How to work from home

I have been working from home for the last 10 years, and have thought about writing a blog post on how to work from home for ages. I didn’t expect to write it in the circumstances I am writing it. We are currently entering the unknown with the novel Corona Virus. Anyway, let’s jump in!

Structure your day like a work day – Pt 1

If you are like me and have a massive to-do list, it’s so easy to log on early, not take a break and stay logged on way past most peoples home time. Its important to not do this on a regular basis. You need to keep a balance of work and home life otherwise work just takes over.

Structure your day like a work day – Pt 2

……and for some it would be tempting to lie in bed and log on late. I still recommend sticking to a normal work pattern. Unless you are getting up and going out for a run/working out to energise you before work, its best to get ahead of the game and get down to work at a normal time.

Dress to impress

I know lots of people stay in PJ’s all day when working from home. I do not think this works for everyone. Just like the change in mentality from dress down days, staying in PJ’s I think does not put you into a working mentality. I get dressed – don’t get me wrong I am not suited and booted!! but I get dressed for the day ahead as if I was working with other people. Also avoids the awkward video conference call!!

Today, for example, I put on a dress – something I seldomly do in the office as I am not confident enough to do it. But it made me feel happy and nice and at the moment with all of the bad stuff happening, that’s a bonus.

Have a defined work area

I am lucky that I have a desk with dual monitors etc set up so I can “go to work”. I do not want my whole house to feel like an extension of work. The best thing is to be able to sit at my desk and work and then walk away. It also has the benefit that if I do not finish something I can leave things out on my desk without having to waste loads of time packing away and unpacking.

Communication is key

Doesn’t matter how you do it, but check in with others you work with regularly. I find no contact or email only contact always leads to misunderstandings. It’s so easy to misinterpret someone’s tone and intention on a business email.

There are loads of ways these days to stay in touch. Microsoft Teams, Slack, Videoconferencing and good old mobiles. In this day and age, the ways we can stay in touch are endless.

Take regular breaks

It’s so easy to sit at your desk and lose the whole day immersed in your work without even breaking for lunch. I always try to take a break – my desk is on the middle floor of my house so I make sure I go downstairs to make a cup of tea/coffee regularly. When the weather is nice, I take advantage of being at home and taking my dog out for a nice lunchtime walk. Luna loves it and I come back with a clear head, ready to concentrate again in the afternoon.

Also, it’s a good opportunity to practice “Mindful eating” – thank you Noom you did teach me something! I try and eat my lunch away from my desk, again to separate out the separate parts of my workday.

No Netflix and chill!

TV is a distraction – sometimes as my back is to the TV I put it on for background noise but it can still be too distracting. Instead, I put a Spotify playlist on if I feel like I need something to get me through the day. I tend to use a study type playlist so that I am not too distracted by singing along to the Foo Fighters!

Repeat the mantra – I am not having a day off

The amount of times I have to say this during the day is unbelievable. When my parent’s phone for a chat, because I am off!!! Errrm no I am not off I am working from home. It falls on deaf ears. When they offer to pop in to see you because you are off for the day! Errrrm no I am not off. When the kids start to badger you to pop out somewhere because you are off – I AM NOT OFF!!

Enjoy it!

When you get the work-life balance right nothing can beat it. The fact you have no commute that should, in theory, make your day shorter is something to be celebrated. You can even get housework done so you feel like you are winning at life.

It’s so easy with the current situation to feel as though the world may well end. This could actually be the start of something great. Bosses who before did not want to entertain working from home may decide that actually it does work and a happy workforce is a productive one. I am trying to limit how much of the news I watch as it seems to be triggering a lot of people right now and it’s totally out of my control. But I can still do my work and enjoy my time at home.

I hope my tips on how to work from home help you feel more in control. Let me know if there is anything you do to help you with your days.

If you want something to read if you are in isolation have a flick through my posts – here is the one from last week.

Julie x