For anyone new to #fulltime #remotework, being “always on” is a big stressor. Here are some coping tips:
- schedule regular breaks
- tell coworkers and clients when you will be away and *when you will be back*
- allot extra time for tasks (1/?)

Regularly scheduled breaks are important to mimic the cadence of a day in the office with short breaks in rhythm, brought by getting a cup of coffee, chatting with a colleague, or hopping on a phone call. These breaks reset your attention span and give your eyes a rest.

The thing about #WorkFromHome is that ordinary breaks in routine are less spontaneous because unlike in offices, those breaks are less obvious to coworkers and others. You don’t want to leave them hanging. (2/?)

Wow. Three tweets in and I messed up the numbering. But I digress...

Why allot extra time for common tasks?
Because compared to in-office work, a larger % of your #remotework day will be taken up by the act of communicating: phone, email, video conferencing and texting. (Dispensing w/the count, LOL)

Which reminds me, you’ll need to be prepared to hold conversations across a number of channels and keep them straight. A conversation may start on email, transition to instant messaging, move to a text thread, back to an email, then to a video chat or phone call.

I’ve got tips for that as well:
- Establish ground rules for types of communication on specific channels
For example, you might only accept task requests via email or request form, not phone call or instant message.

To avoid drawing out conversations unnecessarily (think email chains with lots of back and forth):
- cut off the back and forth after X number of messages.
You can negotiate X with colleagues. The key is to set a threshold after which you schedule a meeting to resolve matters.

So, a few more #remotework tips:
- schedule calls and meetings for 5 or 10 shorter than the typical time block
- don’t go overboard with the coffee/caffeine
- resist the temptation to eat more frequently.
‘Nuf said on that.

If you’re new to full time #remotework, you’ll likely struggle with the length of your days; even more so if you are in a different time zone from coworkers. How to cope:
- get your rest (sleep, exercise, leisure, downtime)
- pick core hours and stick with them

A special note about #remotework core hours:
- it’s different from office core hours, esp. now
- you may need to time shift to balance work and home (start/end early or late; split work into early and late dayparts, with time for kids in the middle)

Once you set your core hours, ABIDE BY THEM!
When you are “on the clock,” avoid the temptation to do the laundry, dishes, etc. When you are “off the clock,” avoid the temptation to check email, take that phone call, etc.
That sacrifices your work-life balance and causes stress!

So, these are my biggest tips for successfully managing a transition to full time #remotework. Have more tips to offer? Reply to this thread!