Working From Home – Top Tips

For many, it has been a year of working from home and who would have thought we’d be in the third national lockdown. A time that won’t be forgotten.

With the government advising all companies to encouraged their employees to work from home where possible to prevent the spread of the latest variants of COVID-19. This advice looks like it could remain for some months to come. I know of a number of friends that have been advised they won’t be returning to the office before September this year. At least another 7 months looking at the same 4 walls…… 

With this in mind, along with, the serious negative impact that working from home has had and continues to have on employee’s mental health, it is no wonder that supporting employees and mental wellbeing is at the top of every HR agenda.  

Many people initially viewed working from home as a luxury, when in fact many have realised it can actually be a daily challenge or dread. If you haven’t managed to get used to it or even for those of you that are used to working from home but have the additional pressure of home schooling or being at home with partners 24/7 can create an unimaginable amount of stress.  

However, by remaining disciplined, preparing the same way as you would for going into the office and know the boundaries between work and home life, then it can be very rewarding for both the employer and employee. 

Below are 6 top tips on how to stay productive, proactive and positive while working from home. 

Working From Home Top Tips

1. Create a clean workspace – It’s important you dedicate a space where you can comfortably work from while at home. You will need to take into consideration whether you need an external monitor to act as a second screen, a wireless mouse to relieve the strain on your wrists and forearms, and a wireless keyboard to make it easier to type away. Don’t forget to position your monitor at eye level and ensure you are sitting on a comfortable chair that promotes good posture. 

2. No snoozing! – It can be tempting to hit the snooze button when your alarm sounds, but don’t do it. Instead, start the day the same way you would as if you were heading to the office. Wake up, shower, get dressed, and prepare yourself for the day ahead before sitting down to work. This will certainly help you get in the right mindset for a strong start to your day. 

3. Create a schedule – Working from home is very different to working in an office. The easiest way to build a healthy work-life balance is to set up a clear schedule for each day and stick to it, and when the working day is done, step away from your work.  

4. To-do lists are your friend – A really good way to keep yourself organised and focused is to create a to-do list. This will keep you on track, help you prioritise certain tasks and will ensure you hold yourself accountable. 

5. Take breaks – Everyone needs valuable rest time so don’t be afraid to take regular breaks., Everyone needs valuable rest time so don’t be afraid to take regular breaks, walk around the garden and get some fresh air….and don’t forget to eat regularly.….and don’t forget to eat regularly. Whilst we appreciate it isn’t always as easy to get outside this time of year (as it was in the first lockdown), this will help you focus and feel more relaxed.  

6. Communicate – Communication is crucial in any business, it’s even more important when working from home. If you work in a team, you will want to make sure you have daily check-ins and using tools such as Skype, Microsoft Teams or Zoom to be able to video conference is a nice way to still be able to see your colleagues faces and keep that connection and engagement.  

Let’s round up – Hopefully, our 6 tips on how to master working from home help you increase your productivity and establish a great work-life balance during these unprecedented and difficult times. #feelconnected