How to Be Productive on a Snow Day

I am in the middle of a snow day and I’ve experienced the joys and frustrations of having to work from home. I had no commute, got to sleep in, and didn’t have to dress for work. On the flip side, there were barriers to communication, limited supplies, and a struggle to get connected. Im all for working from home, but being forced take the whole office online with short notice is not ideal. Here are a few things I’ve done to make sure I’m productive when working from home.

Know Your Equipment

If you’re not accustomed to working from home, it can be challenging to adjust. Take the frustration out of the equation and know what you’re working with. Connect in advance, especially if you need to rely on a remote desktop. If you’re accustomed to using multiple monitors, know how to enter split screen. Try to address any complications from the equipment before it’s an issue.

Communicate

If you’re a frequent home worker, this may be easy for you. If you’re new to the game, it can be a challenge to know how to communicate. Determine if your colleagues can be reached via text, e-mail, or instant messenger. You can’t rely on walking to offices to communicate, you need to know how you can connect. Don’t wait until there’s a problem, communicate early and often!

Have Your Plan

If you know your assignments, have a schedule in advance. This will allow you to go into the day with a plan of attack. If you don’t have assignments right away, don’t wait for assignments to get started. Boot your computer, connect to all of your networks, and be ready to roll once your assignment is given.

Embrace Your Environment

Working from home is no fun if you don’t make the best of the environment. Have a decent breakfast, use your lunch break to get chores done, and sit in your favorite chair. These are the perks of being home. However, don’t go overboard. Avoid distractions like your TV or your bed so you can actually get work done.

Have Plan B

What happens if you can get work done? Without all of the resources you’re accustomed to, you might find yourself in a bind where you can’t get work done. In this case, know who to contact and what else you can do. Maybe this means getting organized or catching up on e-mails while waiting for issues to get resolved. If being remote results in less work getting done, do whatever you can to ensure your next day in the office is as productive as possible.

Working from home is a blessing, but don’t let it be too big of a distraction. It’s not a vacation day, so you need to get your work done. With a solid plan, focus on the tasks, and familiarity with equipment you can get work done and reap the benefits of being at home.