Hints and tips to help you stay productive
Working from home?
We all remember the hilarious video of Prof Robert Kelly, South Korean expert, as he discovered the perils of working from home (or in case you missed it!) There are certainly pros and cons. For many people, it’s a huge readjustment. Some might relish the idea before reality hits as they struggle with feelings of isolation and being ‘out of the loop’. On the other hand, no more battling through the daily commute or sitting in traffic on the motorway has got to be a positive, and you’ll save ££ not visiting the sandwich shop.
The current global health crisis might have thrown us into an uncertain world, but the technology is already in place to help us to keep business going. Indeed, remote working has been an increasing trend for several years as companies strive to reduce costs and improve employee work-life balance.
Perhaps we have fast forwarded rather more quickly than anticipated, but as we all adapt to the new ways, here’s a few helpful hints to keep you focussed.
Maintain a daily routine!
Procrastination is your enemy. No commute means you can afford to set the alarm a little later in the morning, but get up, shower and get dressed – you’re going to work after all.
PJs might be a tempting prospect, but it won’t put you in the right mindset, and remember you’re likely to be attending several video calls!
Claim your workspace
Make sure others in your household understand that you are at work. A separate room is ideal so you can shut yourself away. Take heed of Professor Kelly’s unfortunate experience!
Give yourself extra space
The laptop is your vital piece of equipment for remote working, but if you’re more permanently stationed at home you’ll quickly get frustrated by the small screen. An additional stand-alone screen will give you the extra space to efficiently work across multiple documents whilst your laptop screen can be dedicated to email.
Depending on how much space you have at home, choose a 24” or 27” display, you’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes to your productivity. If you’re working on creative documents and really need to get stuck in, the 34” EX341R curved screen certainly makes a statement!
Get virtual f2f
There are some great video conferencing apps such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. It can be off putting to see yourself at first but you get used to it!
Schedule calls with clients and also with your internal teams. Make sure you use some of the time to catch up with each other, just like you would in the office.
Take a break
Taking breaks is important to keep you fresh and focused. Step away from your desk regularly.
Set a time for lunch and take a walk outside. If you feel the need, take a 10 minute power nap, you’ll be surprised by how much it refreshes you – just 10 minutes mind!
Declutter
A tidy desk is a tidy mind. Don’t allow clutter to gather, organise your space every day. Good cable management will help you to keep your workspace clear.
Protect your down time
There’s a danger that you could continue working into the evening if you don’t maintain strict office hours. As long as you’ve put the hours in during the day, be assured that you have done a full day’s work; don’t let perceived feelings of guilt steal your down time.
Don’t neglect your well-being
In a home environment, where perhaps you’re working at a dining room table or from the corner of the bedroom, it is vital to be mindful of your posture. Ideally, you need specially designed office furniture but of course this isn’t always possible. There are guidelines to help you arrange your workspace including how to adjust your monitor and what is the ideal viewing distance. Don’t neglect this, it will impact your comfort and well-being.
If you keep in touch and keep focused, there are so many positives to working from home. It could very well become the norm as we move beyond the current enforced conditions allowing you greater flexibility and even better productivity!
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