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How to Work From Home Effectively with Candiace Williams
25:05 with TreehouseWe are working from home now more than ever. Candiace presents best tips and practices so you can optimize your home space for at home work and learning.
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Hey everybody, I would like to
welcome up Candiace Williams.
0:04
Candiace is a Louisiana native but
grew up in the city of Decatur, Georgia.
0:05
Before joining MailChimp,
0:11
her career focused specifically
in nonprofit organizations.
0:13
Should joined admin operations with
the Boys and Girls Clubs and the YMCA,
0:18
then moved to marketing at
the American Red Cross.
0:23
Candiace received a degree in
business administration from
0:26
Georgia State University and
a tech degree in UX design from Treehouse,
0:31
please give her a big Treehouse welcome.
0:35
>> All right, so let's get it going.
0:38
So again, I'm Candiace.
0:41
I'm here to talk to you guys about
how to work from home effectively.
0:43
A simple topic, but
0:48
definitely something that I think
people are absolutely doing wrong.
0:50
Just kind of digging
into some information,
0:55
I kinda find out I'm
doing something wrong.
0:59
So to remedy that,
I'm gonna go over some tips and
1:03
tricks that will help you to
successfully work from home.
1:07
So right now,
working from home is a big thing for
1:13
everybody given the global
economic situation.
1:18
So it seems like you live at work and
1:22
you steps from your office and
it's all one big jumbled mess.
1:26
And It's hard to kind of balance the work
and life when every everyone now is home.
1:31
But I'm here to rest assure you that
working from home can be super beneficial.
1:38
And in today's workforce,
especially when we're shifting and
1:45
we're learning new ways, and
1:49
we're realizing that you don't have to be
in office to be effective to do things.
1:52
So, here's some tips
that we're gonna go over.
1:57
Create an area dedicated for
work, set your schedule and
2:02
boundaries, communicate and
use your notification settings.
2:07
So by mastering these techniques,
2:12
you can be a sure fire or
work from home expert.
2:16
So making working from home work for you.
2:20
Now what do you need?
2:26
So everyone doesn't have the options to
have a extra room just for an office.
2:27
I don't, I have a little corner dedicated,
but I have a desk,
2:34
a good chair, proper lighting,
good Internet and
2:39
some other equipment to make working
from home successful and ideal.
2:42
So creating that space kinda gets
you in that mental place that,
2:47
I'm in this space, I'm here to do a job,
I'm here to be productive.
2:52
And so that's why kinda creating an area
even if it's the kitchen table where you
2:58
can pack up and move things if you don't
have another place to have an office or
3:03
a desk or chair.
3:08
But even just a space that you can
dedicate to work will be super effective,
3:09
super helpful to getting
things accomplished.
3:14
Listen to your body,
make sure you have a good chair,
3:17
you wanna have things that
ergonomically correct.
3:21
So you want to have a desk with a good
height, a good chair to support your back.
3:24
You wanna get up often and frequently.
3:29
I know sometimes there are days
when it seems like I'm on Zoom
3:31
after Zoom after Zoom and
I don't necessarily get a good break.
3:35
But I will get up to stretch,
kinda let the dog out the back door,
3:40
grab some water, take a restroom break.
3:45
But on those days, I'm kinda prepared,
3:48
I kinda get things kinda lined up, so
I know what's going on in the future.
3:51
So I have everything ready to go because
it's gonna be one of those kinda days.
3:57
Making a small adjustment like just
getting up, will reset your posture
4:01
because after you're sitting for
a long amount of time, you tend to slouch.
4:07
And after eight hours a day,
if not longer,
4:13
sitting in a chair,
it could be really harmful to the body.
4:16
So make sure you got a good disk and
good chair.
4:21
Proper lighting, proper lighting is gonna
be key to being productive in my opinion.
4:25
There are some days when I
don't have Zoom meetings and
4:31
I may not have the lighting on,
I may not really be fully dressed.
4:35
But really working ain't saying
checking Slack and messages and
4:39
things like that that works.
4:43
But when it's time for me to actually
sit down and be super productive and
4:45
get things done, I'm turning the lights
on, I'm getting that good natural light.
4:50
Getting in a mode to where I
know that I need to work and
4:55
I know that the proper lighting can just
affect your mood and overall productivity.
