Working From Home - Issue 1

WORKING FROM HOME Issue 1 March 2020

WELCOME

COVID-19 has snuck up on us and in only a few weeks it has caused an upheaval of our normal lives, changed the way we work and how we interact with each other. More and more people are spending as much time at home as possible and for good reason. As social distancing bites, Working From Home (WFH) offices are being set-up in every corner of the globe and adapting to the WFH business model has become the new norm in the blink of an eye.

Although the entire business world has been involuntarily thrown into the remote working world, it is a challenge for us all and is one that we (have to) accept and rise to together.

But, rather than focus on the negative, we at Iconic Offices choose to focus on the positive. There are still bright spots amid the gloom… we promise! Businesses, big and small, are showing remarkable adaptability, turning to new ways of doing business amid the fallout from the Covid-19 outbreak.

Cue our brand new bi-monthly WFH digital magazine that shines a light on the best ways to keep your business ‘running as usual’ while you simultaneously help keep your kids entertained. There’s also advice on upskilling, tapping into your creative spirit or culture vulture, and of course, making sure that you’re up to date on the smartest, most fun ways to stay connected.

So make yourself a cuppa… sit back, relax and enjoy the read.

TIPS TO CREATE A PRODUCTIVE HOME OFFICE DESIGNATE A WORK AREA

START WITH THE BASICS

Not everyone has an extra room that

Invest in the essentials if possible. A

can double as a home office, but you can

comfortable work chair, desk, and lamp

still put the limited space you do have to

are all items that should be at the core of

good use. Try sectioning off part of your

your home office. You want a chair that will

dining room or bedroom. Finding an

support you and not be too slouchy as hours

area of your home that can be quiet and

at the desk can be tough on your back.

organised is essential. Make sure to set up away from your TV or fridge to avoid distractions and unnecessary snacking.

CONSIDER YOUR LINE OF WORK

LIGHTING IS KEY If your home office doesn’t have a window, illuminate the space with a new light fixture – or even just a brighter

People often try to design a workspace

light bulb. Lighting can have big impact

without thinking about their day-to-day

on productivity . Natural light is ideal but

job responsibilities – which can result in

LED lighting is a good alternative.

poor workflow layouts and excess clutter.

By thinking through the daily tasks you’ll do – and how much space you actually need to accomplish them – you can set yourself up for success.

ADD SOME LIFE Bring your workspace to life without breaking the bank. Candles, art, colourful vases and live planting will add some vibrancy. An inspiring workspace will increase your productivity.

Working From Home Tips To Create A Productive Home Office

YOGA

MINDFULNESS

Adriene Mishler is an international yoga

Broadcaster and comedian Dermot

teacher and entrepreneur from Austin,

Whelan offers a lighthearted take on

Texas. On a mission to get the tools of

mindfulness. His mission is to offer a

yoga into schools and homes, Adriene

solution to life’s challenges that can

hosts the popular YouTube channel Yoga

make you less anxious, more creative and

with Adriene, an online community of

so much happier - No, it’s not beer - it’s

over 6 million viewers. Yoga with Adriene

meditation!

provides high quality practices on yoga and mindfulness at no cost to inspire

Through this site you can find the tools

people of all ages, shapes and sizes.

needed to guide you on your journey to

https://bit.ly/IconicYoga

reclaim yourself. https://bit.ly/IconMind

FITNESS

HEALTHY EATING

Brian is a personal trainer, sports

HEALTH & FITNESS If you were secretly delighted at the prospect of gyms closing during the era of social distancing, then we have some bad news; working out from home is the new going out. We have a look at some fun (& free) ways to help you keep a healthy body and mind, as we all explore this new terrain together.

nutritionist and best selling author of the

Now more than ever we need to give

book The Fitness Mindset. He also hosts

our immune systems an extra helping

the #1 podcast The Brian Keane Podcast.

hand. At BBC Good Food you can find 41 immunity-boosting recipes that are

You can find podcasts, nutritional

packed with vitamins and minerals to

advice and workouts on his page, he is

help you stay healthy.

also running a FREE 30 day workout challenge on his Instagram page.

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/ collection/immune-friendly

https://bit.ly/IconicFit Working From Home Health & Fitness

ZOOM

GOOGLE DIGITAL GARAGE

What is it best for?

What is it best for?

Over the last few weeks, Zoom has

There are so many free courses out there

become a popular video communications

and more being released every day to

app for users to stay connected. Talking

help support and upskill businesses and

to coworkers, celebrating birthdays,

individuals that are now operating remotely.

teacher tutorials, fitness or yoga

Google Digital Garage is one of our faves

instructors running classes… the options

as it is designed to help you grow your

are endless for keeping the world

skills in areas such as; Digital Marketing,

connected.

Career Development or Data & Tech.

