What the AF Staff has Learned from Working Remotely

Because of important social distancing measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19, many people are finding themselves working from home, often for the first time. Since most of AF’s staff and chapter leaders are located all across the country, we’re no strangers to remote work, so we’re sharing some of our best tips on how to stay productive while working from home.

“This was unexpected, but I get a lot of joy from making quick, healthy and inventive lunches at home. Whether it’s dressing up last night’s leftovers with some yogurt and scallions or putting together a quick grain bowl with random vegetables and a  6-minute egg, the creative burst I get from building a colorful and nutritious lunch gives me the energy to power through the rest of the afternoon.” – Cindy C.

“I hope the rest of the team agrees, but I love our daily morning check-ins. Every day, at 9:30 on the dot I see faces of my colleagues from all around the country and we share what we have going on throughout the day. It’s great to have a sense of people’s schedules, and when they won’t be available to meet. But the best part is feeling connected, the reminder that we aren’t alone. It’s five minutes each morning very well spent.” – Cindy C.

“I’ve gotten into the habit of waking up early and using the time I’d otherwise spend commuting doing something else worthwhile, like reading a book or working on a side project. It feels great going into the work day knowing I’ve already accomplished something.” – Josh E.

“Get dressed, have a dedicated workspace, keep phone on airplane mode when possible.” – Rhachel T.

“Working from home with little ones at home can be tough. In this situation a separate space for work (with a door) is a MUST. I like to have a couple of dedicated times throughout the day where I go eat lunch with my son or play with him for a few minutes. That way he gets that regular check in from me, plus it’s always a nice little mental break for me. And then I go back to work feeling refreshed!” – Kristine G. 

“Try to keep a consistent routine as much as possible. Get up at the same time everyday and work the same hours everyday. If you have kids, take alternating shifts with your spouse or someone else who can help you and make sure you have a space with a door that locks. :)” -Mary M.

“One of the transformative things for me this year has been committing to do an intensive workout for 20-30 minutes every day in the middle of my workday. There are lots of free workout videos on Amazon Prime, YouTube, or subscription services for a small monthly fee. I do this right as I’m starting to feel that mid-day slump and my mind is wandering and energy waning. The mood boost you get afterwards is incredible.”  -Mary M.