4:59
So lighting is great,
5:05
make sure you have somewhere
where you can sit with the light.
5:07
And when you're taking those Zoom calls,
turn on your camera,
5:11
like Michelle said before,
it does create that human connection.
5:16
It does create those moments that aren't
so dull and low and you can read and
5:20
feel what a person is saying just from
their facial expressions and gesture.
5:25
And also don't sit with your
back to lighting because
5:30
it creates an awful shadow.
5:33
And no one ever can see you sitting with
your back to the window because the glare,
5:35
the lighting.
5:41
So if you're wanting to have that natural
light, sit in front of the light and
5:42
it'll kinda illuminate much
better than sitting behind it.
5:47
And then having good Internet and
other equipment.
5:50
I mean, I love my mouse.
5:57
[LAUGH] I have a keyboard.
5:59
I have a laptop stand.
6:02
I have a second monitor.
6:03
I have although all those extra things
to just help me be more productive.
6:05
My days kinda look at a lot of
different things at one time.
6:10
So having that extra monitor, having that
second set of screens to kinda see things
6:15
and get things going really helps me
to be productive and make sure that I'm
6:21
doing all the good things and good
Internet and things of that nature too.
6:26
So you wanna have all of the good things
set up for you so you can minimize and
6:31
limit whatever kind of distractions
you've got going on or whatever kind of,
6:35
this chair isn't comfortable.
6:40
I think when we all kind of started
working from home, some coworkers and I,
6:41
we were like we need a chair
because the chair was good for
6:46
working from home a couple days a week,
maybe.
6:49
But literally,
every single day working from home,
6:52
you got to get into that groove in that
routine of having things where they
6:56
need to be and having a practiced
set of things that go on.
7:01
And just all the right things in place so
7:05
that you can feel like you're at
work even though you're at home.
7:08
This is a big one, getting dressed.
7:13
Listen, nowadays if it
doesn't have an elastic band,
7:16
it's not cottoned or it's leisure wear,
I don't want it, right?
7:20
I think one of the greatest
perks is being able to work from
7:25
home because you don't have
to really put on clothes.
7:30
That's true for some days.
7:35
Some days, I don't have to be visible and
show my face.
7:36
But on the days that I
have to show my face,
7:37
what you see on this screen
is exactly what I like.
7:41
Business on top, party on the bottom.
7:47
And getting dressed does something
to your psyche because when
7:49
you look good, you feel good.
7:54
And so, if you want to increase and
boost how you feel, get out of the bed and
7:56
the pajamas that you slept in and
put on a fresh pair of pajamas.
8:01
It'll change how you feel.
8:05
It'll change just your psyche and
make you wanna kinda get into it and
8:08
do a little bit more.
8:13
Trust me,
your mental will thank you for it,
8:14
but it is a perk working from home that
you don't have to fully get dressed.
8:17
And some days I don't fully get dressed,
some days it's just business on top,
8:20
party on the bottom.
8:25
But on those days that I do have to
have FaceTime and Zoom meetings and
8:26
things like that,
I tend to wanna to put on a blouse or
8:31
a T shirt that's clean and
not wrinkled and
8:34
things like that because it makes me
feel good when I'm communicating.
8:37
Setting your hours and boundaries.
8:43
This is gonna help to prevent
that always on work culture.
8:46
The always on call because I'm at home and
people are sending me messages and
8:50
should I accept that message
at eight o'clock at night?
8:55
Should I accept that message
at six o'clock in the morning?
8:59
We're gonna figure out
how to get that done.
9:03
The easiest way to set boundaries
is always to block time for
9:06
lunch because if you're going throughout
the day and you're meeting at lunch,
9:09
you're not having time
to step away to refresh.
9:14
You're gonna burn out, you're gonna
burn out super hard and super fast.
9:17
And that overworked stressed
feeling is a real thing
9:21
nowadays because on average,
we're spending about three
9:25
more hours per day working then
when we were in the office.
9:30
And then, there's been a spike in
VPN usage, virtual private networks,
9:34
between midnight and 3AM.
9:39
So you're working more.
So if you're gonna be working more,
9:41
you got to start setting some time for
yourself.
9:45
And in my company,
our culture is at no cost,
9:49
we'd wanna have to have a lunch meeting.