The majority of their courses are free

How does it work?

and are approved by industry experts,

You’ll need to create a Zoom account,

entrepreneurs and some of the world’s

which is free. From there, you can host a

leading employers meaning you can be sure

meeting, catch-up, class etc by sending

you’re learning up-to-date, real-world skills.

a link to join via email or text.

How does it work?

BUSINESS FROM HOME Setting up a productive shop from the four walls of our homes has bizarrely become the new norm.

If you, like most of us, are new to the world of remote working, we have compiled the top productivity hacks to keep your business running smoothly while in self-isolation.

How many people can be on at a time?

You have the option to select individual

With Zoom up to 100 people can join at

modules, or dive right in and take an

a time, but free accounts are limited to

entire course end-to-end. If you like the

40-minute group meetings. (you can

sound of that, pop over to Google Digital

upgrade to unlimited for €14.99/month.)

Garage to check out their huge range of

https://zoom.us

free learning content designed to help you to upskill or grow your business. https://bit.ly/IconicGoogleGarage

Working From Home Business From Home

MUSEUMS

TOGETHER AT HOME

12 famous museums are offering virtual

Together At Home is Global Citizens

tours you can take from the comfort

virtual concert series in partnership

of your couch. Get some culture and

with WHO to help us all practice social

explore everything from The British

distancing and promote global health.

Museum - London to The National

From homegrown local heroes such as

Museum of Anthropology - Mexico City.

Hozier and Niall Horan to international superstars such as John Legend and

Our top tip is to take a wander around

Chris Martin, more and more stars are

New York’s stunning Guggenheim

streaming gigs for us lucky isolated fans.

Museum and discover artwork from

All you need to do is stay home, tune

Manet, Picasso, Van Gogh and more.

into Global Citizens IG page daily, sit

https://bit.ly/IconMuseums

back, relax and enjoy the show! https://bit.ly/IconicMusic

STAY INSPIRED

BOOKS UPSTAIRS

London’s leading contemporary art

ENTERTAINMENT Staying in can be just as fun and productive as going out, so we have scoured the internet for the best tips to keep boredom at bay during lockdown. From learning new skills to embracing your inner culture vulture, we’ve got you covered…

space, The Saatchi Gallery have started a

Amazing book bundles available for

creative thread on their Instagram page.

delivery from this Dublin bookstore.

Follow each weeks theme and create

Whatever your genre you’ll find

your own art pieces in line with the

something to get stuck into!

theme to get involved.

https://bit.ly/Iconic-Books

https://bit.ly/IconicSaatchi

Working From Home Entertainment

HOUSE PARTY

NETFLIX PARTY

What is it best for?

What is it best for?

Hanging out virtually with smaller groups.

Miss the Monday morning TV download over the coffee machine with your

How does it work?

colleagues? When we found out about

All you have to do is download this

Netflix Party - a free Google Chrome

“face-to-face social network” app to

extension that allows you to watch

any mobile or computer device that it

Netflix remotely with friends - making

can be downloaded on ie. iOS, Android,

solitude so much more bearable, we

and macOS and find your friends. Once

breathed a sigh of relief.

you download it, it syncs your phone contacts then swipe up to see your

How does it work?

friends who are also on Houseparty.

Just install the Google Chrome

Whether it is after work drinks, quiz

extension, open up any TV show or

nights with your best friends or family

movie that Netflix has available, click the

gatherings, this new viral video chat app

“NP” button on your browser, and send

is offering light relief to millions right

your fellow watchers the provided URL.

now. Let’s get the party started!

There’s even a chat bar on the right side of the screen that allows you to discuss

How many people can be on at a time?

STAY CONNECTED The Art of Quarantine Socialising: As humans, we crave social interaction, and self-isolation isn’t exactly the best way to cater to that—or is it? Don’t let your relationships fizzle; from Netflix Parties, group chats on Zoom to virtual dance classes, check out our favourite apps getting us through quarantine.

whatever you’re watching.

Eight is the magic number, which is about how many people you’d want to

How many people can be on at a time?

invite to an intimate dinner party. In that

You can invite as many friends as you

spirit, why not all cook the same thing

want to join in the running commentary…

remotely, sit down together, and discuss

and the more the merrier right?

anything BUT COVID-19?

https://www.netflixparty.com/

https://houseparty.com/ Working From Home Stay Connected

COSMIC YOGA

STORY TIME

More than a million kids do yoga,

Amazon have cancelled the subscription

mindfulness and relaxation with Jamie on

on books and audio stories for children and

her, now infamous, Cosmic Kids YouTube

students of all ages. Kids everywhere can

channel. A brilliant resource for fun videos

instantly stream an incredible collection

that your kids will love to do. In addition,

of stories that will help them continue

parents and teachers report significant

dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

improvements in self-regulation, focus and empathy. What’s not to love. https://bit.ly/IconicKids

VIRTUAL ZOOS

https://bit.ly/IconicStories

KEEP LEARNING Mommypoppins is a great resource for easy and fun science experiments, many of

Thankfully, just because we can’t

which can be created using items you can

physically go to the zoo, it doesn’t mean

find around the house. Fun and educational!

that we can’t still get our fair share of cute, adorable animals.

