Working from home has benefits and challenges. However, one of the challenges is setting boundaries between work life and personal life. It can be difficult to keep work from encroaching on personal time and vice versa.

This post will look at tips for setting boundaries when working from home.

Setting physical boundaries: designating a workspace.
Designate a specific area in your home as your workspace. This will help you to mentally transition into work mode when you sit down at your desk, and it will remind you to leave work behind when you leave your desk at the end of the day. Your home office or workspace should be free of distractions, like your TV. Creating a specific work area will allow you to focus on the task at hand fully can be fun, but ensure it creates an atmosphere that motivates you to be creative and productive. For example, you might want to use a desk or table with plenty of space for your computer and other work-related items. 

You may also want to consider a comfortable chair, ergonomic keyboard, and other tools to help you be more productive since you will spend a good portion of your day here. Additionally, when considering your desk, note if you will need a standup desk or one that is adjustable for standing and sitting. For example, I have difficulty sitting for hours, so the adjustable ones work best. It may take a minute to get the best working space in order, which is perfectly okay; remember that your decisions should be based on your needs and preferences.

Set office hours and stick to them. 
One way to set boundaries between work and home life is to establish office hours and stick to them. This will help create a routine and prevent work from creeping into other parts of your life. If you work flexible hours, it can be challenging to stick to office hours at first. Your dedicated workspace will assist and motivate you in this area. If you like to work in a quiet place, ensure that your space allows it. If you need noise like myself, there are many youtube ASMR videos to help. Be sure to let other family members know when your office hours are so, they can respect your privacy during those times.

If you have trouble sticking to office hours, consider setting a timer or using an app to track your time so you can stay on schedule. You may also want to let your boss or team know what your plan looks like so they can be aware of when they can reach you.

Setting mental boundaries: scheduling breaks, avoiding distractions
Take breaks! Get up and move around regularly, take a walk outside, or just step away from your desk for a few minutes to clear your head. This is essential to refresh your mind and make it easier to get back into work mode. I find that I am more creative when I do this. To avoid distractions, you can also set aside specific times of the day when you are allowed to check Facebook or Instagram, etc. Social media can be a time waster, and you don't want this to interfere with your ability to be productive. If you're up for it, try going on a social media fast and see what changes in your productivity.

Communicating boundaries with others: family, roommates, friends 
Setting boundaries with the people you live with is essential when working from home. Let your family and roommates know when you're working and available to talk. Let them know what kind of noise levels are acceptable and whether or not you need complete silence. It's also important to set boundaries with your friends. Tell them that just because you're working from home doesn't mean you're available to chat whenever they want. Set up specific times to talk, or let them know that you'll respond to their messages during breaks in your work day.

If you don't set these boundaries, focusing on your work and being productive can be challenging. Communicating your needs to the people in your life can ensure everyone is on the same page and help create an environment conducive to getting work done.

Invite Others to Collaborate 
One method I find helpful in terms of being productive working from home is using the Pomodoro technique. I have already covered this technique in an article on the site before here. However, this method allows you to work in time sessions and take breaks alone or in collaboration. I now have quite a few friends that work remotely, so we get together and have our Pomodoro sessions holding each other accountable for being productive. Try this fantastic discord group; here, it allows you to work with others if you don't have a group of friends to try this technique with.

Collaboration is a great way to increase productivity. It can also help keep you motivated and engaged when working. However, choose the people you collaborate with wisely to ensure productive sessions.

Final Thoughts
If you have difficulty staying focused, try some or all of these tips to see if they help you. Remember that this is a significant adjustment if you are new and to give yourself grace. However, be sure to set yourself up for success with these tips, and remember to take time for yourself is essential to avoid burnout. This can be as simple as going for a walk, taking a shower, or even taking a short nap. When working from home, it is so easy to overwork. However, you want to develop a routine where your mind will be refreshed and ready to tackle the day's work. Let us know what tips work for you.

COVID-19 has forced many to reevaluate how they operate. For some, this has meant transitioning to a remote work model. This shift has been permanent for many companies, even after the pandemic has subsided. Remote work is on the rise and doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Some of the reasons for this are obvious: remote work can reduce costs, increase productivity, and improve employee happiness.

