As COVID-19 continues it's spread around the world, an increasing number of us are being required to work from home. If you haven’t worked from home for a prolonged period before, the prospect of this may be unnerving.
If you are feeling at a bit at sea about the how to? Know that you are not alone. A number of my clients have expressed this concern about this as well.
But social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation.
Working as a consultant for a number years, I have had to get used to working in isolation. Below are my seven practical tips to make the transition to work from home so much easier for you.
The Seven Practical Tips For Working From Home During COVID-19.
1. Get out of your pyjamas
No matter how much you love the idea of lounging around all day in your pyjamas, get up, have a shower and get into your daytime clothes. Sleep clothes are for sleep, and if you are spending large amounts of time at home you need to consciously separate these activities.
2. Set up a designated office space
If you live in a house with plenty of space, set your office up in a spare room and close door at the end of the work day. If you live in a small apartment, get a study desk and a comfortable office chair, and only use this area for work purposes. Make an effort to complete all your work in this area and mentally shut it off when you are finished for the day. The separation of work and personal time will be a key to your successful transition to working from home.
3. Create a morning routine
I like to have a coffee and check out the news on TV at the start my day. But I always make sure to set a timer on my phone and I stick to it. It’s easy to get sucked into the goings on in the world at times like this. Before you know it ten minutes becomes an hour and then the whole day is gone. Next, I usually take five to ten minutes to sit in silence to mentally prepare. During this time I complete a mental stocktake of the things that I want to achieve today. Then I am ready, set and mentally prepared to get on with it.
4. Make the best use of technology
Use communication tools such as Zoom, Skype, Facetime and Conference Calls to stay in touch. Set regular morning meetings with your colleagues. This way you keep up to date with what’s new; be clear about your work expectations and keep your work relationships going. Just because you’re not in close physical contact with your colleagues, doesn’t mean you can’t continue to celebrate birthday’s, milestones and work achievements. If you are feeling lonely pick up the phone, get onto social media, and communicate with others. If you are worried about someone, check in and show support. Many of us love the social and relationship side of work and see our colleagues as friends. This is a time in which you can really be a friend. We will all have ups and downs over this period, so doing regular check in’s is important. Try a virtual coffee, lunch or afternoon tea with a colleague or two to break things up. This is the time to use technology to explore new ways to work, collaborate and build relationships. Used wisely, technology has the potential to bring us together, strengthen our relationships and make us stronger as a team and a community.
5. Take regular breaks and get out in nature
If you are not in self-isolation get up and go for a walk in nature, while maintaining social distancing rules. This gets us up and moving and is revitalising. If you are in self-isolation get out into the garden and pull some weeds. If you are in an apartment get out on the balcony, look at the sky and feel the breeze on your face. Think about getting some plants delivered, nurture them and watch them grow, it’s good for the soul.
6. Drink plenty of water and prepare nutritious meals
Keeping your fluids up is really important. Keep a bottle of water on your desk, take regular sips and aim to drink at least one litre of water per day. Get fresh food, fruit and vegetables delivered, and take the time to prepare good nutritious meals. You will feel much better for it and it is also a good circuit breaker. Whenever I prepare a meal, I really focus on what I am doing and enjoy the process. Remember to eat slowly and enjoy a vegetable assortment which creates a rainbow of colours on your plate.
7. Go old school and unplug from technology for set periods
Make a time to stop working and stick to it. At the end of the work day, take some time out from technology. Your screen time dramatically increases when you work from home. The need to stay technologically connected for long periods and conduct meetings over the computer or on the phone can be taxing. This means that you need to find ways to unplug and restore your balance. I like to read a good book, meditate, do some stretching, weights training or ride my exercise bike. Other non-tech activities you can do at home include jigsaw puzzles, mindfulness colouring in, board and card games, arts and crafts, and forms of exercise suited to your fitness level and your space. Taking care of both your physical and emotional wellbeing is crucial to your health and success.
Working from home doesn’t have to be something you fear. It can be new and exciting and lead to better ways to work. Take the time to set yourself up so you are comfortable and can perform at your best. Make it fun. Experiment and find out what works best for you. Don’t be afraid to communicate with your colleagues, and ask for help when you need it. One of the positives, is you will probably find an extra couple of hours a day to spend on you. Sitting in traffic or catching the train can be a drag. Use this extra time allocation to improve your life. Give it your best. Know there may be some hiccups along the way, but you will find your sweet spot.
You never know, you might just find, working from home will give you a richer life that is more balanced and fun.
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