Working from Home Tips & Tricks

With COVID-19 precautions in place, som of you may find yourselves experiencing a new world of telecommuting. While there is a lot to appreciate — flexibility and work-life balance — working virtually can be challenging, especially for those not familiar or even comfortable with it.

Our Marketing Services Team, based throughout the US and UK, are experts at working from home. This team is comprised of over 40 consultants that provide social marketing services and strategy in partnerships with Sprinklr for over 100 global brands — and they work 100% remote. The continued success of this team has proven that they have mastered creating routines, best practices and office setups that work for them to ensure telecommuting success! Therefore, we have asked them to share their top tips and tricks so that we can share them with all of you to help you successfully navigate working from home.

LaToya Benson, Director of Marketing Services US

Resist the urge to work around the clock. Always have a defined “end-of-the-day” activity to make sure you log off. Maybe it’s setting a reminder at 5pm to go for a walk, prepare dinner, or just switching to a non-work activity. Close the laptop and “leave the office.” Take your lunch. Although we can’t go out to lunch, I still turn off my notifications and take an hour to eat, catch up on news and social media, or workout.

Teresa Edwards, Marketing Services Team Lead

I have been working from home for 12 years. For me, it is the norm, and this is how I prefer to work. I hope some of this can help my colleagues who might feel displaces by having to work from home. It may feel odd, but I’m sure they will come to love it as much as I do.

1. At the beginning of your day, “go to work.”
2. Language is important: You are “at work,” not “working.”
3. You are at home, but discourage visitors and socializing during your working day. Sit comfortable at a desk, preferably with an additional screen.
4. Keep your focus by drinking water and coffee and taking a lunch break.
5. If you need music, have it on in the background but no television or talk radio that might take your focus away.
6. If you need silence, shut the door.
7. At the end of the day, turn your equipment off and “go home.”

Jason Pittam, Senior Marketing Services Consultant

I recommend using a massage ball for your feet, legs, arms, and/or back. Even though I stand when I’m working, anyone who sits or stands can roll a massage ball under their feet. It keeps the circulation going and keeps you active. I found this one works best: http://bit.ly/rumblerollermassage.

Angelo Fernandez, Senior Marketing Services Consultant

The #1 tip I have been telling other people is to have a separate desk and space for when you’re working. Try to keep work to one designated area, and after work is over, take your laptop to the couch or another table to use your computer at leisure. This separation really helps to mimic the work dynamic where you can step away from your computer for a short break or lunch. If you take your laptop around your house during the workday, the lines between work and play become blurred and you may find yourself taking too many breaks or not working enough hours.

Michael Paradiso, Marketing Services Consultant

1. Make sure the space you work in is inspiring. It could be surrounding your space with plants, artwork, memorabilia, natural light, etc.
2. Try to use soft lighting or natural light to create a calming feel.
3. Listen to upbeat music or something that you enjoy to help productivity.
4. Lastly, when taking a break, go outside and take a walk or do a workout.

Jade Watson, Senior Marketing Services Consultant

1. I usually start the day with the following: YouTube exercise tutorial, breakfast, then I get ready for the day as if I was heading into the office.
2. Having a clearly defined workspace allows me to focus.
3. I then set my goals/tasks for the day in Google Tasks. I try to get the most difficult tasks out of the way first and then work my way down the list.
4. Whenever I am having a block, it helps me to get up and have a break, whether that’s going to another room, exercising, or taking a walk.

Jasmine Turner, Marketing Services Consultant

My best tip is to practice time blocking. Schedule your day in your calendar, including lunch and breaks. This helps to ensure you’re investing time as planned. When a non-emergency message comes in that is not during scheduled work hours, hold off until you reach that time block for the day. Time blocking has helped me to avoid distractions and be productive.

Ollie Kmiecik, Marketing Services Consultant

1. Make sure you have a sense of routine to your day: get up, make the bed, have a shower, get dressed, have breakfast, and then start working.
2. A tidy surrounding equals a tidy mind. Make sure you have a good, clean, and clear working environment; subconsciously, it will help you think more clearly.
3. Look after your wellbeing. Invest in a good chair, but also make sure you get up and move around every so often. Raising your screen to a more comfortable height and working from a desk will help your posture. (Especially when compared to lying on the sofa with your laptop on your knees.)
4. Remind yourself of the importance of fresh air. When solving a particularly difficult problem, I find a walk around the block can really help (as well as get your body moving).
5. If possible, have a separate spot for work so you can be somewhere else in the house for your mornings and evenings. It will help with the feeling of “going to work” and make home feel more like home when you’re not at your desk.
6. And finally, drink plenty of water, light a scented candle, wear comfy but casual clothes, and try video calls as much as possible.

Lauren Wentworth, Marketing Services Lead

1. Making sure I take time in the morning to prepare for my day before getting on the computer. Eat something, get to my workspace setup with drinks, spend some time with my son.
2. Taking a lunch. I live on some land so we’re able to go walk a mile when the weather is nice. Walking away from my computer midday is a must. I need the break even when I feel like I have too much to do.
3. Looking at completing tasks as “sprints.” I’ll promise myself a reward if I can focus on one task for 30 minutes to an hour. This helps work seem achievable when motivation is low.
4. Having my work setup somewhere where I can’t see the TV. My desk stares at a wall and has a window next to it. I have to go out of my way to get distracted by the TV making it harder for me.
5. Working with a toddler. I tell my son I am going to work even though I’m still at home with him. I have planned time throughout the day to focus on him and play with him before going back to work. I plan treats/surprises/thank yous throughout the day to reward him for being good while I’m working. Most importantly, I end my day. If I have to work late, then I take a break and pick up work after he is asleep.

Do you have any of your own tips you’d like to share? Share your tips by tagging us in your story on Instagram, via Twitter, or on Facebook!