Working from Home Tips

1. Keep the schedule

While you’re being spared the morning commute, it can be tempting to dismiss the alarms and go straight back to sleep. Resist it, or you’ll find it harder to fall into a normal work pattern, and you might still feel groggy by the time work starts.

2. Put your extra time to use

If you’re getting up at (or near) your usual time, you might find yourself at a loose end while waiting for 9am. Why not prepare for the day with a nice run or walk? Under the new guidelines, outdoor exercise is permitted and encouraged, so long as distance is kept from others. But if you’re choosing to stay inside, you still have options such as yoga, bodyweight exercises, dancing, and more.

3. Consider your workspace

If possible, separate your living and working spaces to help you adjust to your new routine. Having a dedicated area for work will help establish clear boundaries and stop you feeling like you’re working when you’re not, or vice versa. However, with entire households now being told to stay home, doing so becomes a challenge. Those living with other adults who are also WFH will likely find themselves working in their bedrooms as communal space runs out. In these cases, try to remove distractions from your desk – keep the personal PC off, and move anything you don’t need for work. It’s best not to return to your desk for personal use after work, but if you must, clear your work things aside first. Above all, keep it clean and tidy!

4. Tech can help

There are some great tools available to facilitate this difficult transition. Google Hangouts Meet provides high-quality group video calling, which works fine from your smartphone (hint: have only one person speak at a time!). Meanwhile, Hangouts Chat allows you to create chat rooms where groups of colleagues can keep in touch throughout the day. And of course, there’s Google Drive, where you can share files and edit them collaboratively from anywhere in the world.