The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we live, from how we catch up with loved ones to the ways we get our work done work. Case in point? Most of us are working from home in an effort to contain the virus.
That includes Team Alice; two weeks ago, we temporarily relocated our work spaces to our own homes. Some of us, including our founders, are parents and with school closings, we have to juggle not only work, but also our kids’ childcare and schooling. The transition to remote work isn’t easy.
But Hello Alice’s chief of staff Jillian Benvenuti says there are ways to make remote work feel like you’re back at your office. One easy way is to exchange those pajamas with your office attire. “I find that getting ready for work is still important when working from home,” says Benvenuti. “I don’t mean dress up in full business attire, but definitely change out of your PJs. Not only will it get you out of comfy mode and into productivity mode, but it will also ensure you are video-ready for those random Slack calls from your team.”
Slack, among other teleworking tools such as Google Hangouts Meet and Zoom, allows you to facilitate video conferences and communicate with your coworkers remotely. “I’m still collaborative with my team,” Benvenuti says. “Using Slack or picking up the phone allows us to communicate with coworkers.” And working from home doesn’t mean you can’t have those water cooler conversations with your coworkers. “We created a ‘Work from Home’ channel on Slack where people can still connect,” she adds.
Having a clean work environment is also an excellent way to make the transition to remote work easier. But Benvenuti recommends leaving the house chores for after work. “When you’re home, it’s easy to be distracted [with house needs] because you’re working from your house,” she explains. “I work better in a clean environment, so after I log out, I’ll clean my space.”
While the pandemic has affected the team’s operations, it’s also impacting founders and business owners in various ways. That’s why we’ve created a COVID-19 Business Resource Center to help you and your employees get through this crisis. As Benvenuti points out, “We’re all in this together during this challenging time.”