With work from home becoming a permanent trend, Tim Hall, Vice President Products at InfluxData, an open-source time-series database platform shares useful tips to help developers get through the crisis and become more productive amid high pressure times.
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much of what we consider normal. For many people in the technology industry who have been lucky enough to stay healthy and employed, the biggest change has been the change from working in an office every day to working from homeOpens a new window under shelter-in-place orders. To get a better understanding of this change, InfluxData conducted an online survey last month to learn more about how developers are feeling as they adjust to a new way of working. A total of 324 people from around the world who identified as software developers/engineers responded to the survey anonymously.
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Along with uncovering some insights about productivity and their top concernsOpens a new window , we got developers to share advice about how to handle the new working environment. They offered up a broad range of useful tips, from scheduling to encouraging human connection. Here are some of the most common suggestions:
1. Set a Schedule
There are rhythms to office life that people take for granted, and this extended period of working from home has shown that setting a strict schedule can actually help you better manage the day. “Write down a plan of what you need to do, it will help not to be distracted so easily,†one developer wrote. Another respondent advised to “create a schedule for working and stick to it.â€
2. Stick to Your Routine
While people tend to complain about the monotony of work in normal times, several survey respondents suggested that sticking to a routine would create some normalcy in an uncertain time. “Put on the alarm clock (if needed) and wake up like you did when working at the office. This will help with discipline and mindset that it’s still a workday, not a Sunday,†advised one developer. They should also remember to include breaks as part of their normal routine, just as they did in an office. “Make a schedule and stick to it. Turn off notifications. Take breaks,†another respondent advised.
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3. Dress for Success
The temptation to spend the entire day in pajamas seems to be an issue for almost everyone working from homeOpens a new window , and it was a common point among people taking the survey that it’s better for mental wellbeing to get fully dressed for the day. “Put on pants when the day starts. Don’t work in sweats,†advised one survey respondent. Another developer added more perspective on the benefit of wearing real clothes, suggesting that people “create boundaries to help your brain to separate work from life. Time, location, mindset. That includes wearing pants.â€
4. Make Space for Work
With an eye towards setting boundaries, many developers were strongly in favor of designating one part of the home strictly for working so that office work does not spill over into other times and activities. One suggestion was to “physically separate your workspace from your personal space, so you can ‘leave work’ after hours.†Another developer advised an even more secure boundary for people quarantining with family: “Get a lockable door, and ensure that everyone understands that you cannot simply ‘switch off and on’ when working.†For another respondent, it was important simply to “have a workplace, not the couch.â€
5. Communicate
Developers have a reputation for being introverts, but many stressed the importance of maximizing interactions with other people. “Chat randomly with friends or coworkers,†one person suggested. Using video to communicate rather than emails or phone calls was another common piece of advice. “If it’s possible, always switch the camera on for calls. It makes the conversation more natural and helps a lot with communication.†Another developer proposed that “even for an introvert, human interaction is important, so make the most of those videos callsOpens a new window .†In a time of isolation and social distancing – the human connection may be the most important way to maintain a positive attitude. As one developer wrote, “Stay connected to your friends, family, and coworkers however you’re comfortable. Don’t isolate yourself further than you need to!â€
6. Tap Into Project Management Tools
Working from home requires an adjustment in habits and attitude, but that transition can get a lot of support with the right tools and applications. For teams that would typically track projects on a whiteboard in a shared office, remote workers can keep their work aligned using project management tools like Basecamp, Asana, AirTable, and GitLab. This helps keep emails, calls and video chats focused on more meaningful discussions rather than checking in on deliverables.
Because remote teams use a lot of SaaS applications to work together, team members will likely have to maintain many different accounts and passwords for their day-to-day work. For this reason, it’s important to get remote teams into the habit of using a password manager to ensure that access can be shared between individuals, and less time is wasted tracking down the right credentials. It also helps avoid the problem of reusing common passwords which can lead to much bigger headaches if that password is compromised.
7. Know Good Virtual Meeting Hygiene
Finally, practice video conference hygiene. Always use a headset and ensure your default settings have you arrive at meetings on mute and with your camera off, allowing you to prepare for turning your camera on and engaging. Shut down other instant messaging applications during the video call. If you are using multiple screens, explain that you may look away while taking notes or looking at a presentation, if that screen is not aligned with your camera. All of these things are simple, provide transparency, and are a common courtesy for the new “office†environment!
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