Working From Home Tips from the Tabletop Team

Quinn Bostic - Vice President

I feel like when you tell people you work from home, they envision you not working from home. Sometimes, it can be quite the opposite - you don’t know when to turn work off! I highly recommend having a schedule in place to keep a healthy balance. At Tabletop, we work 8AM-5PM and I try to take a lunch break around 12PM or 12:30PM. Another tip is to work outside when you can and in different parts of your home if you have a creative need in your job. Changing up locations can really help with your creative flow! Also, create times during the week and month to meet up with your team in person; it’s so important to have face-to-face conversations with your team to maintain great team comradery.

Chana Lynn - Website Designer

I’m giving away my age but I’ve worked remotely for the last 20+ years, including working from Australia for US clients. So needless to say it's just always been a natural part of how I work! I’ve definitely learned to find the time of day when I’m most productive and to schedule calls early in the day if possible so I can maximize my afternoon for building websites. I take a little time early in the morning for coffee and paper, a quick lunch break and then later in the afternoon, a trip to the gym or walk and / or errands to give my eyes a break from the screens. I have always loved the flexibility of the nature of my work so I could work around kid schedules and still get things done while working nearly full time. If I have to, I may work a little later on evenings especially early in the week to get a jump start but I try not to work over the weekends. I make sure to get out so I am still engaging with friends, team members, etc. I keep my desk free from clutter and love having some jazz or quiet music in the background. Sometimes I try moving to different locations as well. I used to work in coffee shops often but since covid I haven’t done that as much, especially with a lot more zoom calls. I also try to work in spaces with good natural light. It’s not a bad way to get work done!

Lewis Foreman - Social Media Director

As an introvert, working from home is right up my alley! That said, I still recommend changing up your day-to-day routine from time to time. If I’m in a slump,  getting out and about and working from a coffee shop can really help. Most days, I love being able to stay in cozy “work from home” clothes, but another thing that makes me feel more productive if I need an extra boost is to get ready for the day as if I have somewhere to be! I’ve gotten pretty good at compartmentalizing things, but still like to have a pen + paper on hand for to-do lists. If you get distracted by something you need to do around the house, jotting it down for later can help take it off your mind.

Brooke Parsons - Public Relations and Social Media Manager

I absolutely love working from home and wouldn’t have it any other way, but it’s important I make sure to follow a schedule in order to have a productive work day. Typically, my morning’s start with a workout and a glass of iced coffee! Whether this is a walk, run, strength class, etc., this routine never fails to start my day off strong! After sitting at my desk and logging on my computer for a few hours, I make sure to take a break and get some Vitamin D with my Golden Retriever puppy (even if it’s just for a couple minutes!) As we all know, the sunshine does wonders on your mental health. It’s also very important that I remember to eat a snack on my breaks. It’s easy to get sunk into your computer all day, so my biggest working from home tip would be to make it a priority to get up, move around, and take time for yourself outside of your work space.

Danielle Thomas - Social Media Manager 

Before starting my career with Tabletop, I never worked from home. It took some time to adjust, but I appreciate the freedom to manage my schedule and work from the comfort of my own space. However, I understand that working from home can also present its own unique set of challenges.

Here are a few helpful tips for those who are also working from home or plan to:

1.) Establish a designated workspace - I have my desk looking outside the window. It's great to add some scenery in my day along with people watching. It's a lot better than staring at a blank wall.

2.) Setting boundaries with family - My workspace is separate from the common areas in the house, so there are no distractions. Also, I use visual cues like shutting the door, that way my husband knows I am either in a meeting or just need time for myself to focus.

3.) Take breaks to avoid burnout - I personally need to work on this myself, but lately I will set a timer as a reminder to take a quick break. It's a great way to remove yourself from the computer screen and recharge your brain.  

I hope you found these helpful!

Julia Poole - Social Media Manager

This is my first position that is fully remote, and I have really enjoyed the flexibility and time spent working in a space that is comfortable! It can definitely be a challenge to manage all of the freedom but I have found a couple ways to make it easier on myself. As a full-time graduate student and a Social Media Manager, having a set routine every day is my number one tip! Most days I will wake up early to exercise and get my body moving, which is then followed by some puppy cuddles and a large cup of coffee with breakfast. I love to cross things off, so my favorite tip is creating a to-do list in my notebook the night before. The last tip that I have learned to love is to take breaks and move around. Personally, sitting all day at the same spot is not fun, so moving around to new spaces or taking a quick walk around the neighborhood always seems to energize me and my creativity!

Allie Nelson - Social Media Manager

This is my first position where I have worked remotely, and I am still adjusting to my new work from home life! I love having flexibility throughout my day, but keeping a realistic schedule for everyday is key to both being productive and preventing burnout. I might be a little old-school, but I like to have a written to-do list and paper calendar that I update every week. I also have a designated workspace to avoid distractions and force myself to get up and take breaks throughout the day. It doesn’t hurt having two cute pups that get you out and walking in the sunshine throughout the day too!