Working from home either full or part time is now the new \u201cnorm\u201d for a lot of people. If you were used to getting up and going to work but you now find yourself based at home then there are a few things you can do to keep you productive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proposition of working from home might sound amazing, no commute to the office or \u201csmart\u201d office wear dress coded to worry. It could be a welcome relief from the stress of the office environment. However, home working comes with many challenges of its own. Depending on the type of work you do, you may find that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do not worry, you can work from home and be productive with a strong performance each day. Here are our top tips to help you\u2026\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get dressed in the morning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The opportunity to stay in your pyjamas all day can seem like a great perk of working from home, but as any seasoned stay-at-home grafter will tell you, it\u2019s actually quite difficult to get into a productive, professional state of mind when you\u2019re still wearing the clothes you slept in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wear comfortable clothes, by all means; there\u2019s no need to put on a suit if nobody\u2019s going to see it, but changing out of your PJs and generally making yourself look presentable will go a long way to helping you maintain your normal work rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep your routine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Moving your work from the office to the home is always disruptive; the trick is to minimise that disruption. Stick to your normal routine: continue going to bed and getting up at the usual times, have breakfast before you start work. The more you deviate from your usual routine, the harder you\u2019ll find it to sustain your usual productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reduce your <\/strong>distractions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your home is probably where you keep all of your favourite things, and even when you\u2019ve got a lot of work to do, it can be difficult to ignore the call of your TV, books, box sets, musical instruments, or whatever it is you tend to reach for when you\u2019re hanging around the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So willpower is critical when you\u2019re working from home. If you can\u2019t resist the temptation to play with your phone or watch TV, move those things to a different room so they\u2019re out of your reach during office hours. If you can\u2019t stop checking Twitter or Instagram, consider changing your password to something that\u2019s hard to remember. Put as many barriers as possible between you and those productivity-poisoning distractions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Find a space that works for you<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Working from home can be tricky if you don\u2019t have a dedicated workspace in your house or flat. The kitchen table can be a good substitute for a desk, but don\u2019t be afraid to try a variety of different places to find the location that\u2019s most suited to your productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay in touch with the team<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Isolating yourself from your co-workers can be a depressing experience, but just because you\u2019re not in the same room doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t stay in the loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you\u2019re working from home, try to keep up the chatter via email or instant messages. Make sure every member of the team has a rough idea of what their colleagues are doing, and this will help to keep everyone singing in harmony even while separated from one other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember your work \/ life balance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Just because you\u2019re working from home doesn\u2019t mean you no longer have a right to free time and privacy. Stick to your usual working hours. Don\u2019t answer emails or work-related calls in the evening if you wouldn\u2019t normally be expected to do so. And make time to relax!<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the times when you would normally be in the office, it\u2019s your responsibility to stay focused and conduct yourself in a professional manner. Try to keep a clearly-defined boundary between your office hours and your private time, and don\u2019t let activities from one side cross into the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What <\/strong>equipment<\/strong> and software do you need<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If your job is reliant on a specific piece of software or a line of communication with another department, your boss should strive to ensure that these things remain available to you. Don\u2019t let your employer tell you that you have to produce the same quantity and quality of work as usual if they\u2019re unwilling to meet you halfway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That being said, you won\u2019t get anything you don\u2019t ask for, so don\u2019t be afraid to send your boss a polite email containing a list of everything you\u2019ll need to work effectively at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stay healthy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As we mentioned earlier, it\u2019s easy to fall into unhealthy habits when you\u2019re no longer leaving the house for work every day. There are kitchen cupboards to raid, comfy chairs to spend all day slouching in, and no co-workers around to pressure you into getting up and making a round of coffees. If you usually walk to work, that might be quite a bit of exercise you\u2019re no longer getting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n All of which means you may have to make an extra effort to stay healthy during this period. So, some final tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n