The rise of remote work
The rise of remote work has been steady, with more companies offering employees the option to work from home. There are several reasons for this trend, including the ability to attract and retain top talent.

For many workers, the appeal of remote work is evident. There is no need to commute means more time to spend with family or on personal pursuits outside work. And with today's technology, it's easier than ever to stay connected and productive from anywhere.

The benefits of remote work

There are several reasons why working remotely may become the new norm:

1. It can help organizations save on overhead costs like office space and utilities.
2. It gives employees greater flexibility and autonomy regarding their work schedule and location.
3. It allows companies to tap into a global talent pool by hiring remote workers from anywhere in the world.

The challenges of remote work
Of course, working remotely isn't without its challenges. For one, it is not easy to maintain communication and collaboration among team members who are not in the same physical space. Additionally, some employees may feel isolated or lonely working from home all the time. 

Making the transition to remote work
For many people, the transition to remote work can be difficult. It can be hard to stay motivated when you're not in an office environment, and there are distractions at home. Here are a few tips to help you make the transition:

1. Set up a dedicated workspace: Having a dedicated space for work will help you stay focused and motivated. Make sure your workspace is comfortable and has everything you need to do your job well.

2. Stay connected with your team: It's essential to stay in touch with your team when you're working remotely. Use video conferencing or chat tools to check regularly and catch up on projects.

3. Take breaks and disconnect when needed: Working from home can be isolating, so take breaks throughout the day to step away from your work.

The future of remote work

The future of remote work is looking bright. With more and more companies embracing the remote work model, it's clear that this way of working is here to stay. In addition, as remote work becomes more common, we're seeing new technologies and platforms emerge to support the needs of remote workers.

In the coming years, we can expect to see even more companies offering remote work options to their employees as people expect greater flexibility and freedom.

Tell us: 
What do you think? How long have you been working remotely? If you are currently working in the office, do you hope to move into a remote role in the future?

I remember when working remotely and online education received negative connotations. Today, it is safe to say that this has changed. I have worked remotely since 2011, and it has been a great journey for me. However, with my workforce development background, I understand remote work is not for everyone, just as the traditional work environment wasn’t best for me. 

You might ask what prompted me to write this post. Honestly, I am worried about the number of people working remotely ill-prepared. I am even more concerned with Professors on ground converting to the online format with no training or guidance. This is a concern because people who have been working remotely for years have worked hard to fight the stigma associated with working from home and also teaching at the university level online. We have developed processes, protocols, best practices through networking with each other to make things work effectively and efficiently for students, customers, management, and other stakeholders of our affiliate organizations. Therefore, it is concerning to see people moving into the remote work environment without any guidance.

While I do agree it is the best way to go given the current situation due to Coronavirus, I do have concerns about the overall impact this may have on the remote workforce in the future. At the time of this blog post, we are seeing organizations and the government promote working remotely for the time being. This is no different for colleges and universities around the world. Many schools are canceling face-to-face classes in hopes of protecting staff, faculty, and students. 

I feel obligated to communicate a few tips that helped me transition from working on-ground in higher education to remotely teaching along with critical roles in Faculty and Academic Affairs.

Utilize your LMS is much as possible.
When teaching online it is essential to utilize your learning management system to its fullest potential. Most universities are using one of the major platforms to host classes such as blackboard, canvas, and even Moodle. Ensuring that all of your material is set up correctly in your learning management systems tool will help you as problems may arise. I recognize that on-ground professors and instructors are used to passing the syllabus out on the first day, collecting homework in class along with other traditional methods of teaching. I highly suggest having your syllabus ready on your LMS, incorporating discussions online, having students turn in their work through the LMS, and complete all grading and notes inside of the LMS. This step will save you headaches as you get to the end of the term. 

Incorporate Live Video into teaching.
Since traditional professors and instructors are not used to teaching online, and their students may not be accustomed to an online format. It can be beneficial to put everyone at ease by introducing live sessions for your online course. I have personally utilized Zoom.us, MS Teams and WebEx in my online courses. These programs will allow you to have a live lecture and discussion with your students. You may consider recording your session so that students have the information to refer to at a later time.

