Coronavirus: How to work better from home
If you have not worked form home before, or at least not for an extended period, you will likely be experiencing some new stresses and strains during the coming weeks, so here are some tips.
I have been working from home and working with remote teams for the last 5 years and my wife also works from home (and with me). So, with Covid-19 hanging over us and with so many families facing the prospect of sharing an enclosed space not just from 5 to 9, but now also from 9 to 5, I thought I would share the following 6 tips on how to work better from home.
1. Be normal
Get up, brush your teeth and get dressed. Staying in your jimjams all day might be fun for a bit but you will soon lose respect for yourself. Perhaps you don’t have to wear a tie, but you know what - it might even work well if you do delineate your working time from your nonworking time in the way you dress. This also means you should start work and stop work as you would do normally and...
2. …set boundaries
Not only should you have a beginning and an end to your working day as you normally do, but it is also important to agree some boundaries with others who are sharing your home. Just because we are at home does not mean we can disturb each other whenever we want.
3. Block out time
Of course extra childcare duties mean we may have to sacrifice some time during working hours but then try to block time during your day to ensure you concentrate without interruptions. So, for example; from 9-10 I am answering emails, from 10-11I have 2 calls scheduled, then from 11-12 I am teaching my kids how to make loo roll from newspaper!
4. Make a work space
Related to all of the above is the importance of trying to maintain a workspace. If you wander around the house with your laptop it is harder to set it aside when your working day is done and harder to create these mental (and physical) boundaries. So having an organised and clear workspace, wherever it may be - the bedroom table, the spare room, the shed - is key to working efficiently and letting go when it is the time to let go.
If you do not have the luxury of having a separate space, then make sure you pack up at the end of the day and, if possible, put your work out of sight.
5. Look after your Mental and physical health
And the reason for doing much of this is… the importance of distinguishing between work and home. It is crucial in maintaining good mental health. In the past I have done this badly and my wife and I have now set up a rule that we do not discuss work after 6:30pm.
There are also other ways to look after your mental health which is likely to be strained during the coming weeks. Take breaks - schedule them to keep a structure - but make sure you take them. If you are lucky enough to have a garden I suggest using it. A bit of fresh air and green is great for clearing and relaxing both body and mind but sadly I can no longer recommend going for a walk in a public space.
With gyms and offices closed we might all be tempted to sit on the sofa, laptop on our knees, stuffing tea and biscuits into our faces and feeling sorry for ourselves. So making some time to go outside is crucial for your physical and mental wellbeing. Maybe take a break from your work and do something physical. For example; the 30 day plank challenge or the 100 hundred pushups program or my favourite 10 minute workout on YouTube. It is a great opportunity to find ways to be fit and you are at home so don’t worry about looking silly (your family already thinks you are a muppet).
6. Communicate
Right - last but not least; don’t forget to talk. There will be no water cooler moments or coffee breaks, so make sure you pick up the phone and talk, or video call - you know actually speak to someone. It might get claustrophobic and lonely at times so human contact is important. Now, if you have any tips on working remotely and maintaining a modicum of sanity let us know in the comments.
Stay safe and work well. We will all get through this and party again!
Author: Thomas Smallwood is an outsourcing specialist. Having worked in companies around Europe, from the support desk to the boardroom, he founded bizee.co to help small businesses grow through efficient delegation to skilled virtual assistants. He is an award-winning blogger and a passionate advocate for mental health awareness.
Connect with Tom on LinkedIn.