Make the Best out of Working from Home

In these uncertain and difficult times, it may not be prudent, advisable or even legal to work from your showroom. If your showroom or office has to transition to team members working from home, what are the most successful practices? Author and frequent blogger Austin Kleon offered the following guidance from his book, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad.

1. Be positive and take one day at a time.  Don’t spend time worrying about things you can’t control. Try to create beauty every day.
2. Establish a daily routine.  Working from home is filled with distractions, especially when schools are closed. 
3. Create a comprehensive to-do list and prioritize your most important tasks.
4. Avoid the temptation to look at email or the newspaper when you first start your day. The first hours are generally the time when you are at your sharpest. Take advantage of that time to engage in creative tasks.
5. Put your phone on airplane mode for at least one to two hours per day.  Longer if you can! 
6. Stay light and play. “You must practice being stupid, dumb, unthinking, empty. Then you will be able to DO…. You are only responsible for your work so DO IT.”
7. Clean up when in doubt. If you are stuck on a problem, take some time off to clean up. It will help to loosen your mind.
8. Naps are a secret weapon. Have a cup of coffee or tea. Lie down for 15 minutes to let the caffeine kick in and then go back to work.
9. Take a walk or schedule time for exercise. Fresh air is good for your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. “Demons hate fresh air.”
10. When the workday is done, it’s over. Tomorrow is always another day.

One last tip from the DPHA team - wear pants with non-elastic waists at least three times a week!  This helps you hold yourself accountable for the snacking you will likely be doing while working from home.