You can also record your videos in advance and have them available for students, instead of a live session. This may be a better option for you if you are teaching multiple sections of the same course as it will save you real-time and help nontraditional students. 

Whatever you decide, make sure that you are ADA compliant and utilize captions for students that may need it. 

Keep everything simple and short.
With online learning, there is room for distraction, and the best way to help students succeed is to have content that is short and concise for the learning experience. For educators that are used to teaching on-ground, you may be accustomed to developing a slideshow with content for 50-minute or 1-hour 20-minute lectures. I promise you that your online course will be more useful for you and your students if you split up those lectures into shorter mini-lectures. In the online environment, students do not sit at their computers for 50 minutes three times a week. They tend to check in more often to do their work. The shorter lecture videos often provide students with opportunities to take a break from online learning and step away while coming back to pick up right where they left off. You will also find that students will appreciate shorter lecture videos as it helps them find the content that they need to review later for papers, quizzes, and exams. I tried to keep my videos to be around 5 to 10 minutes long. However, I suggest not going over 15 minutes. Another advantage is that you will be able to record, edit, and upload your videos faster.

Keep it simple with technology.
I am sure most of you are experiencing more students in your classroom. Well, the same is valid with online courses. My highest in a single session was 40. Remember, you do not have a tech person to assist you with the outside technology you can use in your course room. Therefore, technology, although impressive, can create issues and pain points for your students.

Remember, if your students wanted to be in an online course, they probably would have already. Since you are forced to take your course online, you must consider your tools and its complexity for your students. My recommendation is to always go with systems, processes, and technology that will make it easier for your students, not harder. The same goes for you as the instructor to create your content. If you are not used to creating online content. You should use simple tools to get the job done, such as Google Drive for documentation and storage, and screen-sharing programs such as Screencast-O-Matic, to name a few.

Utilize the Pomodoro technique for Working from home
When you work remotely, your time can get away from you, and distractions will increase. There is a technique that is as simple as using a timer or a phone app for 25-minute work sessions. Once your timer expires, you can take a five-minute break to move around, Grab a Snack, Or anything else you need to do other than Look at a screen. After you have completed four cycles of working and 25-minute sessions, your break can increase to 10, 15, 20, or 25 minutes. You can continue the work sessions until you complete the task. This technique comes in very handy when creating course content, grading student papers, and assignments. You can check out my full review of the Pomodoro technique here. 

Resources that have assisted me in teaching online

• LMS: Blackboard, Moodle and Canvas
• Google Drive: Sheet, Document, Form 
• Communication: Slack, MS Teams, Zoom.us 
• Course Management: Asana 
• Video and Recording: OBS, Screencast-O-Matic, Zoom.us 

Final thoughts
I understand that teaching remotely is not for every educator. You find yourself in a tough position of moving your course(s) entirely online in a matter of days or weeks without much guidance. It is important to note that you have fellow educators who have worked remotely for many years and have developed best practices and strategies. Therefore, there is no harm in reaching out for advice or suggestions. Goodluck, and stay safe. 

GuideWAH's Newsletter: 
Do you want to know about new leads and tips first? Signup now for our newsletter. Our readers enjoy learning about resources, job leads and online events such as career fairs first. ​
GuideWAH's Podcast:
You asked and now we provides tricks and tips on finding flexible remote opportunities. 
GuideWAH's Remote Lifestyle Interviews:
We are proud to announce that after a long wait we are finally starting our blog series: Interviews with people working remotely. These will be people who are working remotely as employees or those that are business owners, and they do most of their work from a home office or as they travel. ​
Flexjobs:​
Find telecommuting jobs, part-time employment and freelance work to fit your schedule and lifestyle.  Flexjobs gives you access to thousands of flexible job listings in over 50 career categories. You don’t need to sift through hundreds of listings a day in hopes of finding something offering work from home that isn’t a scam. They’ve done the work for you.
Employment Options:
Employment Options is a certified National Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment resource. They have helped 1000’s of clients successfully return to work for over 20 years.  They also have virtual job fairs and webinar training sessions open to everyone.

