Working from home to help flatten the COVID-19 curve? If you haven’t worked remotely before, it can take a little while to find your rhythm. Here are a few tips to help you hit the ground running, stay productive and find a healthy work-life balance.
Stick to a schedule
First things first, set yourself working hours and stick to them. While it’s easy to get distracted at home, you don’t want to end up making up time in the evening because you didn’t get through your work during the day. So the sooner you get into a routine, the better. Of course, one of the benefits of working from home is that you don’t have to waste an hour or two on a daily commute – which means you have a bit of extra time to take the dog for a walk, do some home exercises or play with your kids.
Take a lunch break
When you work remotely, it can be hard to set boundaries between ‘work time’ and ‘home time’. That’s why it’s important to stick to a schedule, which should include taking a lunch break. And by lunch break, we don’t mean wolfing down a sandwich and coffee at your desk, but actually getting up and moving to another part of your home or into the garden. It’ll give both your mind and body a chance to relax.
Check-in with colleagues
Now is not the time for radio silence – instead, get into the habit of communicating regularly with your colleagues. If you usually have team meetings in the morning, schedule a time for a video conference. Email your manager to keep them in the loop regarding projects you’re working on. And be in regular communication with relevant team members. There are plenty of ways to stay connected these days, so make the most of them.
Avoid cabin fever
When you work from home, it’s easy for the whole day to go by without setting foot outside. But for mental and physical wellbeing, it’s a good idea to head outdoors and get some fresh air and sunshine. Going for a walk or heading out for a run are considered safe activities while practising social distancing, as long as you stay at least two metres away from other people. So be sure to ward off cabin fever by spending some time outdoors each day.
