Raise your hand if you have mastered the art of working from home. If your hand is shaking by your side, you are not alone. It is hard when your children are screaming in the background and you have to quickly calm them down so your coworkers do not think you are running a sweatshop. Then there are rainy days. when your Wi-Fi is spotty and your makeshift work desk sits in a dark corner of a house that is usually filled by the sunlight. The worst offender: coworker birthdays without the spoils of office cake.
Kimberly Smith, Founder of Marjani and Co-Founder of The Brown Beauty Co-op
I start my mornings with mediation or positive affirmation to help set my energy for the day. I also avoid my phone and consuming any type of news within the first hour of waking up. I designate daily office hours where I complete work tasks, projects, browse social media, take meetings, etc. Some days my office is a comfortable spot in my home, others, it’s a private spot outside at a park. After office hours, it’s all about personal and family time. That could be a game night with family, drinks with friends (socially distant of course) or a night binging a new show. I also adjust my “office hours” based on the priorities of the day to allow flexibility. For me, knowing when to turn off work and be present is the key to successfully WFH.
Sara Panton, Co-Founder and CEO of Vitruvi
I’ve been diffusing these to transform my WFH space from AM to PM to boost productivity and help make a small change in my space throughout the day. In the mornings I create a fresh citrus Boost Diffuser Blend which is a blend of juniper, lime, grapefruit, bergamot. In the afternoon, I usually have Grove Diffuser Blend on at my desk. It’s a blend of pine, spruce, fir, and cedarwood. After work, I create an oasis with my retreat diffuser blend — a blend of grapefruit, palmarosa, and eucalyptus.
Caron Proschan, Founder and CEO of Simply Gum
There are things I love about working from home (like being able to wear sweats all day), but it’s definitely been a challenge to stay productive and healthy. I’ve found that having a structured routine is key. I start the day by walking to a local restaurant, Cafe Reveille, for a matcha latte to go. It’s refreshing to get outside, even for 15 minutes and it gives me a sense of normalcy. I also love that I can support a local business. When I get home, the video calls begin. In order to maintain momentum, I always do leftovers for lunch, which prevents it from becoming a big production that takes up too much time. I feel like so much of my quarantining has revolved around food and the good thing is that I’m improving my cooking skills. The New York Times cooking section and recipes are great, of course, and I’ve also found some fun recipes on 177 Milk Street. The best purchase I’ve made during my quarantine is an electric foot-warming blanket I got on Amazon. It feels like a small indulgence and I usually end the day working from the sofa, with my electric blanket and my favorite Pukka Love tea.
Gigi Goldman, Co-Founder of Kopari
What I love about the current environment is everyone is coming to the table in a really natural authentic way in their own home, surrounded by family, pets and roommates. As we continue to work from home, don’t forget to exercise, take a shower, get dressed, set up a desk and keep up your skincare routine. No matter what the environment, healthy glowing skin is really important to people, especially as we minimize makeup application.
Sara Brooks, Founder and CEO of Covet PR
As an entrepreneur and mother to both a toddler and a newborn, everything about the way I work has been flipped upside down! Since lockdown started, I’ve been forcing myself to get outside for a midday break and I do not eat lunch while working. These are both things I always encouraged my staff to do pre-quarantine, but I was a terrible offender of not listening to my own advice. Just a few minutes of fresh air (following social distancing guidelines) and quality time eating lunch with my husband and children at the kitchen table has worked wonders to boost my productivity and happiness.
NJ Falk, Co-Founder of Forward Female
I recommend making your circumstances and surroundings as pleasant as possible. If you can sit by a window, get fresh air or be sure you have good lighting. Move a piece or art or a favorite photo or series of frames to your work area. Run a humidifier or a diffuser and turn down the temperature just a few degrees to get the circulation moving. Give yourself CREDIT where it is due and compassion and leeway for the adjustment to the circumstances. Don’t punish yourself or be disappointed — additional self-care and self-love are needed to be successful under these conditions. Don’t focus on what you CAN’T do, focus on what you CAN DO.
Brook Harvey-Taylor, Founder and President of Pacifica
Indulging in super simple things that make me happy, has made me more productive in quarantine. For instance, wearing my favorite perfume, drinking green tea with honey (this keeps my brain more on track these days!), washing my face every morning to get “ready” for my day and a simple walk outside helps me feel centered. For work, committing to daily live, on-camera meetings with my teams is major for me. While I don’t make it mandatory, I do request that we keep our cameras on for these as seeing people’s faces while we talk creates a better human connection!
Carolyn Yachanin, Founder of Copina Co.
I try to stick to a normal schedule as much as possible during work from home and ground myself in ritual and routine as much as I can. My morning routine is something that centers me and helps me feel like I’m doing something for myself before I get pulled in a million directions. I wake up at around 5:30 or 6, drink a ton of water, drink hot matcha, try to meditate for about 10 minutes, and then get some movement in before I eat my breakfast later in the morning and get to work at about 8. I personally love biking outside, doing yoga or pilates in my apartment, or going on a walk. Having this schedule is something that helps me be my best.
Lesley Thorton, Founder of Klur
On weekdays, I get out the bed at 7:30 am and I put on some hot water and lemon. I saw that Dr. Oz, he does this every day. I’m lucky to have a lemon tree, so it only makes sense. While my water is still boiling, I go to the bathroom and get myself together. I’m pretty minimal in the morning. I brush my teeth and hair and I only wash my face with water in the morning. I apply Symmetry Fluid, it’s great for hydrating and nourishing my skin and, depending on my skin needs, I grab a current Klur lab sample of moisturizer or facial oil and SPF. I rarely get dressed when I’m working from home. If I have a zoom meeting, it’s a nice blouse, earrings, and sweatpants. I switch from my pajamas to my professional pajamas. At 8:30 am, I’m ready to sit down with my tea or water and return emails and calls. I fast in the morning just to stay focused and around 10:30 am, I’ll have an MCT-collagen coffee and an organic apple as my first source of fuel. I break for lunch at 2:00 pm and since I’m home I cook up whatever is in the fridge. I eat a ketogenic diet, which has vastly improved my energy levels and overall health and well-being. Around 5:30 pm, I rest. I literally do nothing, but read and practice grounding with essential oils or water my plants, this is my favorite time of day. At 8:00 pm, I tie up any loose ends for my day, this includes dry brushing, cold shower, evening skincare, laundry/cleaning, and a to-do list for the next day. I post on social media for the last time and I prep for bed. I’m not good about making my bed when I wake-up, so I make the bed just to get back in it. At 9:00 pm, I’m turning off all the lights and watching a movie or something to relax. I don’t like too many bright lights on after 9:00 pm so my body can start adjusting and cortisol is low enough for me to fall asleep. I really value a good night’s rest more than ever and since my days are pretty busy, it’s important I squeeze it all in and get to sleep no later than 10:30 pm, just so I can do it all again.
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