With the Coronavirus impacting countries around the world, we see the impact that this is having on the remote workforce currently and implications for the future. For that reason, I felt obligated to write this post from the perspective of an educator and workforce development strategist.

As we see the virus continuing to spread across the world in various countries, we also see some employers taking extreme safety measures to protect people. We have seen companies across the globe ask their employees to do their tasks remotely, cancel travel, and separate themselves from the masses to prevent the spread of disease. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention has jumped on board with providing guidelines and protocols for businesses and promoting that they encourage people to work remotely to reduce the risk. At first, this may seem like this is excellent. However, we have to acknowledge that some organizations and people may not be ready to join the remote workforce. Those of us in the field already have to be concerned with how this will all play out for the future.

Some of you may be thinking that this is exciting. However, I have been in the remote workforce since 2011 and seen successful organizations and many that weren't. If you have listened to our blogs and our podcasts, you would understand that we stress that working remotely is not for everyone, and businesses and companies have to plan how to enter the remote workforce. Otherwise, this whole idea of having millions of people joining the remote workforce in a short time can backfire. A simple way to put this is acknowledging that flipping the switch to remote work is not always easy and straightforward. With my experience in workforce development, it takes strategy and process to do it effectively. Making the switch from working in an office to remote will present challenges for organizations if they have never done it before. 

We are merely seeing organizations moving 100% remote without any planning or a strategy in place. Moving an organization fully remote takes time, resources, and training to do this successfully. Employers have to think about The following scenarios before going remote such as:

• How will they communicate with their employees?
• How will they work together in collaboration?
• How will they know work is getting done?
• How will they maintain the company culture in the remote workforce?

Employers can develop a strategy and a plan for working remotely, but it is going to take time. They need to think about communication and how they will talk to each other verbally and non-verbally. For example, are they using Slack, MS Teams, Facebook Workplace for discussion, along with video conferencing such as Zoom.us? Also, how will they share information? Are they going to use Google Drive in terms of storing information shared in real-time so employees can collaborate and work together? Will they use a program such as Asana to ensure that things are getting done? Another concern that employers have to consider is security. How can they ensure that their intellectual properties are protected and that their employees are safe as they are working online?

Organizations need a plan. With the plan, you have a start and end. This way, employees know if this is going to be short-term as long as the virus is an issue or do they have a definite start and stop date. Employers also have to consider things such as flexible work schedules, since employees will be working at home or are they expecting everyone to work traditional hours?

As you can see, there is a lot to think about for employers when considering moving their organizations entirely remotely. Honestly, we have only begun to scratch the surface of this topic. We certainly need another few more blogs and posts to cover everything. Please stay tuned

Ready to make a difference? Apply Here: ​

Are you working remotely, want to learn what it is like to work remotely or hear from companies hiring? Well, this is an event you don't want to miss.  Remote Future Summit 2019 is an online conference designed to share tips about working remotely, enhancing the remote experience, and support those seeking opportunities. 

I had a conversation with a couple of great people at Remote-How about the event and decided to become an ambassador. I am excited to share the details with you in hopes that you join me this year at the event. 
​
Remote-How are hosting the Remote Future Summit 2019
​Wednesday, May 15th - 17th. This event is free and open to the general public. 

Note: Before I jump into this heavy topic first let me say happy belated New Year to you all. I hope that you had a great holiday season. Also, please excuse my absence. I started many awesome projects that I will be sharing with you soon at GuideWAH. 

What Lessons Can We Take Away From The Government Shutdown 

First, let me say that the following article will not have anything to do with politics. However, there are lessons that we can all take away from the government shutdown that can impact our future. So let's jump in!  

The government shutdown served as an eye opener for many people in our country and those watching around the world.
Here are essential notes about the shutdown: 

• Longest government shutdown spanning from December 22, 2018, to January 25, 2019
• Nearly eight hundred thousand federal workers were forced to forgo their much-needed income for five whole weeks while Congress disagreed on appropriations of funds.
• Thousands of federal workers worked with no pay
• A business relying on government contracts as their primary income was hit just as hard if not more because there isn't payback for them 

So where does that leave almost a million workers without pay, families to feed, and bills to pay?

