WFH | Shion Studio

Our studio has been working virtually for two years, and we have tips and tricks for staying calm, productive, and feeling your best.

Stick to your schedule

A daily routine is important. No matter how tempting it is to stay up late binging Netflix, and sleep in until it's time to turn that computer on, try to avoid it. Keep your alarm clock set to your normal wake-up time, and go about your morning as usual.... as much as possible.

Don't believe us? Here are a few other articles that might help convince you:

Benefits of a morning routine (Verywell Mind)
Why creating a daily morning routine will make you more successful (Huffington Post)

Do your thing

Start your morning with some you time. Get your coffee, do a morning workout or meditation, and dedicate some time to being offline and off social media.

Here are a few ideas for at-home workouts:

Nike Training Club has classes you can take for yoga, cardio, weights, and more. There are plenty of workouts that don't require equipment.
Peloton Digital has extended its free trial for 90 days. So you can follow along to their strength, yoga, meditation and other classes even if you don't have a bike or treadmill.
Virtual yoga classes are popping up all over the internet. Some have been around for years, but chances are your local studio will be offering sessions on Zoom if it isn't already.

Dress to impress (yourself)

Don't underestimate the power of putting on pants. The kind with a zipper, not a string.

Trust us, the allure of comfy clothes and sitting in bed will wear off quickly. And while youre at it, don't forget the rest of your basic hygene rules:

Brush your teeth (you'll be surprised how quickly you forget this one).
Dry your hair and put on your makeup.
Get dressed. Like fully dressed. No business on top and sweatpants on the bottom action.
Shoes are not necessary, but they help if you have a client meeting. They give you that feeling of professionalism you just can't fake.

Make the emails wait

It's tempting to wake up and start checking emails. All we can say is DON'T DO IT!

Just because there's no commute time, it doesn't mean you need to start working earlier. Save those bundles of anxiety for 9 am (or 10 am if that's how you roll).

Create a comfortable space

When it's time to work, designate a space away from distractions as much as possible. If you don't have an office or a desk, clear an area on your dining table, coffee table, or kitchen island. Avoid the temptation to work from bed. While this seems like a good idea for the first day or two, your neck, back, and coworkers will all thank you for working in a clean, professional space.

Need some help converting your space into a workplace? Here are a few tips:

If you're working at home with your partner, give each other some space and be respectful. Try to plan meetings at varying times so you're not talking over one another. If you have to talk at the same time, wear your headphones and stick to opposite sides of the room.

Get down to business

There are tons of tools that make working from home easy and collaborative. For video conferencing, our preference is Zoom. It has an easy-to-use interface, integrates into your Google calendar, and your guests can join by just clicking the link and downloading the app. Don't forget to always turn on your camera. Talking to a mystery voice can make clients and coworkers uncomfortable, and make you look less engaged.

There are several other digital tools that make collaboration easy. Below are a few of our favorites.

For project management:

Basecamp: Keep projects running with to-dos, scheduling, and group chats.
Slack: Chat with team members instantly, and use group channels to send information to your whole team at once.
Trello: Manage action items, and keep track of progress on collaborative boards.

For design + video:

Invision: Create prototypes for apps and websites and share them with your team. Use the Freehand tool to share screens, and allow for comments directly on your layouts in real time.
Frame.io: Review and comment on video edits in minutes, in a seamless and collaborative way.

Don't forget – sometimes the simplest answer is the best one. To avoid miscommunication and confusion, jump on the phone or on a video call whenever possible.

Don't forget to eat

Working from home often puts us in a zombie-like state: head down, fingers typing, without coming up for air until 4 pm.

Stock up on some easy-to-make food. Sandwiches, cereal, salads, and frozen meals are a great way to get rid of your hanger without taking a 2-hour hiatus from your screen.

Take breaks... it's allowed

It's easy to overcompensate for for working from home by working too hard. If you were at the office, you would go for coffee, chat with a coworker, or just just get away from your screen. Remember that when you're home, the same rules apply.