How the Ragan community is adapting to working from home

Hear key takeaways from last week’s Twitter chat—and join us again every Tuesday.

By Meghan Madhavan
@MadhavanMeghan
April 14, 2020

Last Tuesday, members of the Ragan online community took to Twitter to share how they’ve been adjusting to WFH life—including their top productivity tips, must-haves for a comfy space and ways to reduce stress and anxiety.

Here are some of the top takeaways from #RaganChat:

1. Proper seating is crucial.

A2: A comfy chair is a MUST for me. I've worked from the dining table for a change of scenery (I usually sit in my office) – but when you sit in one of those chairs ALL day – ouch. #RaganChat

— Michelle Garrett (@PRisUs) April 7, 2020

A2: A comfortable chair is a must-have! It's hard to not have a designated desk, but having a chair that works makes a huge difference. I've done the sitting at the counter with a backless stool situation and I can confidently say I will not be doing that again. #RaganChat

— OnePitch (@onepitchsaas) April 7, 2020

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2. Many followers also recommended carving out your own space at home and making sure family members respect your time.

Doors & taking turns. Our home has closed off spaces, so my husband & I can both work without much distraction. We each make time to eat lunch as a family & we take turns spending time with our daughter. #RaganChat https://t.co/2mlYaHsHo6

— Meagan Ewton (@meaganewton) April 7, 2020

A2: My dad worked from home for years when I was a teenager, and he always said my mom and I were great at respecting his work time. I think that's helped it be easier for me. Also my wife is a teacher and also working from home so we both have stuff to do. #RaganChat.

— Jason P. Laz (@JasonLaz) April 7, 2020

3. Face-to-face interaction with colleagues helps keep communication strong.

Morning coffees, virtual happy hours and more help teams stay connected to each other.

A4. At our all-staff #ThirstyThursday meetings, we share a rose and thorn from the week to stay connected, brainstorm for our clients & catch up on the week's wins. At last week's virtual happy hour, we celebrated our agency's 11th anniversary! https://t.co/J0sA4nrABI #RaganChat pic.twitter.com/KLeGtCKZYn

— Thompson & Co. PR (@ThompsonPR) April 7, 2020

I'm guessing the same way everyone else has: Zoom and texting. Having a weekly check-in via video chat is a nice way to see how our work at home still fits into the big picture. #RaganChat https://t.co/hsETRJk4D8

— Meagan Ewton (@meaganewton) April 7, 2020

5. Outdoor activity is key to keeping stress levels under control.

Taking walks—while keeping your distance from others—was recommended by many as a way to de-stress.

We're taking more walks too — 6 miles, then 3 miles yesterday. Many people I'm talking too are walking more than ever in their lives. Police asked us to leave an empty playground basketball court last week, so all we can do is walk. #RaganChat #health #walking pic.twitter.com/CzwIUV9SBG

— Amanda P. (@LivingUnited) April 7, 2020

A5: Every time I have an hour-long conference call I call in, put on my earbuds and start walking (it's currently gorgeous in AZ). When it's my turn to report out I pull up my notes from my app on my phone and then keep walking when I'm done. #RaganChat

— Eileen Burmeister (@EBurmeister) April 7, 2020

Missed last week’s #RaganChat? Join us every Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET as we discuss the topics impacting communicators during the ongoing public health crisis.