10 Tips for Working From Home During Quarantine

As a writer, most of my days are spent at home or in various coffee shops around Los Angeles. It's nice to only need my laptop to maintain my livelihood, but as coronavirus has spread throughout the world, many employers are asking people to work from home. 

Thanks to COVID-19, all my general meetings and pitches have canceled as companies wait for the impact on Hollywood. 

My apartment used to be my fortress of solitude, and now my roommates are working from home as well. Plus, I have a dog. 

It's chaos in this place. 

I thought you might be feeling the same way, so I wanted to go over some helpful tips for people transitioning to work from home. 

Let's dive in. 

10 Tips for Working From Home During Quarantine

1. Get a Workspace! 

One of the best things I did for my work from home lifestyle was to designate a workspace. I use my kitchen table because I am too poor for a desk. Also, I just like the kitchen table, and we don't have a lot of room in my apartment for alternatives. 

Regardless, from 7 am until 7 pm, this table is where I work. 

I now share it with a roommate, so we have a cubicle here. 

I even put up art and bought a stapler. 

2. Wash Your Hands 

Every hour, on the hour, I walk to the sink and wash my hands. I usually use soap, but now I use peroxide. Sure, it feels terrible and peels my skin, but you can never be too sure, you know? 

3. Establish a Routine 

I get up every day and have a set routine. This keeps my mind in work mode and keeps me productive during the day. After walking the dog, I make coffee, have a cup, and then dive into the articles I write for this and other sites. 

A routine helps you separate the chores and other things you might have to do at home. 

It also gives you a set of goals. 

4. Keep an Eye on Your Neighbors 

If you have windows, gaze out them every so often. You want to be reminded of the bliss outside, but also you want to know if the pandemic has zombified yet. Are people walking around, stumbling, hacking? How can you spot the infected? 

First things first, watch your neighbors. 

5. Get Dressed in the Morning 

This is a rule I try to follow. While some people work well in their pajamas, I need to dress like I'm headed out, even if I'm not. That keeps me from lounging or taking naps when it comes time to be productive. 

So get up and get dressed. It will invigorate you and keep you in the working mindset. 

6. Train with a Bow-staff 

Bullets will run out eventually, and knives require a closed quarters battle. But a bow-staff is both easy to hew from wood and easily replaceable with household items. You can use a broom handle or mop. You can use the pole your girlfriend exercises on. 

I prefer both ends to be sharpened; that way, you have stabbing capabilities. 

You want to train for at least an hour a day. This will get your body and mind in shape. 

7. Find a Great Chair 

All of my complaints about working from home deal with back issues. I lie on the hardwood floor and stretch every morning, but nothing feels better than a great chair. This is one of those home splurges that can go a long way in keeping you comfortable and happy. 

Find the best chair possible. One that supports the lower back and also fits beside your desk or table. 

8. Board Your Windows 

Tell germs to fuck off by boarding your windows up. Not only will this help with that, but it also will keep away the prying eyes of your neighbors, who suddenly might want to eat your dog. Fuck them. Your dog is there for you to eat if shit goes sideways. 

They can't have your TP, your water, your spices. 

Okay, back to the bow-staff. 

9. Give your Kids Activities 

One problem a lot of adults have working from home is that their kids always want their attention. With schools all over the world closing, there's a high likelihood kids will be home with you. 

Try to give them activities to take up the day. Like coloring, watching a trilogy of movies, video games, art projects, or training with their own bow-staff. 

I like challenging them to be creative, maybe making traps out of the recycling items that can catch rats or alert to trespassers. 

Anything helps! 

10. Finish your Bunker and Seal Yourself Inside 

Stop working; it's all over man. Seal yourselves inside, and I'll see you in 50 years. We have a real Blast from the Past situation going. Don't let it turn into 10 Cloverfield Lane. 

Summing it all up...

I know half of those tips were panic-induced jokes. Maybe you didn't find them funny, which is played by me. Thanks for still reading until the end. See, the secret to working from home at times like these is to keep a sense of humor. Some days you'll go nuts. Other days you'll have a blast. 

The point is, try to stay organized, always have a checklist for what to do, and don't be ashamed to binge Mad Men again while you fill in spreadsheets. 

Treat yourself to some high-quality coffee from Amazon and make sure you stand every hour and take a walk. 

Try not to snack too much and be okay challenging someone else to a pushup contest to stay in shape. 

Let us know your tips in the comments below. 

Stay safe and stay productive.