If we are to take any positives from this truly awful Covid-19 situation, it’s that it has allowed us to see that with an Internet
If we are to take any positives from this truly awful Covid-19 situation, it’s that it has allowed us to see that with an Internet connection and some technology, it is possible for many of us to work from home. While we are being forced into this due to lockdown, for some people, working from home is not unusual. With the advancement of technology in the last number of years, it’s been possible for many people to work from literally anywhere - even on their commute! So now that working from home is widely being embraced (because we have no choice!), you might notice that sometimes it can be challenging to become accustomed to it or to be productive! Here are our working from home tips that we hope will make it a better and more fruitful experience all round!
You should treat your working day at home largely the same as you would if you were travelling to the office. Making it a habit of getting up when your alarm goes off, showering, having breakfast and getting ready for work from home every morning will help you to keep disciplined and put you into the mindset for work. Lazing around in bed with your laptop however enticing simply will not be as productive as it would be if you were to prepare for the day like a “regular” work day.
While some people might be stuck for space, it should still be possible to find somewhere in your home that could be used as a dedicated home office area. This could be under the stairs, in the corner of a bedroom, in a hallway or at the very least, the dining table or counter. We can’t underline enough the importance of having somewhere that can be used for your home office. It creates a go-to space for you and defines an area where you can create a separation of leisure and work. Ideally it should be somewhere where there aren’t distractions and if at all possible, you should have an office desk and a suitable office chair. If you have items like these, it will mean you will look forward to using them, they look nice and of course, you will be comfortable and they will ensure your posture doesn’t suffer long term!
Outback Classic Desk
Carmon Office Chair
Trento Writing Desk
Just like you would when you’re in an office environment where you’d take coffee and tea breaks, do the same when working from home. Take your 11:00 break like normal, maybe step outside for some air and take your lunch break at a regular time and try to build a routine of a regular start time and end time of the day. It will help you have a more structured day.
If you’re working from home, it’s important to include regular exercise into your day framework because you could otherwise find yourself having stayed indoors for a long duration without even realising! Maybe add in a 30 minute walk as part of your lunch hour and another 30 minute batch of exercise when you finish in the evenings. Fresh air is important and should become part of your new habit; you’ll find it really clears your head and will help with motivation and productivity.
Working remotely might seem isolating but it doesn’t need to be like that. With VOIP technology like Skype, Microsoft Teams and the many other providers available (both free and paid), it is easy to stay connected now more than ever. Try to get into a habit of messaging colleagues at the beginning of the day to let them know you’re available and online for any queries and organise a regular call every couple of days to discuss team progress and just to keep the lines of communication open...it’s good to talk remember! If you’re going away from your desk for lunch or for a tea break, update your status if you use something like Skype, Slack or similar, it will let people know when you’re unavailable.
There are many task based apps and websites that will easily allow you to create functional to-do lists. One we really like is Google Calendar and its “Tasks” functionality. It’s really easy to use, you can use it in conjunction with your calendar and it works (in sync) both on desktop and on a phone app. It also removes the need for paper based lists that can be lost or look untidy. Here’s a handy support guide on using Google Tasks. Creating a REALISTIC set of tasks for the day / week helps to improve productivity and will give you a sense of accomplishment also. The key thing is not to set insurmountable tasks otherwise a lack of achievement of them will only serve to upset and could end up demotivating you further!
37 YEARS
NATIONWIDE 
