Tips for working from home

Here are our tips on working from home, if you adopt these it will help you to continue to work efficiently and stay healthy:      

1. Maintain Regular Hours

Set a schedule and stick to it. Having clear guidelines for when to work and when to call it a day is important when working remotely and to maintain work-life balance.

2. Create a Morning Routine

Get out of bed and get dressed (very important:-)) eat breakfast or have a cup of coffee and sit down at the space that you have allocated as your “home office”. It might be a separate room, a corner of you dining room, or lounge. Having a space to work is crucial for the mind. Create a morning routine that ends with you starting work. Before you start working, plan what tasks are for the day and try and allocate time for them.

3. Communicate expectations with anyone who will be home with you

Try not to let kids, spouse, pets, noisy neighbours overwhelm you or keep you get things done. Let your spouse and/or children know that when you are working you are unavailable for them, unless it is an emergency.

4. Take Breaks

In the office the day is broken up by meetings, coffee breaks, toilet breaks, interaction with other colleagues. Take regular short breaks after every 60 minutes and walk away from your computer screen. Stand up, stretch, make a cup of tea, but avoid the fridge!! This way it is easier to maintain concentration level.

5. Take Lunch break

Leave your desk for lunch and take advantage of being at home. This time might be useful to do some yoga, read a book, walk the dog. Prepare proper food following a balanced diet.

6. Leave Home within the government guidelines

You should try to get outside once a day. Your body needs to move. Plus, the fresh air and natural light will do you good. Go for a walk or a run, or do some gardening if you have one.

7. Keep in touch with colleagues

Pick up your phone and check in with colleagues throughout the day. If you are working with someone on a project, in the office usually verbal communication with each other is key. Schedule daily calls or video chats with each other if possible.

8. Take Advantage of Your Perks

As you have more time at your hand, find a hobby or do something you like.  Baking, reading, sorting out your cupboards, writing, painting, exercise, gardening, learn a new language, meditation, origami, etc.

9. Manage distractions

It takes serious focus to get a full-time office job done from an unconventional space. That said, everyone lets their attention drift sometimes. Give yourself short breaks between periods of focused work. A change of scene is all we need to energize ourselves again, and it is the perfect time to put a load of washing on or empty the dishwasher.

10. End Your Day with a Routine

Just as you should start your day with a routine, create a habit that signals the close of the workday. Turn off your computer and turning on a favourite podcast, preparing dinner, you may choose this time to be your daily walk or exercise.  Whatever you choose, do it consistently to mark the end of working hours.

11. Take holidays

It is always important to get a break from work, unwind and relax. The current climate does not change that. Book annual leave and be creative with how you can use your time at home. Read the books you have not had time to read, go for walks, paint that room you have been putting off painting. Enjoy time with your family or start learning a new language.