9:52
And sometimes we do have to have them,
but it's very far and
9:55
few and in between, because we want
to make sure that everybody has some
9:58
time Kinda take a break step away.
10:03
And you wanna do the same thing for
yourself and other people too.
10:05
So if it's not an urgent meeting,
try to avoid having meetings on lunch.
10:09
And also just step away even if you
don't have an hour you have 30 minutes.
10:14
Make that sandwich open the back door and
get some fresh air walk outside walk to
10:20
the mailbox, just kind of do something
that breaks that routine of just
10:24
sitting in front of the screen all day
because you really can bring yourself out.
10:27
Feeding yourself should be non
negotiable because it's gonna help
10:31
with just making sure you're
productive and things like that.
10:36
Taking your off days.
10:43
So, I'm guilty of this,
I feel like why am I taking off?
10:44
I'm not going anywhere, I'm at home.
10:50
Well, you remember me
talking about burnout, right?
10:52
Well, burnout is a real thing.
10:58
And Taking off and
10:59
stepping away, turning off your
notifications, turning off, emails and
11:05
things of that nature will give you
that mental break that you need.
11:11
If you're always in work mode, and you
have that mentality of just work, work,
11:16
work, work, work, when do you get that
time to just rest, relax and recuperate.
11:20
Even if you don't have anywhere to go and
11:24
you're doing like a staycation
where you just at home,
11:27
disconnect completely and
grab a book, take those walks.
11:32
Start that project, finish that project,
do anything except for
11:37
work because that mental
refresh that you'll get,
11:41
it will be truly rewarding even
if it's just the day or two.
11:45
And I know I like to kind of schedule
naps [LAUGH] in my days off because
11:49
it's one of those things
that you don't get.
11:53
So even something as simple as just like a
little 15 minute power nap to refresh you
11:57
on those days that you're off if you're
trying to handle some of your own personal
12:01
business, it's just something you can
do to make it [LAUGH] fun and exciting.
12:05
As you get older naps are important.
12:08
[LAUGH] So
unplug from work at least one day a week.
12:10
On Sundays are usually my days where I'm
just like I don't absolutely wanna see
12:16
Slack message, see your email,
get a text message about work and that's,
12:21
you know, personal for me.
12:25
However you make it work for
you cuz everybody's schedules may vary,
12:27
but at least one day
a week you should limit.
12:31
Any kind of communication with work
unless you're on call, obviously, but
12:34
that'll give you that break that you're
looking for to and take those days off.
12:38
Like even if you're not going anywhere,
12:42
take those days off just
to just rest your mental
12:44
So, I think the misconception of working
from home is that people are hanging out,
12:56
going to the movies,
everything but working.
13:04
But you have to start
practicing saying no to people
13:08
when they think you're working from
home and you're just available.
13:11
Hey, can you pick up such and
such from the airport, or, hey,
13:16
can you come with me to this event
that's in the middle of the day?
13:19
And, practicing no, say things like, well,
13:23
when I finish working,
I'll see if I'm available.
13:27
Or I can't right now because I'm working
and if you practice those things to keep
13:31
saying no, it'll put people in
the mindset that even though so and so
13:35
works from home, they're actually working.
13:39
You don't wanna get caught up in
being the go to person because you
13:42
wanna observe the hours that
your team is working in.
13:46
If you're working on
a schedule of nine to five and
13:48
you constantly are taking breaks,
you're gonna have longer days.
13:52
And then your teammates may not be
available to answer those messages,
13:57
because they're observing one set
of hours and you're doing another.
14:00
So try to avoid as many errands for
others and
14:04
yourself as possible because
you are supposed to be working.
14:07
But hey, a quick 15 minute run to
the post office definitely, right?
14:10
We are allowed to do those things
,we're allowed to have a quick
14:13
minute to ourselves but be mindful and
communicate with your team.
14:17
So that disconnect and
reconnecting, so you usually,
14:23
you're getting in your car,
you're listening to the music,
14:27
listening to a podcast, grab that cup of
coffee, have that run in the morning.
14:31
You're doing all these things
to get prepared for work, but
14:37
what are you doing to
prepare when you're at home?
14:40
It has to kind of be the same set of
things that you're doing because it's
14:43
a mental thing that you're
trying to psych yourself into.
14:47
Okay, I'm getting ready for work.
