How I Keep Sane While Working From Home

Work Is Worship Until It Turns Evil

I work in one of the fastest growing startups in India. I’m a software tester, meaning that it is my responsibility to keep the product bug-free and top quality when end users get their hands on it — so it is safe to say that there’s a significant amount of responsibility, ownership, and accountability to this role. Serious stuff.

I began my career in July 2020, smack-dab right in the middle of the pandemic. I started my career from my room. Even though most people my age wanted to go to a physical office and attend physical meetings, I was pretty content, having to start my professional career from the comfort of my bedroom. I used to be a freelance writer until I started my full-time job so that probably helped me ease into the work from home mentality.

(Well, Well, Well) How The TurnTables

My honeymoon with working from home soon ended, when I began to understand that I wasn’t able to manage the time spent between my personal and my professional life. Where do you draw the line? I’ve never had to work long hours while I was freelancing — it took maybe 2 or 3 hours daily — and even that wasn’t regular. It was my first full-time job, and I wanted to make an impression. Even then, I couldn’t effectively utilize my time to work efficiently. I ended up taking longer than it should to complete easy tasks. None of my superiors actually complained though — but I knew I was letting myself and my team down.

I had to lay down some ground rules. I had to learn what to do and when, like when I was a toddler. Except for this time, I was the teacher and the student.

Rule #1: Long Work Hours Don’t Work.

The first thing that I had to teach myself was that even though I wanted to get a lot of things done in a day, doing all of them in a single sitting was impossible. I could complete them, but it wouldn’t be my best work. It’s like painting a wall when the cement hasn’t set— what you’ve done is mush, and what you’re gonna do will be on top of mush — So. Much. Mush.

Breaks are essential. They help you reset and freshen up for the next stretch of work. Thankfully, my company never defined work hours. As long as I get my tasks done in the best way, they’ll never enquire. I used that to my advantage and defined my own work hours. The only thing that stayed constant was this team meeting that I had in the morning — some days, I attend them straight out of bed, and some days while in bed (I’m not a morning person).

To remind me to take breaks, I use a Pomodoro app. Something like Forest would work. Forest helps you lock your phone and disable notifications for a duration that you pick, so you don’t use your phone for that time, and also get an alarm when the counter reaches zero.

Define your own routine. Take the right amount of breaks. Don’t overdo it and come crying when you get fired.

Rule #2: While Working, WORK.

I can’t stress how obviously important this is. Until you’ve been doing it for a long time, getting into the work mindset while being home is difficult. Every tiny distraction can completely shift your focus from your work. The reason? We’re only human. We’re not used to having to concentrate this hard on tasks while we’re at home. It’s gonna take some time to get accustomed to. It might even take years, depending on how long you’ve been working.

I keep my phone in “Focus Mode”, a setting that allows me to select apps and regulate their notifications. It turns on at 9 AM, and off at 5 PM every day. While taking a break, I can choose to turn the focus mode for 5, 15, or 30 minutes, after which it starts blocking the apps again.

Keep distractions away. Keep your phone away — in a different room if possible, while you work. Set up your work environment in such a way that you’re most secluded from distractions. This can include the busy road outside your house, your neighbor’s dog, or the TV in your hall.

Rule #3: Move Around.

Move, as in walk a few steps or take pushups, not shift houses.

This is a no-brainer. There’s a virus waiting right outside. Keep yourself healthy. This can minimize the risk in the case of accidental exposure. I try jump rope, pushups, or just a small walk around my house. Some days I go out and brush my dog’s hair. Sometimes I just stretch. Or maybe try deep breathing. You get the idea.

Use your breaks to catch up with friends on social media, or catch a quick episode of your favorite sitcom, but also catch up with yourself. Investing in your health has the best ROI. Ask anyone who’s been around long enough.

Rule #4: Converse Slow And Clear.

It is a total corporate shitshow with all the messages and online meetings. Texts don’t convey the tone in the best way and when you’re making good progress in your meetings, suddenly

Communication has crept its way into the list of the top skills of this century. The pandemic and consequent WFH culture have just cemented its importance. Learning to say the important things in the least amount of words is key. Whatever language you use while working, learn to optimize it.

When I need help with something, I use this format:

<Thanks!>

This approach helps the receiver to frame his/her reply in the best possible way and reduces the number of back-and-forths. Also please don’t send “Are you free?” and just flee the scene. I hate to when people do it to me. Either give me the whole picture or don’t text me at all.

These rules have been working pretty well for me. I no longer take longer than required to complete stuff. Whatever I do, I’m giving it my best because I take regular, short breaks to recharge myself. I’m not struggling to concentrate, because I’ve shut most of them off. I’m kind of free from that tailbone pain that I had because I stretch and move regularly instead of planting myself onto my chair. I streamlined my messages and updates so that I can communicate the most with less.

That’s how I keep sane while working from home. And that’s how I —

Ah, damn it.