From the comfort of your own home,

FUN FOR KIDS How to work from home with children – it’s possible, we promise!

Kids demand around-the-clock attention - something that doesn’t really go hand-in-hand with conference calls or deadlines. Fear not, we have compiled some fun resources to help keep your kids entertained & to make life a little easier in these unique times.

you can now sit and watch some of your favourite zoo animals in real-time, with live streams in different zoos and aquariums around the world. https://bit.ly/IconicZoo

*A €5 postal charge does apply.

https://bit.ly/Iconic-Sci

BOREDOM BUSTERS Local print company, SNAP are providing FREE activity sheets to download and print or have sent by post.* https://bit.ly/IconicSnap

Working From Home Entertain The Kids

GOOD NEWS MOVEMENT Journalist-run page for GOOD NEWS. 0 politics. https://bit.ly/GoodNewsIcon

SUPPORT LOCAL ALL THE FOOD To find out where you can pick up food and get deliveries from in Dublin, these guys have all that information you need under

CORONA GOOD NEWS Strictly only delivering good news on Corona Virus! https://bit.ly/C19GoodNews

one roof. Simply pop over to AllTheFood. ie to find out what Dublin cafés and restaurants are still open for business. https://bit.ly/AllTheFood

FLYING ELEPHANT WFH DESKS Looking for a desk so you can work

UPWORTHY

Focus on the Positive: When the news is all doom and gloom, it’s hard for even the most optimistic among us to stay upbeat. Here at Iconic Offices, we take a look at some of the most uplifting Instagram accounts worth following to give you some much needed ‘feel good factor’ news right now.

have you covered!

Delivering you the best of humanity

Iconic Offices have teamed up

since 2012.

with Flying Elephant who produce

https://bit.ly/UpworthyIconic

STAY POSITIVE

from home in comfort and style? We

WFH desks that can be assembled/ disassembled in less than a minute and stored flat-packed with little or no fuss.

TANKS GOOD NEWS Positivity with a hint of humour. https://bit.ly/TksGoodNews

To avail of your exclusive 5% ICONIC DISCOUNT, simply go to their online shop & enter the discount code: ICONIC https://bit.ly/IconicDesk

Working From Home Stay Positive

THE ULTIMATE ‘WORKING FROM HOME’ ICONIC GIVEAWAY!

FLYING ELEPHANT WFH DESK

DUO OF FINE WINE

PF CANDLE

We have x4 amazing WFH desks to

Station to Station Wine are purveyors

P.F Candles consist of invigorating

of the best, fun, most interesting and

scents infused with essential oils.

delicious wines available in Ireland. The

Their candles are hand poured into

online wine retailer are kindly providing

apothecary-inspired amber jars and

a bottle each of their finest red label

finished with a utilitarian label and twist-

Garnacha and blue label Tempranillo for

on brass lid. We will be giving away one

x4 Iconic members.

of their beautiful Teakwood and Tobacco

giveaway so you can work from home in comfort & style. These Flying Elephant

In the first issue of our Iconic WFH

desks take less than a minute to assemble

Magazine, we talk about everything

and can be stored flat-packed with little

from creating the perfect home office to keeping the big kids (& small) entertained.

or no fuss. Happy days!

miniature candles.

To coincide with the working from home

€50 BOOK VOUCHER

theme, we thought why not treat our

Reading proves to be an increasingly

members to an Iconic Giveaway to help

welcome respite in these dizzying times.

you create an inspiring home office.

We have x4 €50 vouchers so you can escape into your new favourite book.

Four iconic winners will receive The Ultimate ‘Working From Home’ Bundle worth up to €500. Enter below. www.bit.ly/IconicWFHGiveaway We will announce the four winners in Issue 2 of our Iconic WFH Magazine!

FLOWSTATE X MASER YOGA MAT

INDOOR DESK PLANT

BOREDOM BUSTER

The concept for Flowstate is to

We will be giving away Peace Lily and

Snap Printings Boredom Buster Puzzle

incorporate the worlds of art , yoga

Parlour Palms for four lucky winners

Activity Book will help keep the little

and movement. This Limited Edition

courtesy of Greenscene - Dublin based

graphic designers entertained for days.

Series is completely sold-out, but we

interior plant experts and Ireland’s

managed to get our hands on the last

premier provider of Interior Plants.

four, exclusively for the WFH Iconic Giveaway.

Working From Home Giveaway

iconicoffices.ie