Your Recommended Tools for Working from Home
A lot of people are working from home right now.
People who normally have a specific routine that involves waking up at a certain time, driving or taking public transportation to the office… maybe making a 9:30am coffee run… and leaving right at noon for a lunch break… before getting back to the office and cranking out some work.
A lot of us have pretty predictable schedules.
But when you work from home (like millions are being forced to right now due to the global health crises), those schedules can get upturned. Especially if you aren’t used to the freedom (and isolation) that comes with it.
Now, suddenly there are a ton of new distractions…. and you don’t have anyone looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re working.
So it’s easy to find yourself in a situation where you think, well, I’m already home, why don’t I make that new recipe I wanted to try?... My dog looks lonely over there, maybe she needs a belly rub and maybe a walk too… Wait, did I really just spend an hour browsing Instagram?
You tell yourself you can stop working just for five minutes but end up spending three hours watching Netflix or browsing the web.
And then you have to spend the rest of your day frantically scrambling to get all your work done.
Not to mention that with social distancing because of COVID-19, workplaces, schools, and daycares are all closing… which means there are a ton of parents stuck at home right now, trying to finish their work while their kids are in the next room.
(Great for family time! Not so great for those deadlines.)
Being a fully remote marketing agency... we know all about the unique challenges that come with #WFH
Here are 16 of our favorite tools to help you get work done and say bye-bye to distractions (or at least feeling better during it).
MacBook
In this day and age, you need a laptop and good wifi to get any work done remotely. We love the MacBook because it’s light and easy to carry if you decide to go work at a coffee shop or the library after your self-imposed quarantine is over.
Zoom
Zoom is having a cultural moment right now, thanks to how many people are working from home. This video conferencing tool isn’t just being used by remote workers, either: friends have been using them to get together while social distancing, and there have even been music and arts festivals streaming (but make sure you finish your work before you watch them!)
Asana
Asana is a task managing tool that allows you to easily organize your task list and delegate work. Plus, it’s super satisfying to check things off your list. And sometimes a unicorn flies across the screen when you complete a task. That’s real incentive.
A Cute Coffee Mug
The things around your home office work space can have a huge impact on productivity. Even something as little as having a cute mug you’re excited to drink from can make working from home more enjoyable.
All the Coffee
If you’re on island then Ono Farms coffee is a great way to get that buzz while also supporting sustainable, eco-friendly, multi-generational organic family farming.
If you’re not lucky enough to live on Maui then you’ll love this organic, fair-trade coffee by Kicking Horse. It tastes great, and it’s called Smart Ass. So you can start your day feeling like a badass genius.
...Or Maybe Tea
Maybe you’re not a coffee-drinker. We get it. Having tea every morning is still a great ritual to signal to your brain, hey, we’re gonna start working now. We like green tea because there’s just enough caffeine to kick start you.
Sound Cancelling Headphones
For those of you with loud children, roommates, or neighbors. Or dogs like Olly that like to bark at every car that goes by.
Fresh Flowers
Fresh flowers or live plants don’t just make your desk look pretty: they actually help you complete your tasks better and with greater accuracy. Studies show that being around plants helps increase memory retention and concentration.
If you’re on Maui, you can support local flower businesses like @wildheartflowers or @harvest_dream_girl, or just cut some from your yard!
Crystals
You may or may not be on this woo-woo train, but if you’re like us, you love the help of crystals to boost your mood, stay focused, and get creative.
Smokey quartz and tourmaline will help you block out other people's nonsense, while carnelian will boost your creativity, and pyrite and citrine bring prosperity.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Create a calming, focused workspace with an essential oil diffuser. We love this one for its wood grain. Try it with peppermint essential oil to perk you up, eucalyptus to stimulate your brain, or rosemary to boost focus and memory.
Air Purifier
If your home isn’t as blessed as your office is with a nightly cleaning staff keeping all those dust mites away, an air purifier can be a great solution to keep pet dander, pollen, and mold at bay.
Our favorite is this one. Sometimes they can be loud, but they work really well to filter the air in your home office.
Spotify Playlist or Binaural Beats for focus
Search Spotify or YouTube for “focus” or “creativity.” YouTube also has dozens of videos with binaural beats — specific sound frequencies meant to boost productivity and cognitive performance.
Anti-Blue Light Glasses
Blue light can suppress melatonin production, so these glasses are especially useful if you’re working at night. Now that your meetings and social time is all attached to a screen for the time being… use these to prevent eye strain and mental exhaustion.
Pomodoro Timer Apps
It can be hard to work when there’s no one around to keep you on track. Luckily, there are dozens of Pomodoro apps like Focus Keeper and tomato timer to help you break up your day into easily-manageable 25-minute increments of focused working.
You’d be surprised how effective this practice can be. Setting a 25 minute timer for work time, and getting as much done in that time period, followed by a mandatory 5 minute break… You get a massive amount done without getting exhausted.
There are a lot of other great benefits of work-break style schedules - you can read a good explanation here.
A Good Pair of Walking Shoes
Like these Adidas. With a good pair of shoes, you’ll be excited to manage your time well so you can get off your butt sooner and get some fresh air. So you’re not stuck sitting at your computer all day.
The Life Coach School Podcast Episode #261: “Throw Away Your To-Do List”
This podcast episode is a super practical step-by-step in how to actually get a shit-ton done, and not waste time doing things that don’t matter.
There you have it: our favorite tools for maximizing productivity and avoiding distraction while working remotely.
Stock your home with these essentials, and try these out if your company is forcing you to #WFH this month… Now you’ll be prepared to get shit done.
