A survival guide for homeworking

Homeworking has become the new norm during the covid-19 outbreak. With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the things I have learnt from being a home worker.

Here are seven easy things you can do to make working from home just as productive and easier.

Routine is key

Yayy, you can now work in your PJ’s, watch TV and chill. This might sound like the dream, but in reality this really doesn’t help productivity! Getting up at the normal time, having breakfast and getting changed can be crucial. You still need to get in the mindset of work and these things can help that. Yes I might wear more relaxed and comfy clothes, but rolling out of bed at the last second isn’t the best way to start the day.

If you have a disability it is of course okay to manage things differently. If you change into another pair of PJ’s and have to work from bed, that does not devalue your contribution or work ethic. Doing things like sitting up in bed or getting changed when you can will help differentiate sleeping and working. Do what works for you.

To-do lists are your new best friend

I don’t know how I’d get things done without a list! My inner stationary fanatic loves a good notebook and list pad. Start by writing everything that needs done, then decide what you want to achieve today. It might sound simple, but it can help to keep you focused and on task.

You could even go one step further and share your to-do list with colleagues. Apps like Trello can be great at seeing what everyone is doing, especially when two people are contributing. It can allow you to still feel part of a team despite being at home.

Don’t forget to add to the list and review it at the end of each day to ensure you have achieved what you wanted to, as well as prioritising things to do later in the week.

Break things up

In an office do you stay sat for hours on end? Probably not. You get up and might talk to others, go to the loo and grab a drink — of course this can apply when you’re at home.

More importantly, take a lunch break when you can and move to a different part of the house. Having a break can be really important, especially at home, and can aid productivity when you do come back.

However, don’t go overboard. It’s very easy to find yourself scanning the kitchen for snacks or putting a load of washing on — because you can! Yet this will only blur the lines between work and home, with this potentially making it harder to switch off.

Headphones and music

Not a fan of a Monday morning? Try putting on a Friday feel good playlist. I’m guilty of using these throughout the week, why save the positive vibes for Friday? If this isn’t your sort of thing, then any music of your choice can help.

Headphones, especially noise cancelling, can be really helpful when working from home. You are bound to have outside noise, potentially from others in your house. I find that headphone mean I am less likely to be distracted, even if I’m not playing music.

Keep boundaries

Having a blur between work and home can become hard. You might not be able to focus if you are in home mode or you won’t be able to switch off on an evening because you’re still in work mode.

There a simple things which can aid the division:

• Have starting and finishing work built into your routine. Having your diary and laptop out means you’re working, packing it all away signals you’ve finished.
• Put your phone on do not disturb, or at the other end of the room if you have a habit of checking it!
• Try stick to work hours. It’s a lot easier to work more or less hours when you are at home, be mindful of this.
• Minimise housework to before and after work.
• Reduce distractions. I know social media and Netflix’s are calling you!

Get outside

Working from home isn’t the easiest at times. You could quite easily get to Friday and realise you haven’t stepped foot outdoors. Even taking things to the bin gives you a breathe of fresh air. Also, during warmer weather you could try having your lunch sat in the garden.

Exercise is still important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This can be a morning run or a weekend swim. You could walk the dog before or after work. However, even if this doesn’t sound like you, try and get out when you can.

Keep in touch with colleagues

This is so important! Working alone can be isolating and can feel like you don’t have that team around you. Using platforms like Teams or WhatsApp can bridge the gap of not being in an office, even if that is just to say good morning to people.

Obviously it’s important it talk about work related content, but realistically this isn’t like an office environment. Talk about what you did at the weekend or how you are doing. Of course there needs to be some level of moderation, but keeping in touch will help moral and keep you connected.

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It can take a while to find the right balance when working from home. It also is something you might need to adjust to. However, I hope this has helped and will keep you going in the months ahead.

~ Chloe x