A huge number of us are now working from home, as the COVID-19 lockdown keeps offices closed for the foreseeable future. This shouldn’t come as a worry for businesses and managers, however, as home working has been proven to increase productivity, improve concentration levels and help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
However, for those who’ve never spent long periods working at home, it can sometimes be a daunting prospect, or one they feel ill-prepared for. So to combat any lapses in concentration and to bat away any looming cabin fever, here are three top tips for effective home working.
First – and for many people this is most important – establish a routine. Your workplace may have shifted but that needn’t mean your routines have to do the same. Get up, have breakfast and get dressed as you normally would before starting your day. Later, be sure to take a lunch break and get some time away from the screen. These small habits are easy to get into and give some structure to your day.
Secondly, outline somewhere at home that will act as your working area. Countless studies have shown that working from your bed will impact on sleep, as your brain ticks over the goings on of your day when you’re trying to get some rest. If, on the other hand, you create a makeshift office elsewhere in your home, you know it’s work time when you go there, but can literally close the door on it when the time comes to log off.
Thirdly, be sure to keep in touch with colleagues. Technology has made this easier than ever before, with video calling tools like Microsoft Teams now ubiquitous. Whether it’s a full conference or a simple catch up like you would around the kettle, this can provide an outlet and give you some much-needed human interaction!
By following these three simple steps, you can be sure to
stay healthy and happy during this time working from home, whilst also ensuring
you get the work done no differently to how you would at the office.
