Long before the pandemic hit and most employees were forced to pack up and become remote workers, I had been working from home full time. In 2017, when my then boyfriend (now husband) and I started to talk more seriously about the future, we realized that I would need to move. This move would mean leaving the city where my corporate office was located, and either finding a new job, or getting permission to work remotely. Thanks to an incredible boss and a strong work ethic, I was given permission to relocate and continue my same job in a new city, fully remote.
Working from home full-time was an adjustment at first, and there are definitely pros and cons. I miss the close relationships that you develop with your co-workers when you’re together, and there is undoubtedly some work that is easier done while collaborating in-person, but there are also so many pros to being a fully remote worker, especially for working moms. Working fully remote allows me to see my kids off to school every morning, and it also means I’m able to give them a huge hug when they walk in the door, and spend 5 minutes listening about their day.
After almost 8 years of working from home full-time, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks to make your work from home career easier, and also to help protect your home and personal life. Everything starts with setting clear boundaries with your co-workers, boss, and family, and being diligent about over-communicating about everything. If you continue to deliver what’s expected of you, I have no doubt you’ll be successful in a remote position as well. Below are some of the other things I’ve learned throughout the years.
Have a Door You Can Close
I know this isn’t possible for everyone, but if there’s any way you can, I highly recommend working behind a door that you can close, especially if you have kids at home, or a spouse. You want to be able to fully focus on your work, and it’s hard to do if you’re constantly being interrupted. You also want your co-workers to trust that you’re fully focused on your job when you’re in virtual meetings.

Create a Desk Space That Works For You
These days, you don’t need a lot of space to create a work space that works for you. There are so many affordable options out there that allow you to customize how you work, from sit to stand desks, to walking treadmills that easily fold up and fit underneath your desk.
Really think about what you need and create a working area that you love and that inspires you to do your best work. Maybe that’s an extra monitor? Or noise-cancelling headphones? We bought a sit-to stand desk that fits two full-size monitors, but easily fit into a small corner in a spare room. I can stand up to take virtual calls so I’m not seated all day long, and it’s made a big difference.
You Will More Than Likely Need Full Time Childcare
If you have a full-time job (even if it’s remote) you should set up childcare just like you would if you were going into an office. I’m constantly joining meetings throughout the day, or focused on time-sensitive work. It would be hard to give my full attention to my job, and my kids at the same time. This is especially true when kids are younger.
Put Boundaries Around Your Work Life
When you work from home, it’s really easy to slip into the habit of quickly running to check emails after dinner (or even checking them from your phone). If you have a job that allows you to, and isn’t time-sensitive, place some boundaries around your work schedule. I like to stick to a set of working hours, and not log-on or check email before or after that time as much as possible. Doing this has allowed me to full unplug and recharge, and has given me the boundaries I need to keep work-life and home-life separate.
Allow yourself to do things during the day
If you were going into an office every day, you wouldn’t be glued to your computer or your desk for 8 hours straight. You’d go to lunch, have meetings, catch up with co-workers, or even run errands. Allow yourself to do the same at home. When I first started working from home I felt like I needed to be glued to my desk in case anyone needed me, but I’ve slowly realized that that’s not realistic, or good for my health. I’ve started to make sure that I take some sort of lunch break during the day, and not eat at my desk, even if that just means moving to the kitchen for lunch. I’ve also made sure that I block off my calendar when there are events at my kids school, and attend those whenever possible. They’re important to me, so I prioritize those into my schedule.
I hope that if you currently work from home, or if you’re considering a fully remote position, that these tips and tricks will help make your work life successful as we head into the new year!
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