14:50
And the same thing in the evening.
14:52
How are you decompressing when you
completely shut down and log off?
14:54
Take a long walk, take an extra walk,
take the kids outside, do something that's
14:58
gonna take break up that space from you
just working, working working all day.
15:03
So for me, I have a morning ritual
where I go out with my cup of tea.
15:08
I take my dog and we kind of
hang outside for a little while,
15:12
do our little thing and
it kind of preps me and gets me ready for
15:16
the morning and then the same afternoon.
15:20
We walk to the mailbox or do our little
thing and just kind of disconnect so
15:23
that I'm stepping away.
15:27
Because if you're just literally,
going from the couch to the computer,
15:29
you're gonna get in this
phone this this this cycle,
15:34
this burnout that we call in, it's no fun.
15:38
So, continue to do
the things that you enjoy.
15:41
Find some hobbies, find some activities
to break up the monotony when you
15:43
are working from home so
that you have those things to do.
15:48
And I know it all is all like one big blur
splash especially now with the children at
15:52
home, the kids are home,
the spouses are home.
15:56
So creating this routine is not
only gonna be helpful for you, but
15:58
it'll be helpful for your family.
16:02
I have a co-worker who calls her children,
her little colleagues and
16:05
I can just imagine that while
she's working there next to her
16:08
stapling paper and writing memos and
crayons, so ever children to the mix,
16:11
if that's gonna be helpful and beneficial.
16:15
Because if you're doing something and
16:17
they're doing something you can keep
them on task and minimize some of those
16:19
distractions that may come about when
you're having to have a conference or
16:23
trying to get some downtime
if you have the little ones.
16:26
Communication and working from home.
16:33
What can I say about this one?
16:36
Communicating is super important
when you're working from home.
16:39
I don't feel like there's a thing as
communicating too much when you're working
16:43
from home.
16:47
I think over communication is exactly
what you wanna do because it's so hard.
16:48
When you're in the office,
you have those coffee,
16:53
chats or those running into each others.
16:57
And if they don't see you in your desk,
okay, such and such is not here today.
16:59
But when you're working from home and
you're just online and
17:03
the lack of human connection
makes it hard to communicate.
17:07
So communicating and
working from home is a big one,.
17:10
Keep your team manager,
clients when you're
17:15
out away so send, those email responses.
17:20
Hey, I'm on the office
I'm not available so
17:24
that they know that they can get to you.
17:27
If you're running a quick errand or
17:28
something let your immediate team know
hey actually, I'm running to the bank.
17:31
If someone pings me, can you take over,
or can I send something to you, or
17:36
I'll be back?
17:41
But just putting those
notification settings up,
17:42
I like to use mine in Slack
where I put do not disturb on.
17:45
Or just letting them know it's
1:15 I'll be back at 1:30.
17:48
So someone has an urgent matter, I have
shown them that I'm not available but
17:54
they know that I'm not available and
17:59
they can make themselves reach
out to someone else as well.
18:01
Inquire on other team's communication
purpose is to because the way you may work
18:05
internally with one team may not
be the way another team works.
18:10
So if you have those
different interdepartments
18:13
that do things different just inquire.
18:19
So how do you guys such and such or
who's available when that da da da.
18:23
Kind of fill in those blanks, fill in
those things kind of ask and communicate.
18:26
Just always let people know you don't
the worst thing you wanna do is go dark,
18:33
going dark where no one can reach you,
18:38
no one can catch you by whatever mode of
communication that your organization uses.
18:41
You don't wanna go dark that's definitely
not a good thing but always communicate.
18:46
And that way if you do go dark, we'll
know something is up and we'll seek help.
18:51
Keeping your office culture alive.
19:01
So where I work the culture
is a huge thing.
19:03
And we scheduled happy hours
after hours sometimes to just
19:09
kind of connect with each other.
19:14
We're big on giving kudos and
shout outs to people.
19:17
We send those extra messages,
although we're not in the office,
19:21
because we thrive on the culture
that we have in my company.
19:27
So whatever culture that your company has,
keep it going.
19:32
So send all those messages, send all those
things that you need to send because
19:35
keeping that culture alive
when you're not in the office,
19:39
when you get back into the office,
you'll be ready to step right back in.
