5 Tips for Working from Home
From someone who’s been working from home for almost three years now… welcome! While circumstances will vary widely from teacher to teacher, such as the expectations from your school and whether or not you have your own kids at home right now, I have a few tips for you that have helped make working from home more productive and fulfilling!
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1. Use pomodoros. Using “pomodoros” is a simple way of chunking your work time into 25-minute increments. Set a timer for 25 minutes and work uninterrupted during that time. When the timer goes off, give yourself a five minute break. Repeat for four pomodoros total and then give yourself a longer break. I find this is a great way to keep myself from checking Instagram, etc. while working. If you know you’re only working for 25 minutes, it’s much easier to practice self control!
2. Get (safely) outside. You’re probably used to moving around your classroom and throughout the school all day, so sitting at a desk or on your couch all day is likely an adjustment! Get outside for a walk every day to help break up the monotony and get some exercise. My husband and I have been taking our dogs on a 3 mile walk every afternoon and it’s a great refresher.
3. Stay hydrated. One perk of working from home? You can use the restroom whenever you want! So take this opportunity to really stay hydrated. I personally use this glass tumblr with a straw— I find it easier to sip throughout the day when I don’t have to unscrew a water bottle lid.
4. Set boundaries. While teachers are already notoriously bad about sticking to work/home boundaries, work literally is home and vice versa! If your school hasn’t set specific times you’re to be working from home, set them for yourself and stick to them. It’s very easy to end up working from when you get up to when you go to sleep when you’re in quarantine!
5. Work in a specific area. Working in a specific area will help your brain and body create a more firm line between work and leisure time. While you may not have a home office, you can still have a specific work area by setting up a desk in the corner of a bedroom or your living room. If you’re working on the couch or on your bed, it may be hard for you to relax there later. I learned this from a book called Atomic Habits— check it out if you’re interested in productivity!
Happy remote teaching, and here’s hoping you’re safely back in your classroom next school year!