Tips For Working Productively at Home

From many recent conversations I know that more and more people are being asked to work from home in an attempt to keep business running in these unprecedented times. For some people, working from home is the norm, for others it’s daunting and even stressful, especially if they are doing it for the first time.

We’ve recently been asked to put together some tips for productive working at home and thought we’d share it with you; please feel free to distribute this to your home workers.

Tips for Productive Working at Home

For you, working at home may be a new experience, for others it is a day-to-day normality. It’s easy to be motivated for just a day here and there but if you’ve never done it before it can be hard to draw the line between home and work.

Thoughts such as should you do the dishes or put the laundry away while your there but also how do you put your work down at the end of the day and switch off and will family members or housemates at home at the same time distract me?

Here are some tips for first time home-workers to hopefully make the experience more fun, defined and hopefully more productive.

Get Started Early 

With no morning commute or public transport to battle, you can actually get started working a lot earlier. While the idea of working as soon as you jump out of bed can sound a bit jarring, getting a project started first thing in morning can be more productive. When you’ve not had to spend energy on anything else yet – like figuring out a traffic diversion or where your keys are – you can start working with a fresh mind and may even be more creative. Pop on a cup of coffee, and let the ideas flow. Starting earlier might mean you can reduce your working day too, if you need extra motivation. 

Set up a Working Space the Night Before 

Although the idea of working on the sofa sounds fun, after a while you’ll start to notice your back and neck will not thank you for the favour. Set up a desk/table and chair. If you only have kitchen chairs, play around with pillows to make sure your back is supported. If you can, move the desk or table to near a window, so you have lots of natural light. Ordering a laptop support will help your posture long-term. No plug nearby? If you’ve got an extension cable, plug it in already so that you don’t have to go on a mission when you’re on a roll. 

Divide the Space

Now you’ve got your working area, try to think of this space as your ‘working space’. Keep the sofa or soft furnishings as ‘break areas’ where you can change scenery and get some fresh ideas. 

Play With Sound

At home the freedom is yours to decide what you’d like to listen to. Studies show that music with human voice, or instruments with the same tones as voices, can distract you from reading or problem-solving, so save those songs for your break or lunchtime. When you’re working, you want some instrumental music, with a fast or slow tempo depending on your task ahead, or natural sounds like flowing water, bird song or rain. Download an app like Calm to play around with what sounds help you get most in the zone. 

Set up Alarms for Regular Breaks

Working alone can make the day pass faster. You get deep into a task, lose all sense of time and suddenly it’s 4pm. Set an hourly alarm on your phone to make sure you get up for a stretch, even if it’s just to make a cup of tea. Turn off your working music, so all your senses have a new environment. Head to your ‘break’ areas like the sofa, and if you can, find a window to look far out into the distance to exercise your eyes for 20 seconds (the “20-20-20 rule” - every 20 minutes spent using a screen, you should try to look away at something that is 20 feet away from you for a total of 20 seconds). 

Tell Your Loved Ones Your Plan

With children, partners or housemates at home, it can feel like no matter how much you plan, someone is going to distract you. Simply informing them beforehand of what you intend to do can help them, help you. For example, say you will be busy for the next hour, but will be all theirs during your next break. If you have children, depending on their age, you can set them a task that will last the same amount of time before you take a break, so that they are less likely to distract you. You can even set a ‘date’ for lunch or coffee with people in your house, as extra motivation! 

Get Dressed

While working in your pyjamas in bed might seem thrilling, by lunchtime you might find it starts affecting your state of mind as a professional. Getting dressed in the morning, even if it’s in casual wear, will make you feel refreshed and on the ball. 

Team Video Call

You never know when a team call might be scheduled, and it could be via video. To save flapping in the moment, think about what the background of your room looks like, how you’re dressed and have those headphones ready. Leave a pen and pad of paper on your desk ready to take down any notes. 

Try to have a daily team conference call or video chat, we’re human beings and need social interaction and we all need to feel part of the team. Agree break times with other home working colleagues so you can phone them for a social chat.

Talk to Your Colleagues

Don’t forget that, just because your colleagues aren’t sitting next to you as they would normally, it doesn’t mean that you can’t call them; your working at home and not in solitary confinement. If you’re struggling with a task for just feeling anxious, call a colleague or your manager. 

Schedule in Time for Exercise or a Hobby 

While this is not strictly for your work time, with the time you saved on your commute, you should have an hour or two to spare. Allowing yourself to use this window of time to do something you normally can’t fit in your day will help you de-stress and feel fulfilled. Whether it’s 20 minutes of yoga, drawing or reading, it’s not unreasonable to schedule in two sessions during the day. 

Finally

We understand that you may be less productive than you would be in the office but you may surprise yourself with how much you get done. We understand that you may have children playing in the background during calls; this can’t be avoided. Just do your best, that’s all we ask.