I was never someone who thought that they could work from home. I was wrong. Instead of a cubicle in an office building, I have a desk in my bedroom. But it’s been a great experience. Here are three tips that I have learned this summer about staying focused and productive while working from home.
- Check-In. Even though teleworkers can’t say hello in person, utilize email or instant messenger to catch up in the morning or throughout the day. Feeling connected is important, and it can happen through a virtual environment too.
- Create Separate Spaces. For lunch, I will eat in another room. This simulates going out to eat or leaving my office for the cafeteria. By eating in a separate room, I get a change of scenery and come back to my computer refreshed and ready for the afternoon.
- Get Dressed! Even though teleworking doesn’t always require video conferencing every day, I have found it to be very helpful to get dressed and ready for work every day. This simple task gets me in the right mindset for a productive day, and it allows me to be ready if I am attending a last-minute meeting.
These three tips are things I have learned this summer. This experience is one that I am very grateful to have had, and happy to carry forward the skills I have learned in any future jobs I have.
Daniel Chalfin
U.S. Department of Transportation - Office of the Chief Counsel
Washington, D.C. | summer 2020