The Beutler Ink Guide to Working From Home
Tips, tricks & life hacks to live La Vida Remota
If we know anything, it's how to work from home.
Beutler Ink has operated 100% remotely since we launched in 2013, and our company has now grown to 20-plus employees spread from coast to coast, along with a strong freelance network across the globe.
So as awful circumstances force more workers to set up their laptops on their dining room table, we wanted to present some of our favorite tricks, tips, and life hacks for fully immersing yourself in the remote work lifestyle.
We split this guide into two parts. Part one covers general tips for working from home, including relatively simple (but absolutely valuable) advice like formalizing your work hours by getting dressed. Part two will cover more technical and administrative details on setting up your communication channels.
Not every idea here will apply to your situation, but we hope there's something for everybody.
Tip 1
Treat the morning like you would if you were commuting to work. Make yourself coffee, shower, and get dressed.
When we surveyed our team for suggestions for this post, this was the number one response. Look, if you actually prefer working in the same sweatpants you slept in, that's fine. The point is simply to formally transition from "lounging around the house" to work time, in the same way that getting off the train, walking in the building, and finding your desk does for office workers.
Tip 2
If possible, have a dedicated work area
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a private office / modified broom closet in their home, but however you swing it it's valuable to at least have a sacred space for work where you can minimize interruptions and transition into work mode. If there are no options available to you beyond a kitchen counter or coffee table, we suggest at least tidying up your space and ergonomically optimizing your seating arrangement. Your body will not appreciate staring down at a screen and hunching over to type.
Tip 3
Maintain a routine and stick to it. Schedules and to-do lists are your best friends
People always used to tell us that they "would never get anything done" if they worked at home. But that's just not true. We swear (no fingers crossed, no take-backs) that we're far, far more productive working at home than we would be in a cubicle. The secret is simply to settle into a routine. As described above, that starts with making a formal transition into work mode and continues by creating a work schedule based around your to-dos and other priorities.
Tip 4
Over-communicate
In an office, you can see what your coworkers are up to. You might even discuss your day's work as you pass each other in a hall or grab a snack in the break room. But once you're all separated and working remotely, it's hard to know what everyone else is focused on. It's important that you keep your colleagues informed by communicating—and likely by your previous standards overcommunicating—what you're working on. In the old days, it might have seemed crazy to send an email when you started work on a task and another before you left for the day. Now, these updates are incredibly helpful to anyone working on the same project. Check out our email etiquette tips to make sure your written comms are following best practices.
Tip 5
Talk to co-workers about non-work related things
If you already use a communication tool like Slack (which lends itself to multiple channels covering everything from #fantasysports to #gardening), this is probably already second nature. But if you're largely communicating via email, it can be difficult to find the right space to bring up personal issues or even to talk about the news (including unavoidable discussion of the coronavirus). Make the effort to reach out to your co-workers and open up about something, not necessarily personal (if you're not comfortable with that), but sincere and non-work related.
Tip 6
Take as many small breaks as you need to stay productive in the long run
Sitting in front of a computer can be mentally debilitating. Get up and walk around! Pace on your next conference call. Do some jumping jacks! Water your plants! Don't just sit motionless all day.
Tip 7
Try to establish workspace boundaries with your family, significant other, children, roommates, and even pets.
We confess that, for children, this is one of those tips that's easier prescribed than successfully implemented. But it's not too much to ask the functioning adults around you to not barge into your office while you're on a call with a client. As for pets, while it may be impossible to stop the dog from barking at the UPS truck, you should at least move Fido to the other side of the house where such loud interruptions will be minimized.
Tip 8
Leave the house every day (circumstances permitting)
So, this tip is a little more challenging in the age of social distancing, but the principle remains the same even as public health warnings change. If the coffee shop is closed, sit outside on your porch and have a cup of tea. Or take a loop around the trail at the park (maintaining proper distance from others, of course).
Tip 9
Create a ritual that indicates the day is over and it's time to relax.
Ending your workday the right way is just as important as starting it properly (by putting on pants). When you work from home, there can be a sense that you're always available for one last meeting, always ready to send just one more status update email. But you have to let that mentality go or you'll have a breakdown. At some point, you need to close your laptop and declare your day done. If that doesn't convey enough finality for you, then go to the park or go play with your kids outside. Pour yourself a glass of wine… grape juice, even. Whatever it takes to move on from your work life to your real life.
Did we miss anything major? Please let us know, either via email (hello@beutlerink.com) or by tagging us on social. We'd love to know how your WFH experience is going. And please read part two of our guide, which will detail our communication stack for managing projects and messaging team members.
