COVID-19: How to cope in your new home workplace (and keep it clean)

As a freelancer who has worked at home since about 2012, I know how hard it is to work out of your home. I have it even harder in some ways, because I live in an efficiency. My workspace is also my living room, kitchen, dining room and bedroom. If you’re trying to work from home during the pandemic, you may not feel as productive as normal. These are troubling times, so it’s understandable. Give yourself a break. Here are some things that I’ve learned to help maintain some semblance of normalcy without an office outside my home.

Keep distance between home and work

When work invades your home, it’s hard to have a good work-life balance. Get into a routine, preferably the same one you had when you went to work. Get your coffee and breakfast. Dress for work, maybe not as much as you might if you were going into the office. Brush your hair. Tell yourself you’re starting work. Wipe down your workspace with cleaning wipes before you start. Take breaks during the day. Eat lunch away from your workspace. When you’re done with work for the day, close the door to your office, either literally or figuratively.

Declutter your workspace

Seriously, you’ll work better when your desk (or kitchen table or wherever you’re working) is clean. Harvard Business Review makes a good case for keeping your workspace clean. Don’t think that you’re going to spend a day cleaning and be ready to work the next day. If you haven’t decluttered in a while, you may need to tackle the jobs one at a time.

First, get your desk cleaned off. If your employee expects you to work from home, you need to be productive. Take 10 to 15 minutes to deal with the clutter on your desk or workspace. Start the day out with a clear space. At the end of the day, clean up again. Wipe your desk down with Clorox wipes. Use this as your mental commute. Make a list of what you need to start on the next day. Leave work at work, even though you’re home.

Take the tortoise approach to organizing. You can’t completely undo days of clutter in just a few minutes. Figure out which places are the priority. Cleaning off your kitchen counter can immediately make your home feel tidier. Tackle those chores in 10 to 15 spurts. Do what helps you work. For me, I need to have the floor vacuumed and swept. I take 20 to 30 minutes before I sit down to work and do some clean-up. When my dishes are done before I start work, it’s easier to get lunch ready and get back to work quickly.

Don’t just veg out in the evening. Spend 30 minutes cleaning up and wiping down surfaces. You’ll be less distracted the next day when you can go into your bathroom and not feel as if you need to clean up. Do laundry and other chores in the evening to leave your day free to work.

Dealing with cats

My cats constantly walk on my laptop. They would sleep on it if I let them. Instead of closing it every time I get up, I place an upside-down laundry basket on my laptop when I’m just going to be gone for a few minutes. I also make a point to play with them every couple of hours. I put a basket on my desk for my cat to be close to me without being on top of me when I work. Beyond that, they’re just annoying sometimes. Even when it’s not cold and flu season, I wipe down my desk with cleaning wipes because my cats are a mess.

I don’t have young children, so I’m not even going to try and offer any help there. All I can say is that we’re all making sacrifices during this pandemic. Your job may have to understand that your kids are home with you. Your kids may have to entertain themselves for a while. Try to find something to laugh at each day. Even though we’re social distancing and sheltering in place, find ways to connect with your loved ones. Just don’t forget to clean all surfaces with Clorox wipes. Wash your hands.