Although I developed the art of selective hearing and blocking out the commotion around me, my environment is extremely important to me. I am someone who needs a clean, naturally lit, quiet space to do work. Normally I would frequent the library or a coffee shop, but since the pandemic, I’ve had to develop a home office that encourages me to focus and do work.

If you don’t have the resources to invest in a desk and office chair, try to find a separate room or space (even if it’s a corner of your bed) that you dedicate to do your work in. Your personal set up will vary depending on your environment, but whatever it looks like, just make sure that your WFH space works for you.

2. Keep a realistic schedule; maintain your routine.

Be consistent with your routine. Wake up and go to bed at the same time. If you normally work a 9-5, then keep those same hours. Whatever your usual schedule/routine is, don’t change it or else you’ll find yourself feeling overwhelmed, disheveled and unorganized. This takes a lot of discipline, especially if you’re not physically going to work or school, but if you’re like me and like to write things down, I encourage you to plan out a weekly schedule that is doable for you. Get a timer and time block your day if you need to.

My morning routine is essential for me because it helps to set the tone for the rest of my day. In the morning I make my bed, read the Wall Street Journal or listen to a podcast, workout and make coffee before I start working. I also plan out my ‘to-do’ list in the morning so I know what needs to be done for the day. Consistency is key my friends.

3. Take breaks.

I’m still working on this one, but you have to take breaks. It’s legally required in the workplace, so why not hold the same standard for yourself? If you don’t take a break, you’ll be prone to burnout, which impacts your productivity overall. Trust me, I’ve learned this the hard way. I used to equate taking a break to wasting time…so instead, especially if I was trying to meet a project deadline, I would work for 10 hours straight, with those last 4 hours feeling delirious and lethargic, as if I was moving in slow motion. Not only did I physically feel terrible, but also I found myself easily losing momentum and concentration. Don’t be like me.

It’s okay to step away. It’s imperative to look up from your computer every 20 minutes. I recently started wearing blue light glasses, which helps to reduce strain on my eyes. No matter how much work you have to do or tests you need to study for, take a minute to yourself, then come back and attack it. The key to working from home is working smarter, not harder.

4. Set boundaries with yourself and others.

Ooof this one is HUGE. Whether you live alone, with parents or have roommates, I’m sure you know the importance of boundaries. Let’s start with setting boundaries with yourself. Whenever I’m stressed out (which is, unfortunately, often) I obsessively clean. This doesn’t sound like a bad habit at face value, but the issue is, I’ll be sweeping, spraying and Swiffer-ing away when I should be studying/working. By doing this, my work-life balance quickly became imbalanced. I was distracted by distractions. The lines between my personal life and professional life started to blur, because I didn’t have any guidelines that helped me to differentiate between when my work day began and ended. As a result, I had to start setting boundaries with myself to not do chores or any other housekeeping activities during work hours. I set this boundary to make sure I stay on task and to hold myself accountable to the tasks that I know I need to complete. I also put my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ and even put it in a separate room if need be. Establishing rules for yourself will set high standards for balanced, work-life cohesion.

It’s nice that your friends and family want to check-in with you by giving you a call or stopping by your room to chat, however, this can negatively effect your work day if you allow it. Since I’m the main point of contact for family tech support (haha kidding, but not really), it’s often that my parents will call me to help them figure out how to work their phones and PCs. We have an open-door policy at home so I repeatedly hear my parents yell from the other room, “Hey Kaamilah, can you come here and help me with this?” I know my parents mean well and as much as I love them and want to help them, I soon realized that their constant conversations with me throughout the day (they are retired, just for context) was getting in the way of me finishing my work.

I started setting boundaries by telling them when I had Zoom meetings and asked not to be disturbed during those times. I also close my door during the day to signal to them that I am working. The point is, my friends, for your own sanity, you have to set boundaries with yourself and others. The conversations may be uncomfortable at first, but they are definitely necessary. Just because you’re at home all day, doesn’t mean you’re available all day. Read that again. I guarantee those who support you will respect your boundaries.

5. Stay engaged.

It is obvious that being on lockdown has made it difficult to be social. However, even before the pandemic, when you’re a freelancer doing remote work, it is important to note that your hours/lifestyle might be different from your peers. That’s just the nature of the job folks.

I am introverted and love my alone time, but I still crave social interaction. Sometimes I’ll work on the weekends which means that I’ve unfortunately had to cancel a lot of invitations to hang out. In those moments I would definitely experience the fear of missing out (FOMO). When I’m by myself for too long, it becomes easy for me to feel isolated. I start overthinking little things and reacting to narratives that I made up in my head.

When you’re constantly interacting online, sometimes things can get lost in translation (i.e. texts may not read well, or emails may give off a certain tone). So I say all this to say…stay present and stay engaged. Interact with your friends and family through video or IRL if safety permits. Check-in with your loved ones. Pick up the phone and call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. You never know what someone is going through and just a simple, short interaction can make someone’s day. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also be more motivated to work.

