Are you one of the many who have suddenly found themselves working from home, to help ensure appropriate social distancing? Working in your pyjamas and commuting from your bed to the desk might sound like a dream, but in reality it can be harder than it seems. How do you stay focused? How do you keep in touch with your workmates? What if you get lonely? Our guide to working from home answers all these questions and more…
1. Create a productive space
Having the right workspace is one of the most important parts of working from home. Your workspace needs to be clean, comfortable, and motivate you to work. Getting it right could lead to your most productive days yet!
First, choose a place in your home that is quiet and free from distraction. Sitting on your couch with the TV playing in the background is not the ideal environment. Try to find a spot with plenty of natural light, little noise, and a stable internet connection.
After you’ve found your spot, make sure you set up everything you need to work productively. You’ll need a desk and a comfortable chair, along with electronics like a laptop and headphones. Get your favourite mug and make sure you keep a jug of water on your desk to stay hydrated and focused.
Your workspace also needs to be somewhere you enjoy being. Make sure it’s clean and free from clutter. Nobody does their best work when surrounded by dirty laundry and takeaway boxes.
Give your space some character by putting up decorations like your favourite photos, fresh flowers or soothing candles. You could even play soft background music to help get your head in the game.
2. Set a routine
One of the best parts about working from home is that you often get to choose your schedule. If you’re a morning person, you can get up with the birds and get cracking – and that means ending your day earlier once your productivity has dwindled. If you’re a night owl, you can look forward to sleeping in and working later when your productivity is at its peak.
Once you figure out when you are most productive, you need to set a routine around those hours. Our guide to working from home recommends getting up at the same time and starting work at the same time every day. Decide when you’ll work and how long you’ll work for, and stick to it.
Some people who work from home may already have set hours they are required to work between, but it’s still important to commit to a routine and schedule your breaks. You might need to use a planner, calendar, or a timer to keep you on track. That way, you’ll still meet your deadlines and produce your best work.
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3. Separate work and home
Working from home can quickly snowball into working all the time. One of the most crucial tips in our guide to working from home is to set boundaries. You need to set a distinct line between your professional and personal life.
Make sure you end your workday when you’ve scheduled it to end. That means no checking or answering emails. You need to make it clear to your coworkers that you will not be available at certain times. You may even need to close the door to your workspace (if possible!) and set an ‘out of office’ every night.
Remember to take regular breaks throughout your day too. You can break up the day with things like exercise, stretching, reading and meditating. Always take a real lunch break away from your computer, and take advantage of being at home to cook yourself a meal, rather than relying on takeaways.
Staring at a screen for eight hours isn’t good for anyone and having a break gives you the chance to recharge and improve your work performance.
4. Keep in touch and combat loneliness
Many people struggle with loneliness when they work from home, with 19% of remote workers feeling lonely. If you’re used to being surrounded by teammates at the office, even the most introverted person can find it difficult to work alone from home every day.
But don’t worry! There are plenty of ways to stay connected to the outside world, even when you’re stuck in isolation at home.
First, make sure you’re utilising all the fantastic communication tools out there. Apps like Skype and Zoom are great for video conferencing with your teammates or clients, and it allows you to spend face-to-face time with people.
There are plenty of instant messaging tools that let you check in frequently throughout the day. If you feel you need to talk it out, just fire off a message or pick up the phone and make a call.
You can also stay connected to other people in your company or industry by going to online conferences and training sessions. Use social media to stay in touch and celebrate things like birthdays and big events.
Are you working from home during the coronavirus pandemic? Let us know your work from home tips in the comments below…