There is a perception that when you hold a government position, it is the ultimate job security. Government employees along with others have long believed in this false idea of job security for ages. However, if you know my background of working with job seekers since 2007, you would know I would tell you the opposite. A company that I served as a Career Expert said it best, "every job is temporary." Yes, there is no such thing as job security. This entire event along with the downturn in the economy in 2007 shatters the stereotype that a federal job or any job for that matter is secure. In this most recent event, unfortunately, it took the most recent government shutdown for employees to realize that they are not untouchable. However, it is not just government employees. Business owners that rely on government contracts felt the heat as well. Again, the big difference here is that contractors didn't receive back pay. 

The shutdown served as a reality check as people had to sell their belongings, find alternative work after hours, and live in uncertainty for five weeks. Many maxed out credit cards, sought out loans, and asked family members for help. Others had to rely on voluntary assistance from churches, food pantries, and donations to make it through the horrific experience.  Although the shutdown has come to an end and the workers received back pay, the impact of the loss that took place will not be forgotten. Credit scores, family heirlooms sold in desperate need, and loans from family or friends can't be resolved overnight; if ever.  

Here is a truth bomb. No matter how well we do our job, things inevitably change. For example, there are industry shifts, culture shifts; organizations lose funding and companies lose customers. Things happen that we can't control. What we have today can be gone tomorrow. Forget the politics of the shutdown, or who is right or wrong, because this site is not the place for that. The fact is that when we work for someone else, our future outlook is in the hands of another person. Depending on one source of income is a tremendous risk. If we are fired or laid off, our income can disappear overnight.

key Lessons 
If we work for someone else, we should always keep an open eye to the job market. We never know, if we aren't looking, when better opportunities exist. The best time to look for a job is when we are employed. When we aren't desperate, we can objectively evaluate an opportunity. We can weigh the pros and cons and make a thoughtful decision about how a new job might improve our professional and personal life. If we don't lose the position, we will already be in the game and won't have to start from scratch because we will know what is out there.

You should always have a side hustle going. Even if it is more of a hobby than a business, that's okay. If you lose your job, it's a lot easier to ramp up a small venture than it is to start something new. And even if you don't lose your job, your side hustle can help you develop skills, talents, and connections that can pay off. Sometimes a side hustle can turn into a real thriving business.

The biggest lesson learned from this experience that we as a nation had to witness, is that self-reliance is the most critical aspect of survival. To have security, one must have independence in the form of multiple streams of income. In the face of uncertainty, the best anecdote is being able to supply what we need for ourselves and our family. The cruel nature of such events happening in the future is enough to allow everyone to arm themselves with the necessary tools to survive.  Don’t wait for the next shutdown or something similar to ruin your livelihood. My biggest advice is to act now and secure a future of self-reliance and independence. 

​GuideWAH's Newsletter: 
Do you want to know about new leads and tips first? Signup now for our newsletter. Our readers enjoy learning about resources, job leads and online events such as career fairs first. 

GuideWAH's Podcast:
You asked and now we provides tricks and tips on finding flexible remote opportunities. 

GuideWAH's Remote Lifestyle Interviews:
We are proud to announce that after a long wait we are finally starting our blog series: Interviews with people working remotely. These will be people who are working remotely as employees or those that are business owners, and they do most of their work from a home office or as they travel. ​

Flexjobs:​
Find telecommuting jobs, part-time employment and freelance work to fit your schedule and lifestyle.  Flexjobs gives you access to thousands of flexible job listings in over 50 career categories. You don’t need to sift through hundreds of listings a day in hopes of finding something offering work from home that isn’t a scam. They’ve done the work for you.

Employment Options:
Employment Options is a certified National Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment resource. They have helped 1000’s of clients successfully return to work for over 20 years.  They also have virtual job fairs and webinar trainings open to everyone.