6. Meal prep/snack prep.

When I started taking night classes, I didn’t have time to worry about what I was going to eat nor did I want to take out the time to cook. Meal prepping has really helped me out and made my work days more seamless because I have my meals and snacks ready-to-go. I love cooking, but I can’t enjoy it when I’m forced to do it at a time that’s inconvenient. Also, never cook when you’re starving, that’s a disaster waiting to happen. If you need some help uncovering your chef skills, check out my health food grocery guide here.

Lately, I’ve been getting into meal delivery services like Daily Harvest (click here for $25 off your first box as well as some other freebies) and HelloFresh, both of which feature quick, easy, minimal prep/cleanup time meals and light bites for me to eat. I have a bad habit of forgetting to eat, especially when I’m stressed out, which coincides with my inability to learn how to take breaks…(wow I’m exposing all my flaws in today’s post haha) but I’ve found that having my meals and snacks already planned out prevents my blood sugar from dropping and lowers that brain fog feeling you get when you’re hungry, which ultimately makes more productive throughout my day.

7. Get ready. Change your clothes.

In previous posts I’ve mentioned how I have my pajamas and then I have my ‘relaxing clothes,’ which are basically sweat pants. When I start my work, I’ll put on these so-called relaxing clothes, but recently I’ve realized that this is not enough. The process of getting ready subconsciously impacts your productivity. If you’re too comfortable, your mind and body go into relaxation mode; thus, pumping the breaks on your work effort.

I’ve found that putting on makeup, contacts, actual clothes (I will detail my outfits towards the end of this post), helps me to feel more awake and like I’m in ‘work mode.’ Also, what if there’s an emergency or you need to suddenly get up and go somewhere? Unless you feel comfortable walking around looking crazy in your pajamas in public, I suggest changing your clothes like you would as if you were going to school/work as per usual. This circles back to my point about maintaining a routine. Don’t let your personal hygiene slack just because you’re at home.

8. Give yourself grace.

Some days will be harder than others. It’s okay to not accomplish as much as you planned. It’s okay to have a bad day. Just know that better days are coming.  I personally have a lot on my plate – meetings, projects, emails, etc. I thrive off being busy, so this jam packed schedule is nothing new to me. However, I can easily slip into feeling stressed, overwhelmed and unmotivated if I allow negative thoughts to control my reality. To those who have a lot going on, give yourself grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re doing the best you can.

One powerful mindset/mantra that I encourage you to repeat to yourself is: I am successful in all that I do. I realize that everyone’s definition of success is different. Success could mean reaching a new milestone. Success could mean simply showing up and trying. Success could mean failing but bouncing back. Only you know. Whatever your definition is, keep it in your back pocket. Hold on to it, especially when you’re hard on yourself or feeling all over the place. If nobody else will tell you, hear it from me. Reminder: you are successful in all that you do.

WFH Wardrobe Ideas

I have multiple Zoom meetings a week, so I’ve grown accustomed to having my video on. My go-to virtual look is business casual: a blouse or button-up shirt on top and joggers on the bottom. I keep my color palette minimal and my accessories simple. Oh and I also don’t go barefoot – I wear house shoes because again, I want to be comfortable but not too comfortable. Ultimately, your WFH outfit should be something that you can wear publicly and should be versatile enough to dress up or dress down accordingly.

I feel like this blog post is getting long, so I’m going to wrap it up with some final points and key takeaways. Below are visual examples of outfits I would wear while working from home. I’ve also listed some ways to step up your Zoom style game if you are on video.

Zoom Style Starter Pack

Avoid loud patterns and bright colors.

I’m not against wearing color (although my style is minimalist), but on camera, colors work against you, not for you. Bright colors and loud patterns not only distract your audience, but more importantly, it washes you out, making it hard for others to see you on camera.

Utilize virtual backgrounds.

If your room looks messy or if you’re on video in an area with a lot of traffic, take advantage of virtual backgrounds! I like using backgrounds because it’s fun yet also professional and overall, I can avoid the hassle of having to worry about how my real background looks.

Lighting is important.

Natural lighting is best, but if you don’t have access to that, play around with the lights in your space to make sure everything is just right (not too dark and not too bright).

Check your angles.

People say the camera adds 10 lbs and I believe that part of that virtual weight gain is due to poor angles. Even if only your top-half is showing on video, you don’t want to look unflattering and disproportionate because you have the camera angled too high or too low. Try to keep your camera at eye level, to mimic how a conversation would go IRL.

Test your sound.

The way you sound is just as important as the way you look. Before hopping on a video call, go into your settings and do a quick sound check to make sure your sound quality is top notch. I also recommend investing in a headset if you really want your sound to be podcast level crystal clear.

I hope this blog post will serve as a timeless reference for you to go back to as you navigate working from home. If there are any tips and tricks you would like to add, feel free to leave a comment because #SharingIsCaring. Even if you’re still physically going into the office and/or school, you might have a friend or family member who is new to the remote life and they may need some pointers. If so, share this post with them and see how they feel.