For most in the nonprofit world currently, there is no way around working from home. Getting accustomed to being remote can be difficult, especially when you throw homeschooling and/or childcare into the mix, along with the stress that comes from the uncertainty we are all feeling right now.
That said, Jelly Nonprofit Consulting is a virtual, work from home, team 365, and we want to share our tips in the hopes that they may make the coming days a little easier for you.
Set a Schedule
How loose or how tight you want this schedule to be is completely up to you, but we find it does a lot of good to schedule out your day. This itinerary can include the hours that you need to help children learn or play, to handle personal online tasks, time to respond to emails or perform job duties, and most importantly, time for self-care breaks, even if it’s simply jumping on Facetime with a friend for 15 minutes or taking a walk.
Keep Your Workspace Clean
Your work-space can be anywhere that works for you, It may be a closed-off office, a desk in the corner of a common room, or even your kitchen table, but one thing that works for us is to take 10-15 minutes to straighten your space and make it feel positive before you sit down to be productive. For some, this may mean propping up a card from a loved one or kiddo; for others, it may mean picking flowers from the yard to put in a vase or lighting a candle. Whatever it is that makes your space feel pleasant, pick up any clutter and add that special something to put you in the mood to work.
Get Ready for Work
It is so tempting when you know you aren’t going to see anyone to fall into the trap of working in your pajamas. And by all means - if that is you living your best life - do it. However, we find that it makes us feel good to put on some nice clothes and maybe even shoes before getting to work. Getting dressed like you are going to the office can help put you in a productive mindset -- even if you are working from your couch with your pup.
Put Down Your Phone
We understand this is a really hard one for most people. Right now, it is probably even harder due to social restrictions and the ever-changing news. But for many, cell phones are a productivity killer. When it is time to focus on work, put it on silent or leave it in another room if possible. This will help you develop some distraction-free time to really focus on tasks, even if it is just for an hour.
Prioritize
This is the most important item on this list. Please remember, especially during this time, that there is no way you can do it all, Prioritizing is the best thing you can do for yourself, your family, and your work. Even though you are working from home, you should not be working 24 hours a day. When making your schedule, get your top priorities in place first and postpone the others. During this time, please remember that the mental health of you and your family is of utmost importance and making those items a priority, will help you to be most productive in your work while also helping you to keep in good physical health.
We are all in this together!
Please reach out to us for any help your organization might need in grant writing, social media, or making events virtual.
Reach us by email at Angelina@jellynpc.com
Funding Resources: COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits
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