Working from home often seems like a great idea but it can be tricky to stay focused and remain productive... and after all, being productive is very, very important to everyone - to business owners who want to survive, to team members who want to keep their jobs and to society in general which has to continue to function after the crisis is over.
So here are our top five tips to make working from home a success.
Get up, get dressed, get out
Humans love routine.
We set our alarms for the same time everyday (we then snooze them for the same number of times), we do the same things every morning. We even take the same journey to work every day.
It may seem very tempting to roll out of bed a bit later and fetch up in front of the PC still in pyjamas.
Try to avoid this.
Set your alarm for the same time and try to follow your morning routine as closely as possible. Of course, you won't be commuting to work but leave the house for a walk at the same time.
Psychologically by following the same routine you will be preparing yourself for work.
Separate work from home
If possible have a separate place in your home so you can 'go to work'.
When you are 'at work' be in your workplace. When you are on your lunch break or at the end of the day switch off your PC and leave work. Close the door on your work space.
If possible, at the end of the day, go for a walk.
This will give you the psychological separation which will allow your mind to switch off from work.
There will be distractions
Being at home you will be surrounded by things you like doing. Watching TV, playing on a games console or checking out social media.
Make it hard (or at least harder) to get distracted: lock away the things that might stop you being productive. Put the games console away and unplug the TV... sign out from social media.
Allow yourself a time when you will indulge yourself - but stick to the time and then get back to your work space.
Finally, set some rules with family members - for example, if the door's closed, don't come in, I'm working!
Stay connected
In these times when we are being asked to self isolate we do tend to focus on the word 'isolate'.
I know it's obvious but the isolation in this case is physical. There are lots of ways to stay connected to the rest of your colleagues.
Don't be shy when you need to speak with someone; pick up the 'phone to your boss or even schedule a video call. Zoom is a brilliant free app that allows you to have a 'meeting' with more than one person at a time.
Schedule in calls with your boss, too, so you can go over the work you have done and what you are still to do - set yourself goals and share them - and share the results too!
Stay out of the kitchen
One of the the things that people say when they first move out of an office into a home work space is they were shocked about the number of visits they made to the fridge.
It is very easy to graze, especially when you get distracted.
If you think you'll be a grazer, fill your fridge with healthy snacks.
By extension home working may make eating more a temptation; it may also lead to less exercise. More food and less exercise could have a catastrophic effect on your waistline.
So force yourself out for a walk at least once a day but preferably at the start, in the middle and at the end of the day.
Finally - enjoy it. At home we try to create an environment we like to live in. Having the opportunity to spend more time in that environment is a bonus so don't be too hard on yourself and stay focused.
