For many of us, this will be our first experience of working from home. We’ve gathered together some helpful hints and tips, to make working from home as easy and productive as possible.
- Make sure you set up a dedicated work space, and tidy it away daily. Leaving work scattered across common areas will not only annoy your fellow inhabitants, but it’s harder to switch off in the evening when paperwork is glaring at you.
- Resist the urge to work on the sofa. Get in a good habit of working at a proper table or desk, with your chair adjusted to a sensible level. Use books if you need to bring your computer up to a better height.
- It’s important for school children to be able to differentiate the week days from the weekend. Perhaps something as simple as having a weekday furniture arrangement that facilitates work, and changing it up for socialising at the weekend?
- Have an end of the day ritual that you adhere to, in lieu of walking out the office door. Perhaps a stretching routine, or a team phone call with your colleagues to discuss the day? Put all of your work to bed and out of your mind.
- Working with your family or friends for the first time can be an unusual experience! Make sure you treat them as you would normally treat your co-workers. No using the last of the milk, leaving dirty dishes in the sink or having loud phone calls. Having separate and designated working spaces (if not rooms) is a good idea in the long term.
- Just because you’re at home, doesn’t mean you can wear your pajamas all day. Make sure you start each day with a familiar routine, so when you sit down at your desk for the day, you’re mentally ready to work.
- It’s a lot easier to get distracted at home with no one checking up on you. Make sure you stay connected with your colleagues online, and ensure that anyone who needs to suddenly drop in with a question is easily able to.
- If you can, make sure you get some fresh air at lunch time. A brisk walk to get your heart pumping is ideal, but if you can’t get outside then spending some time in a garden, on a balcony or simply by an open window is encouraged. Do some sit ups or burpees to get your blood flowing.
- Make sure you’re speaking to your family and friends, as well as your co-workers. Dropping in for a quick 5 minute facetime is an acceptable alternative to a ‘watercooler chat’ in between tasks, and will stop you from feeling isolated.
