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15 tips on working from home: find your balance
February 09, 2023
By Advisor Advocate Editorial Team
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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and many offices sent workers home, it was uncertain when we would go back into the office. Now, nearly three years from that first lockdown, many companies have implemented full-time and hybrid remote work policies. After adjusting to such a big shift, it can still feel hard to establish helpful working habits outside of the office.
By many accounts, it seems remote/hybrid work is here to stay. According to Gallup, remote working has remained steady among white-collar workers in recent months. Their study found that “two-thirds of employees in white-collar jobs (67%) reported working from home either exclusively (41%) or some of the time (26%) in September”
With that said, it’s important to find what works well for you as we establish more permanent work from home and hybrid work routines. We asked some of our Nationwide Financial Advisor Advocate blog contributors to share their tips on what works well for them when it comes to working from home.
We hope you can take some of these tips and incorporate them into your daily routine to help yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically adjust to a more permanent remote work lifestyle.
Work on Staying Connected
It can be hard to stay connected with people when working from home. This is a great time to offer yourself as a mentor. The interaction will help you feel connected while providing wonderful value to someone wanting to expand their knowledge.
– Shawn Britt, Technical Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Take breaks during the work day
It’s just me and my husband in the house (kids long gone), so WFH can be isolating. Try to avoid working while you eat lunch – but instead – go on a walk and take a sandwich with you. So many people are walking dogs in the middle of the day now – which gives you a chance to get some fresh air, exercise, and see or chat with people. You will be refreshed, feel healthier, and be ready to work when you return home.
– Shawn Britt, Technical Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Minimize distractions while working from home
When determining where to set-up your home office, choose a room with a door that latches (and preferably locks). The ability to shut out any two or four legged family and limit distractions is critical.
– George Schein, Technical Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
If you have children at home, or spouses working from home (or partially retired as I do) – those family members may interrupt your working momentum throughout the day. Put your company badge on – and tell family members that when you are wearing your badge, you are in the middle of important work, and they may only approach you if the need is urgent. (Yes, I have had to use this with my husband – and it works!)
– Shawn Britt, Technical Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Dress for success
Even if you don’t think you will have any web-based video meetings on a particular day, get dressed for work anyway. Not only does it help establish a “work” frame of mind, you will also already be prepared if someone wants to set up a video call or conference at the last minute. I have a rotating stack of Nationwide Polo’s with the Nationwide Eagle at the left breast of the shirt that I wear daily. When I have a call that requires me to be on camera, the Nationwide Logo is always visible.
– George Schein, Technical Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Break the paper habit
In the office I had many reference materials in hard copy form that I found I didn’t really need when I started working from home. I don’t miss all the paper files I used to access when I was in the office and not having all that paper around has made my workspace feel calmer and more productive.
– Tom Duncan, Senior Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Change up your environment
Change working location in house or apartment intra-day to inspire, change perspective. This works well on those days where I have far more calls than blocked productivity time and I don’t necessarily need to be on camera. Move from your normal workplace to the kitchen table, front porch, bonus room, etc. I’ve even packed lunch a couple times and sat in the shade on a park bench with my laptop to watch NF all associate livestreams broadcasts.
– Carlo Cordasco, Senior National Director of Insights and Solutions Field Team, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Don’t sit in the chair all day long
We’ve all heard the advice to get up and move around during the day, but I’ve found it easier to remember to do that at home versus being in the office because I’ll create a short list of small things I’d like to do that day as a reason to get out of the chair. Creating that list of three or four things that I can do in five or ten minutes serves as my reminder to stand up and move around during the day.
– Tom Duncan, Senior Director, Advanced Consulting Group, Nationwide Retirement Institute
A Sit-Stand Desk has been essential for me as most of our meetings have become virtual. We no longer get the opportunity to stretch our legs in the walks between meetings and sitting in one spot all day can really take a toll physically and mentally. Having the ability to change it up between sitting and standing is a big help.
– JJ Perez, President, Nationwide Financial Corporate Solutions
Take a couple 10-15 minute walk breaks over the course of the day around the house or outside if weather permits. Get some vitamin D!
– Carlo Cordasco, Senior National Director of Insights and Solutions Field Team, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Make your virtual meetings look more professional
Project a top notch digital presence with the right equipment; camera, microphone, lighting. Frame yourself properly on camera and choose an appropriate background.
– Carlo Cordasco, Senior National Director of Insights and Solutions Field Team, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Protect your time
Be deliberate with your calendar. Coordinate booking time for both focusing on projects and clustering meetings and calls to minimize disruptions and optimize outcomes. Use 15, 25, and 45 minute meeting durations instead of defaulting to 30 and 60 minute meetings. Remember, not all calls need to be on video.
– Carlo Cordasco, Senior National Director of Insights and Solutions Field Team, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Allow for life to happen during Zoom or Teams meetings
Recognize everyone’s humanness. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Doorbells, dogs barking, kids interrupting. Acknowledge the distraction, have a laugh where appropriate then move on and let it go.
– Carlo Cordasco, Senior National Director of Insights and Solutions Field Team, Nationwide Retirement Institute
Find your daily routine
It’s really about starting your day with a routine that energizes you. It’s important to start my day with the same routine – whether that’s from home or the office, the consistency helps. If working from home, I’m pretty intentional about reading inspirational quotes every morning. It gets my mind anchored in a place of positivity. If I don’t have time to go outside every morning, I always open my window to let some fresh, air in my office – that is, as long as it’s not 32 degrees or colder. And, it’s important to end your day with something that invigorates you – mentally and physically. A 30-minute run, bike ride, yoga or meditation can do wonders to re-energize you at the end of the day.
– Kristi Rodriguez, SVP, Nationwide Retirement Institute
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