Tips for working from home during the Corona Virus
As the Corona virus spreads globally more people are working from home. Some of the biggest challenges can be managing your time productively, becoming easily distracted and struggling with loneliness. As our schools are currently closed, working parents now have the extra pressure of juggling work and family life.
So we have come up with some tips on how to get through this – and don’t forget, even if you might feel isolated, you are not alone!
Choose a dedicated work space
Whilst it is tempting to sit on your sofa or stay in bed with your laptop, do not fall into this trap. It might seem comfier, but in the longer term you will find you are sitting in positions that could damage your back and impair your health. Instead, create a dedicated work space – this could be a corner of a room, or if space allows, a separate room for your home office. This will help you focus and be more organised and productive.
At the end of your working day, write your ‘to do’ list for the following day, turn off your computer and tidy your desk. This will help you to switch off from ‘work mode’ making it easier to switch back to ‘home mode’ – it is important to create distance between your workspace and home life.
Get into a routine & get dressed!
Although it is tempting to go straight from your bed to your work space, treat your day as a normal working day and go through your usual morning routine – set your alarm, get dressed and have breakfast. Start your day with a clear plan and check in with your manager or colleagues.
To stay on schedule, plan your day, dividing your time up into segments, setting out what to do and when. You can create a calendar or personal reminders that will let you know when to take breaks or when to start on a new task.
Take a break
It is important for you to find time during the day to take a break. Don’t just sit in your chair in front of your computer – get up and get active! This could mean some simple stretches, catching up on chores around the house, playing football with your children, or tending your garden. You can even go online and join a yoga or workout class. Setting a time will remind you when to take a break and when to get back to work. This will help to clear your head and you will then be more focused for when you return to your work space.
Communicate with others
No one knows how long social distancing will last, or how long we will be working from home for, but being out of the office does not mean you are alone. Making a call is often quicker and more effective than sending an email, but the use of technology such as Whatsapp, LinkedIn, Skype or Face Time, means you can stay connected with your colleagues.
Choose how to communicate so that you can easily stay in contact, finding out about important issues and catching up on news, giving you much needed social contact. Your team can even share calendars so everyone is updated or you can set up social media groups to easily communicate quick messages. Finding the right balance and means of communication is essential – don’t constantly send messages as they can be a real distraction and if your current ways of communicating aren’t working then suggest another method.
Communication is also important in maintaining your mental health as well as making sure you are in regular contact with your colleagues and clients. It is important to keep to business hours, and switch off your communications at the end of your work day so that you have time to relax in your home.
Minimise distractions
It is easy to get distracted – by social media, your favourite TV program or by others who are living with you in your home. Whilst having a housemate, partner or family at home is great in terms of having company, it can also be distracting when you need a quiet space to work. So when working turn off your social media, set your phone to silent, turn down the television or radio and ask others to respect your work time.
For working parents it can be difficult to balance working, home schooling, and keeping the household running smoothly. So it is important to get everyone on board and set boundaries for when you are in work mode. This might mean setting a schedule with your partner to take turns caring for your children. Also make sure your children understand that you can only be interrupted for emergencies and don’t forget to schedule times for them – to help with homework, have family meals and to all play and spend quality time together. Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re home!
Know when to stop
You might think that working from home makes for an easier work-life balance, but the lines can become blurred between work time and personal time. This is why you should set your working hours, and once you have reached a set time, turn off your computer and walk away from your workspace.
There is always work to do and unless it is urgent, it will still be there tomorrow. So know when to stop and then enjoy your personal time which will make you fresher and more focused for the next morning. You can set an alarm to remind you to end your working day.
In conclusion…
Working from home will be different for everyone. So by sticking to a planned routine, having a dedicated work space, communicating with others, minimising distractions, and keeping your work and home life separate it will make you more productive and make working from home much easier.
Why not share your working from home tips with us – what works for you and what are your biggest distractions and challenges?