Working from home now? The sudden change from a busy office to working from home can be tough. Here are some tips to stay sane right now!
Well, it’s happened: I’m officially working from home for the foreseeable future. There is a lot of uncertainty going on right now. I’m certainly not in any place to start dishing out safety advice. However, I do believe that we need to buckle down, keep calm and take all necessary precautions over the next couple of months.
Hopefully if we take all the safety precautions it may just blow over. But it’s still a pretty weird feeling settling around everyone right now. It’s weird to think that I’m healthy and okay, but the best thing to do is to work from home so that the virus does not spread, since there are many people much more vulnerable than me.
I’m thankful of my situation. Luckily I can carry on my workload at home (although it is a huge setback for our magazine and our events, so we are working harder than ever), and I have a space to work in. I’m actually really lucky in that I only moved into this place in January. So not only is there loads to keep busy with around the house still, the novelty still hasn’t worn off that I have a place that’s mine.
I know that not everyone is as lucky as me but I’m trying to stay positive. If working from home and limiting my social life is what needs to be done right now, then so be it. I don’t socialise a lot anyway! Instead, I can use this time to read more, and f ocus on growing my blog. Or complete courses and get stuck into Warhammer (but that’s a post for another day…).
It’s a little tough knowing that there’s not much more I can do to help. Staying at home and not seeing friends and family actually the best thing for battling this virus, so I’m trying to make the best of this time.
I’m also quite lucky in that I’ve dabbled into freelancing a lot in the past so I’m super used to working from home. Not everyone is, however – and this is the first time I’ve taken work home. Whereas normally I’d be in a tiny close-knit office of about five people, bouncing ideas off each other and where no day is the same.
So, like everyone else, I’ve decided to share some tips on working from home. I hope they help.
Stick To a Routine
It might be hard to carry on as normal right now, but you’ve got to do what you can. Sleeping in, working in your pyjamas or working from bed is a huge no-no. As is working all hours into the night. Continue with your normal morning routine (even if you choose comfy clothes instead of office wear, it’ll still make you feel a little more motivated than if you’re wearing pyjamas). Still take an hour lunch break and stop working at 5pm. Working from home isn’t an excuse to slack off either. If things really have quietened down a lot, tackle those tasks you don’t normally have time for like long admin tasks or updating a spreadsheet. Personally, I find this type of thing relaxing..
Have a Dedicated workspace…if You Can
This will help with motivation and stop distractions. I understand not everyone has the luxury of their own office or a desk, but even the living room sofa is miles better than your bed.
Reach Out
It can get very lonely working from home. Keep in regular contact with your colleagues via phonecall or Whatsapp – and don’t just talk work either. Check in about how your days are going, share what you’ve had for lunch. Continue to bounce ideas off each other. If you’re too vulnerable to leave the house, reach out and ask someone to help you with your shopping. Keep the radio on or an inspiring podcast for company. If you get worked up easily, limit your time on social media. Perhaps even block the dreaded C-word from your timelines. If you really must keep up to date, only check reputable news sources.
Keep Moving
If you’re still healthy yourself, get some fresh air on your lunch break. Go out for a walk (but not anywhere crowded). There are plenty of at-home workouts you can do in place of the gym! If you’re really struggling to adjust to a new routine, try starting your day with some big stretches or a morning yoga routine. Or even meditation. It’ll set you up for the day perfectly. My friend Caroline, who is a fitness instructor, has just taken her business online and has a wide range of online classes you can sign up to. You can find her latest timetable here, which is also her Facebook page for more information.
Not Alone?
Self-isolation can be lonely, but it can also be very frustrating if you’re not doing it alone. Especially if you’re suddenly forced to spend all hours of the day with someone! Take regular time outs, even if it means going to separate rooms or taking a relaxing bath on your lunch break. If you need a little music to lift your spirits, consider using headphones so you don’t disturb the other person. And I think it’s also important to keep regular house rules in place. Take it in turns to do the washing up (my desk is right beside the kitchen so I find it really hard to concentrate if there’s a pile of washing up in my eye-line). If you ever make a cuppa, make one for everyone else too!
But stay safe about it and ensure they’re also staying safe by washing their hands regularly etc. It might help to also set aside half an hour each morning to do a quick tidy of your living area. Or have breakfast together – away from your desks – to talk about the day ahead. Talk about how you’re feeling and it might help to talk through some boundaries for the day at this point.
Bonus Tip: Set up Chrome Browsers
If you’re like me and you use your lunch breaks at work to blog, catch up on life admin etc whereas at home you predominately use your laptop/computer for personal stuff, it’s going to get confusing! I use a Google account and Chrome for everything. Although we have a system at work, all my client sheets are backed up on Google Sheets. As a team we use them for updates on the magazine and who has been contacted. So I have my own Google log in, which I sync across any browser I log into with that account. Meaning that when I get home and realise I need to edit a scheduled tweet because of the awards date change, I just open a new browser, log in and Buffer is straight at the top of my Bookmarks bar, already logged in.
I also have a separate login for blog and freelancing stuff, which is about the same. So I can be working, open up another browser at the same time, log into this other account and do what I need to do. I can essentially have two browsers open to Buffer but logged into two different accounts. It’s perfect for jumping in between tasks. You can also set these browsers to shortcuts on your desktop.
These tips are just some very basic ideas however – there is really no wrong or right way. I know I concentrate better in the evening for example. So if you’re the same and you’re in a position where you can do this – go for it. But just make sure you only do your set hours and don’t overwork or answer emails when you wouldn’t normally. It’s going to be a tough time for everyone. So getting into a regular routine and prepping for this challenging time early is the best way to ensure you make the most out of your time at home.
Have I missed any tips? Let me know!
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