Like many others, we are having to work from home due to the current global crisis. We are fortunate enough that business is able to carry on as usual due to our decision to upgrade our IT systems in 2018. As a business, we have been able to quickly adapt to a new way of working. In doing so, we have discovered that working from home works well for some and less so for others. I am going to share our top tips to help make adapting to a working from home lifestyle much easier.
- Keep in touch with colleagues – just as you would in the office, check in with your colleagues and have a good chat. We have found doing a video call (yes, with cameras on) at the start of every workday very productive, and it gives us all a real sense of normality.
- Create a routine for yourself and stick to it – by creating a routine, you will give yourself structure, which will help the days feel more ‘normal’. To create a routine, get up at the same time everyday. Use the time that would usually be your commute to work to do something productive, such as going for a walk or reading a book. Break for lunch, or a brew as you would do in your office environment.
- Find a suitable ‘office’ space – when working from home, we have found that it can be quite difficult to separate everyday life and working life. This is why it is important to pick a dedicated ‘office’ space. Not everyone has an actual office in their house, so you may have to improvise a little. Some of the team have been working at their dining room table, others have been sitting at a desk in their living room. Basically, anywhere other than your sofa – which is bad for your posture and can be really de-motivating.
- Ensure you have the correct equipment – Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a common occurrence in office-based jobs. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that you have the correct equipment, and are taking the appropriate measures to prevent RSI and other injuries such as back problems. Appropriate measures would include carrying out a workstation assessment and arranging to get the appropriate equipment if you do not already have it at home.
- Limit the number of distractions – when working in the office, you may have a radio on for background noise, but you wouldn’t go as far as having a TV on. To ensure a sense of normality, follow this practice at home.
Hopefully these tips will come in useful and will help you adapt to working from home. We have found that these steps have really helped us to adapt, and the team have all coped really well with the transition. We are really grateful that business is able to carry on as usual and the team continues to work extremely hard to provide a professional service to our clients.