Tips to Working from Home

COVID-19 has led to any and all employees that can potentially work from home to do so. Working remotely isn’t the norm for most, its takes some getting used to. Below are a just a few tips for working remotely I’ve found have helped me these past few weeks.

1. Start early.

Believe it or not, the morning commute actually helps us to wake up. By the time we reach our desks we’re ready to take on what the day has to throw at us. Conversely, when your desk is only inches from your pillow, the thoughts of the day ahead can be much more daunting. However, to dwell on the negatives of this crisis is to deny ourselves of the benefits in which it associates. As an alternative to those extra few minutes in bed, use the time saved on your daily travels wisely. By waking up at the same time, you can efficiently plan out your day. Diving into your to-do list is a sure fire way to wake you up, and increase your productivity at home.

By the time 9am rolls around you’ll already feel as though you’ve gotten a ton of work done. The first week of this I really struggled, I was rolling out of bed on time, and found I couldn’t focus for the day. By the time I even woke up half the day was gone and there was so much work left to go through. So I made it my mission the next week to get organised and make the most of the time I was saving driving. A typical weekday morning for me now starts at 6am with a morning jog (this I thought I would hate but there’s something about getting fresh air first thing that puts me in such a good mood.) When I get home, I make sure to do a quick stretch, shower and get cracking on my to-do list about 8am-8.30am. By the time work starts at 9 I feel like I can take anything that’s thrown my way, even some unexpected surprises. Then when I feel like I’m about to hit a wall, I’ll get some breakfast and a cup of coffee to put me back on track.

2. Imagine you are in the office.

Our brains aren’t programmed to be productive at home. Our home is the space we use to relax and unwind after a long day at the office. The mental association we’ve made between our “productive” and our “unwinding” spaces can be tough to disregard. Thus, it’s important we create a new space of productivity in our homes. Personally, I still need to switch off after work and didn’t want my home to become my office in its entirety, but also not wanting my work to suffer I decided a workspace was the key. A separate room just for work, fully equipped with everything I need, computer, laptop, notes, pens. The works.

It’s important to keep distractions to a minimum in your workspace, so try somewhere with no TV, radio, or a big pile of washing to distract you from your work.

3. Provide your day with structure

When working from home, it’s easy to lose focus, or even make an unnecessary trip to the fridge for the hundredth time. Without the contact of your co-workers it can be tempting to look for ways to break up your day. So to not let myself get too distracted, or gain 200 pounds during these next few weeks, I’ve structured my day exactly how I would in the office. Every hour I think it’s important to get up and walk around about, just 5 minutes to reset your mind and stretch your legs. To stay on track, I prioritise my to-do list and check what meetings I have to dial into that day. Food wise, I try eat the same as I would in work, I make the same lunches at the same time, stock up on my usual snacks, and only allow myself coffee when I typically took coffee breaks in the office. This way I’ve no excuses and I can work to the same ability as I would on my typical work day.

4. Avoid social media

Social media is the devil, designed to make it easy for you to deter from your priorities easily. So simply to open and browse, but before you know it a half hour has passed which can really be detrimental to your productivity.

In my best attempts to stay focused, I try to leave my phone in another room. I’ll allow myself to check it for messages and anything important every hour when I stretch my legs. But that distance is the only way I’ve found I can guarantee I won’t be tempted at any stage during my work day.

5. Communicate clearly with anyone at home with you.

The first week at home was a disaster for this. When you’re at home, more often than not you’ll have company. It can be hard for those around you to understand that you’re not directly accessible. Making this clear to everyone in your house can be tough, whether it’s a sibling, parents, or a partner. Especially if these people are one of many who cannot work right now and might be going off their head at home looking for company. My first week, my parents were so glad to have me around they were trying to call me in for lunch (when I technically was not on lunch), there was visits to my “office” while I was in the middle of important calls. It’s funny to think of now, but it took me day to explain just because I was working from home didn’t really mean I was home, if you know what I mean. After this we got a much better routine, having lunch together, on my allocated hours. Going for 2km walks after I finished at 5pm. It’s great to have so much time with everyone, just try keep this out of working hours.