5 Remote Work Tips to Boost Happiness and Productivity

We’ve officially been working from home for a year now, but there’s always still room to grow, especially since we’ll be working remotely for the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, Brittany Leverett, an Alumni Success Manager at Flockjay, recently moderated a Lunch & Learn about working from home with a panel of Flockjay employees and alumni:

• Dunetka Cussi, Success Advisor at Flockjay
• Toby Ukandu, Account Executive at Stripe and Senior Sales Trainer at Flockjay
• Nagieb Musaid, Admissions Advisor at Flockjay and Former Tech Fellow at Flockjay
• Elise Cox, Customer Success Advisor at Gusto and Former Tech Fellow at Flockjay

Here are five quick remote work tips that Brittany shared that can not only boost your happiness during the day but also your productivity. After that, read more remote work tips from the full panel here.

1. Take regular breaks throughout the day

When you work from home, it’s easy to just sit at your desk and keep plugging and chugging away at your work. Obviously, you’ll take breaks to get water, eat, and go to the restroom. But those aren’t enough to sustain your energy and focus throughout the day.

“There are a lot of different types of breaks that you can take to better care for your mental and physical health while you work, like playing with your pets, taking them on a walk, or hanging out with your kids,” says Brittany. “Watching an episode of your favorite show during your lunch break is even a great way to recharge.”

2. Have your favorite snacks ready at your disposal

“No one likes working with hangry people, and you’re bound to get hungry throughout the day,” says Brittany. “So consider buying snacks that you can quickly pull out in-between meetings or during your breaks.”

Snacking is also a great way to keep your tank full and avoid stuffing yourself during lunch, which can lead to the dreaded food coma and, in turn, an afternoon lull.

3. Do walking one-on-ones

Switching things up not only freshens your day but it can also skyrocket your creativity. That’s why skipping the traditional Zoom meeting at your desk for a walking one-on-one meeting on your phone is one of the best things you can do when you work from home.  

“Walking one-on-ones also allow you to explore your surroundings or run some errands at home, all while connecting with your colleagues,” says Brittany. “This is especially beneficial when your work or personal life has gotten a bit overwhelming.”

4. Set alarms to remind you to take breaks and stop working

Sometimes, you need an alarm to remind you to get up and stretch, go walk the dog, get outside, drink water, or whatever you need to do to take a break.  Additionally, you might need another alarm to remind you to stop working.

“We’ve all had nights where we worked until 9:00 pm, especially during the pandemic,” says Brittany. “But it’s definitely healthier to set a cut-off time so you can respect your time and your work-life balance.”

5. Connect with coworkers

Working from home can get a little bit lonely sometimes. It can get even worse when you’re new to a company and don’t really know how to connect with your new colleagues remotely.

A few ways to start socializing at work are to schedule bi-weekly lunch breaks with co-workers and attending company events.  At Flockjay, we have a different team host our weekly happy hour, which is called Friday Wine Downs. We also have a bunch of different identity groups that meet on a consistent basis.

“Odds are, your company hosts events and has identity groups, so don't be afraid to join them,” says Brittany. “It might seem a little intimidating at first, especially if you're new to the company, but everyone will likely be super welcoming and excited to have you there.”

Stay Productive While Working from Home

We might be at the beginning of the end of COVID-19, but WFH is here to stay. Be sure to reference this blog if you’re ever struggling with remote work. We hope these tips can help you boost your happiness and productivity! Hear from the full panel when you read How to Make Working Remotely Work for You.