21 Apr It’s all about the routine…
Working from home is pretty enjoyable …right up until the kids starting crying, dog starts barking and you’re on the phone or until your neighbour, who you can only assume is building a his version of the a DeLorean, starts firing up all sorts of power tools!
Working from home every once in a while, is a luxury. Until, you have to start working from home on a more regular basis, it can be a little more challenging when you are not use to it.
A change of routine, not having your daily commute, not seeing your colleagues every day, not needing to wear your office clothes…
It’s tough to get into new habits. You’ll find below some tips that we’ve compiled about working from home…
Early bird catches the worm…
When you’re working in the office, or your usual place of work, you have from the time you wake up to the time you arrive at your desk to feel ready to work.
However, when working from home, the transition from your pillow to your computer can be, shall we say slower.
If you can believe it, one way to work from home productively is to jump into your to-do list as soon as you wake up.
Getting a project started first thing in the morning can be the key to making progress on it gradually throughout the day.
Otherwise, you’ll extend breakfast and let the morning lethargy wear away your motivation.
Pretend like you are going into the office…
There is a mental association you make between work and the office can make you more productive – there’s no reason that feeling should be lost when working from home.
When working from home, do all the things you’d do to prepare for a day at the office! Set your alarm, enjoy a coffee and wear nice clothes.
Internet browsers like Google Chrome even allow you to set up multiple accounts with different toolbars on the top – a separate one for work and personal.
Routine is everything…
When working from home, you are your own manager and it’s easy to get a little loosey-goosey with your routine.
With all the other temptations your home has to offer – it’s easy not to get into a routine.
However, you will find working from home easier, if you have a routine. Get up and get ready for your day just as you would if you were leaving the house to go to the office. Schedule your lunch break, finish working by a set time and at least 30 mins for mindfulness or a workout session.
Own your workspace…
Just because you’re not working in the office doesn’t mean you can’t have a home office.
Make a dedicated workspace, rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the sofa!
Enjoy your workspace, make it your own, motivational quotes, a comfy chair, flowers, your favourite mug for your brew.
Enjoy breaks
Schedule clear breaks to take during your day. Don’t let the guilt of working in your home, prevent you from taking five to relax.
As human beings, we’re not meant to sit still for long periods of time.
Rather than just skipping through your social media profiles when your break arrives – get away from your desk. Go for a walk outside, spend time with others who might also be in the house, stand up and get moving for a couple of minutes.
You could do jumping jacks, walk the stairs in your home, stretch, do some yoga poses, take the dog outside—whatever you like to do, just make sure you move!
Set your boundaries…
There is one downside from working at home, you tend to over work.
You don’t have to drive to the office, so it’s easy to begin your workday earlier, work through lunch (there are no co-workers there to remind you it’s lunch time!) and not stop until the sun goes down.
However, overworking and not taking time for yourself can be detrimental to your health, your well-being and even your work performance.
Don’t work on weekends unless you absolutely have to. Take your lunch and breaks away from your desk / computer. Be honest with yourself, log your hours to see how much time you’re spending working.
Prepare your meals…
You may be tempted to spend time preparing a really nice breakfast and lunch – taking your time because you’re working from home.
Why not prepare your food ahead of time? So that you can use your meal times to eat, and that you aren’t performing non-work tasks that spend energy better used at your desk.
Keep your fridge stocked with healthy, fresh foods and enjoy the fact that you can whip up a healthy and satisfying lunch without having to pack one.
Who is your accountability buddy?
When you’re working from home, you don’t get quite as much interaction or support from colleagues as you would being in the office.
Find an accountability buddy, a friend or colleague, so that you can both keep each other on track.
Whether it’s calling through times of stress, or reaching out when you need someone to virtually high-five with!
Make the most of your situation!
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
Working from home, you are in control of your schedule and time.
Make your schedule work for your healthy lifestyle!
Distance yourself from Social Media
Social media is a great way of seeing what your friends, colleagues are up to, finding new products, seeing what events are on – it is designed to make it easy for you to open and scroll quickly.
However, at work, this convenience can be the detriment of your productivity.
Why not remove your social networks from your browser, (or have a separate one for you social networks) or logout from each account. Login back in after you’ve finished work for the day.
Work when you’re at your most productive.
Your motivation throughout the day will naturally peak and trough. It’s important to understand those peaks and troughs, so you can plan your schedule around them
Save your harder work tasks for when you know you’ll be in the right headspace for them. Then use your slower parts of the day to complete the easier tasks.
An idea is to do those tasks in the mornings, like your blog writing or emails and save phone calls, skype meetings and other team work for when you’ve officially “woken up”.
Use technology to stay connected.
Tools like zoom are fantastic for keeping you connected with colleagues. It is a great way to make it easy to check in with co-workers, work on projects together and remind you how your work is contributing.