Tips for working from home

Tyler Braddon gives you some simple steps that will help you remain productive and positive while you are working remotely during the Coronavirus outbreak...

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt our daily lives and workfrom-home policies are still firmly in place, employees are expected to work as normal when everything around them is far from it.

Working from home may have its perks but staying productive and focused can be challenging during these uncertain times.

Keeping active and taking care of yourself while trying to get your tasks done can be difficult when working from home.

With that in mind, here are some key tips to keep you working effectively and feeling healthy. 1Routine, routine, routine… It’s important you continue to follow your normal routine.

Wake up and start your day at your usual time.

Freshening up in the morning and putting on clean clothes will help you get into the right mindset and psychologically prepare you for the working day ahead.

Before you start work, make sure you have breakfast just like you would normally – this will give your body the energy it needs and your brain the fuel it needs.

At night, you should aim to go to sleep at your usual time, as a lack of sleep can make it difficult for you to work productively. 2Nothing too early, nothing too late

It can be easy to fall into the trap of stretching out your working day because you don’t have a commute and your home is your office, but it’s important to take time to switch off from work.

It’s tempting to get meetings in the diary much earlier when you don’t need to commute, but that generally means you’re doing more work.

Start and finish work at your normal times, and when your workday stops, turn off your laptop and put it away if possible so you’re not tempted to log back on or check emails.

3Recreate the best workspace If it’s possible, find a quiet space in your home where you can set up a work station.

A designated work area will allow you to keep everything you need in one place and help you avoid distractions.

Sitting at a dining table or desk will help you remain focused.

A designated space will help you “switch on” at the beginning of the day, and send signals to your brain that it’s time to focus.

Likewise, leaving your workspace once your working hours are complete will also help you “switch off” and disengage.

4Set clear boundaries within your household Setting boundaries with other members of your household is key to working effectively.

If you have young children at home who want to spend time with you it can become difficult to stay focused.

Share your schedule with your family and remind your children that there is plenty of time to play during breaks or after work.

Remember to set boundaries with yourself, too.

Sometimes it’s hard to switch off when you don’t have the commute home but it’s key to protect your worklife balance.

5Take regular breaks Even if it’s just walking to the kitchen to get a drink, a short break every hour can increase your productivity and help you regain focus.

It’s easy to lose track of time when working remotely, but make sure you’re still taking the lunch break you’re entitled to.

6Stay active and hydrated

Frequently changing your posture and moving away from your work set up will help break up the day and reduce aches and pains.

You can keep moving by taking calls standing up or use your usual commute time to go for a walk or exercise.

Drinking plenty and taking regular breaks to fill up a glass of water or boil the kettle is also a great way to get a break from your screen.

7Communicate regularly To avoid feeling isolated, invest time in telling your team or supervisor what is going on, schedule video calls and have regular phone calls so you’re still getting some human interaction.

Set up informal “Checkins” with your colleagues, using open questions such as “How are you doing and what are you doing to look after yourself?” to boost mental wellbeing.

If you are struggling to work from home, be sure to talk to your manager and ask for support.

8Take time to listen If you are in charge of a team, it’s important to know their needs and understand each team member’s situation.

Some may feel isolated and lonely while working from home.

Not everyone can be fully productive from home so it’s important to provide appropriate support and ensure your team feel they can talk to you if necessary.

9Continue to take annual leave as you do now We all need to balance our work and personal lives and that is still important now, even with more time being spent at home.

You should continue to take your annual leave as having a sustained period of time off work is healthy for your own personal wellbeing, especially if you are feeling overwhelmed in your job.

10Be kind to yourself This situation is new to all of us, so be kind to yourself.

Be realistic about what you can achieve each working day, it’s better to achieve more than you set out to do, which will leave you feeling satisfied, rather than feel disappointed in yourself for not getting everything done.

If you are struggling with working from home, make sure you reach out to your manager.

If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to your manager, you could ask a close colleague to speak to your manager on your behalf.