19:42
And lastly, without that human connection,
without the feel that you get when you're
19:46
having a conversation like face to face
with someone, you have to be intentional.
19:52
You want to delegate tasks.
19:58
Be as clear and concise as you can,
take the opportunities to learn more,
20:02
it could be beneficial in something else.
20:07
Use all your resources effectively,
incorporate breaks into your work.
20:11
Just be intentional with
the things that you're doing.
20:15
Because the lack of the human
connection to get that empathy and
20:18
that understanding, it's just me and
the screen right now,
20:22
me and the Slack messenger,
me and the email.
20:25
And sometimes you can't read all the feels
that you get when you're actually
20:28
communicating with someone face-to-face.
20:32
So make sure you're intentional
about the things that you do.
20:35
And again, using those resources,
if you're in management and
20:38
supervision, delegate
this as much as you can.
20:43
And communicate that with the team when
things are a little iffy or unclear,
20:46
just so that all forms, up and down,
of communication are available.
20:52
Now, putting it into practice,
20:58
that's where I feel like
I lack some kind of,
21:03
am I doing this right?
21:09
Because some days vary, but
21:12
putting it into practice is gonna be the
thing that really sets you up for success.
21:14
Getting a routine together will, again,
21:20
not only benefit you,
but benefit the family.
21:23
So if the routine is everybody gets
up at 8 o'clock, we get dressed,
21:27
we have our breakfast, we take our
morning walk, we're ready to go for
21:31
learning, you have that
time to do those things.
21:35
If the routine is we all stop for lunch,
we have a sandwich, we take another walk,
21:38
or whatever you're doing,
you wanna put those things into practice.
21:43
You wanna do them day by day, because by
then you'll ease into this routine, and
21:47
you'll be doing it in no time, and
you'll be working from home like a pro.
21:51
So again,
create an area dedicated for work.
21:56
You wanna make sure you're working in
optimal mode, mentally and physically.
22:00
So make sure you have all
the things set up for
22:07
success with the extra pieces
of things that you can have,
22:10
your your second screen, that
comfortable chair, the proper lighting.
22:14
You wanna make sure you have all those
things readily available to you so
22:19
you can be as productive as possible.
22:23
Set your schedule and boundaries.
22:25
Listen, a routine Is super,
super effective.
22:27
It takes, what, 21 days to put
something from habit into practice.
22:33
So all it takes is a couple of weeks for
you guys to practice, practice,
22:39
practice, and then you'll have all
the things that you need to be successful.
22:42
And communicate and
use your notification settings.
22:46
Use all the resources that you have to
let people know when you're available,
22:51
when you're away.
22:55
Just, yeah, use all the things.
22:57
And again, you may not be successful
in your first attempts, but
23:00
you get a gold star with me for
just trying.
23:03
So try, try, try.
23:05
And there'll be some tweaking that
23:07
will have to happen
before you get it right.
23:13
But as long as you're practicing and
improving upon the areas that you see fit,
23:20
because again,
everybody's schedule is different,
23:24
you'll be on your way to be
successful from working from home.
23:27
And one of my favorite quotes when I'm
thinking about working from home is
23:31
from the Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy says,
there's no place like home!
23:37
We're at home, this is your environment.
23:42
You can make it work for you,
you have all the things that you need,
23:46
all the resources, all the comforts,
23:51
all the everything that you
need to be successful at home.
23:54
Make it work for you, make it efficient,
don't get too comfortable,
23:58
try to stay out of the bed,
don't work from the couch too often.
24:03
Put yourself in a productive mode to get
those results that you're looking for,
24:08
to get the results that your team
members are looking for, managers,
24:13
supervisors, whomever.
24:18
But you're at home, so
make home work for you.
24:20
I can't stress how important
it is to just be intentional.
24:23
Because when you're intentional
about working from home,
24:30
you still have that mind
frame that I'm at work.
24:33
You may not have the eyes of your
coworkers, but if you're intentional and
24:35
you know you're doing good things, it'll
translate over well to your teammates.
24:39
So we don't have any time for questions.
24:44
But thank you guys so much for tuning in.
24:48
Please feel free to follow me
on LinkedIn if you have any
24:51
other questions or
want some more tips and tricks.
24:56
But I really appreciate you guys for
tuning in.
25:01
Thank you all.
25:03
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