10 Tips to Working from Home (Effectively)

Finick is more than five years old now (they grow up so fast…), with all of it based out of my home office—happily, but not without difficulty.

I thought it was essential to have the ‘perfect’ office setup and a highly regimented daily routine sussed from the day Finick opened its metaphorical doors, but I became frustrated when things weren’t going to plan, or if the ol’ motivation levels had plummeted (often landing me within the depths of the pantry). Working from home (WFH) was hard, especially within an industry that typically thrives on collaboration.

Rather than get caught up in such unrealistic expectations (because that’s exactly what they were), what I should have been doing is approaching WFH like I would a design project—work through different ideas, quickly and without attachment, until I find the right solution.

Alrighty, lets jump in, shall we?

Get inspired

Every Monday morning, start the day by hunting for creative inspiration. This is a habit I picked up from my first graphic design job (shout out to Donnée, who’s objectively the reason I had the confidence and/or insanity to give my own thing a go) that encouraged a creative mindset for the week ahead while low-key upskilling. It could be anything—browse Pinterest, skim a design blog, look at paper stocks and print techniques, or pop some googly eyes on something and have a giggle. Inspiration can be found anywhere and it really does help to spark ideas and new ways of thinking, which is ultimately a great thing for clients on their journey to be seen.

Have a designated work space

Working from the dining room table simply won’t do. Firstly, it’s far too close to the kitchen. Secondly, the things within this space don’t spark creativity or productivity (I’m looking at you, half-folded pile of washing). Being in a space that acts as a throughfare in itself is a distraction, so reno task number one was to convert the spare room into the official Finick studio. I now have a haven for good ideas, and a space filled with purposeful objects that encourage productivity.

I recently made a post about the new things in my office that directly help with this:

(Psst: No spare room? No problem! Find a nook elsewhere in your house (no, not the dining room), pop a wee desk in it, claim the space as your very own work zone, and voilà!)

To-do lists are the ultimate productivity tool

And by to-do lists I mean to-do lists within to-do lists. ActiveCollab is my project management tool which keeps track of each project and the time spent on each task, and I use Microsoft To Do which is essentially a digital to-do list that allows me to add tasks in order of priority, assign due-dates, and be rewarded with a very satisfying ‘ding!’ once complete. I also have a desk-top planner which is a great space for me to jot down random thoughts and notes from client convos during the day.

Clean desk, clean mind

A Sunday ritual that declutters the chaos from the week before. A clean work zone signals a fresh work week, and helps me remain focussed on the task at hand.

Dress for success

Do I often slouch around in activewear? Yes. But, the days where I have client meetings, work offsite, or need to be especially productive I’ll pop on my best smart-casual and even do my hair. Look good, feel good, as they say. And feeling good can only do great things for productivity.

Get up and get out

It’s too easy to remain glued to my screen all day, especially when big deadlines are looming and I no longer have any concept of time. Break up the day by taking short walks around the neighbourhood which, yes, technically takes time out of the work day, but I always return to the office refreshed and with clarity of thought—it’s surprising how many ideas can be fleshed out while mindlessly wandering around. Admittedly, credit has to go to my dog for this one, he’s a high-energy fellow and holds me accountable for daily adventures and paw-trolling the neighbourhood.

Set aside distractions

It’s normal to want to be highly and reliably contactable by clients and contractors, and given most of my comms are through email it can be hard to know when to officially switch over to design mode. Likewise, it’s far too easy to pick up my phone and have a few moments of mindless scrolling or the classic “I’ll just quickly vacuum the house” thing (despite being highly aware it doesn’t really need to be done). In order for deadlines to be met, setting the things that you know are distractions aside is necessary. After all, the faster I get through my WIP list the quicker I can get back to quality comms with clients—with more focus than I had before.

Embrace the perks!

Yes, having routines and rituals help massively with workflow, but I inherently believe this can and should be balanced with the things that make WFH so appealing. The main perk? You can literally do whatever you want. Not feeling inspired at home? Mix up the environment and work from a café. Not feeling 100%? Do some admin while watching TV, or better yet just take the day off. Desperate for some fresh laundry? Throw a load on. Having a creative block? Don’t bang ya head against your screen, working on something more mindless and give it a go tomorrow. Or, maybe you’re feeling super productive and want to keep working outside of ‘standard’ office hours. Go for it! (Just don’t tell clients or make this a habit, I’ve learned it’s very important to maintain healthy boundaries here).

Get a work buddy

My fiancé has recently joined the WFH Club, and it’s surprising how much this has improved my workflow. There’s something about having other productive people around that boosts motivation, and in a way you’re both silently holding each other to account. We always reconnect to go for a walk between tasks and even bounce ideas off each other. The same applies to friends or people within your network that may be struggling with the isolation of WFH or need a bit of extra motivation—meet at a café and work over a cuppa or station yourselves at a local hot-desk to mix things up (because as I mentioned earlier, you’ve gotta embrace the perks!).

You could also get a pet… They get top points for company, but buyer beware as they can quickly fall into the ‘distraction’ category (plus, they’re not great at taking client calls).

Connect with other creatives

I’m fortunate to have met a bunch of epic creatives since my very first design job and I’m a firm believer that more brains are better than one, especially when it comes to the big creative jobs or when a project throws me into a creative block (it happens, okay). This is the perfect time to lean on others and connect with the humans you admire and respect. Some of them may technically be competitors, but we don’t actually give a hoot about that. Share ideas, skills, collaborate on projects or meet up and chat about the latest typography launches over a cheeky vino. Wine glass aside, your metaphorical cup will well and truly be filled, and you’ll probably solve that pesky creative problem along the way.

Well, there ya have it, my top tips to working from home (effectively) from the perspective of a graphic designer. As I said earlier, it really does take time to figure out what works for you so it’ll be no surprise to hear it’s taken me quite some time to write this blog. Think there’s something missing from this list? Flick me a message! I’m all for sharing ideas.

As a side note, if there’s any silver lining from the COVID-19 pandemic it’s that businesses are more flexible to having their employees work from home, and perhaps you fall into this category. So, even though this list is from the perspective of a small business owner in the creative industry, maybe you’ll find some nuggets of knowledge in this blog, too.

Here’s to productivity and progress!