Tips for Working From Home
For the past three years we have mostly worked from home, and with it looking like much more of you will be about to join us, we thought this might be a good time to share some things we’ve learned.
Get dressed. Yes, I know working from home feels like the ultimate lazy luxury - roll out of bed and just open your laptop at 8.55, but if you still look like you're half asleep - your work will too. By all means, keep it comfy, but for everyone's sake, take a shower and brush your hair, you'll feel ten times better for it.
Make space. Don't just cram yourself and your laptop onto the edge of a messy dining room table. Try to find a nice spot in your house, do a little rearranging, sit by a window, set all of your nice stationery out, get a brew on the go and treat yourself to a cushion.
Get outside before work. Working from home, you can so easily fall into the trap of always being in your home. Try a quick 10 minute stroll around the block before coming home to start work. Get some fresh air, see some daylight and wake up properly.
Focus. The hardest thing when you're working alone is how easy it is to get distracted. Give yourself windows of time to focus. Set a timer, or use the Forest App - then reward yourself with a 5-minute break to check your phone, get a drink and have a stretch. And if you can't stop picking up your phone - go and put it in another room.
Talk to people. You WILL start to go potty. It's part and parcel of working alone from home. Make sure you still speak to someone, call your colleague to talk through a problem rather than rely on messaging services, ring your Mum at lunch to check-in, stay socially connected to the world around you, even if you're physically distancing yourself.
Have a proper lunch break. Getting up from where you're working, walking into the kitchen to make food and walking back again is not enough. Make the most of this time at home; go do some gardening, go for a walk, make fresh soup, read in the garden. Take a good break, away from your workspace.
Snaaaaacks. When your kitchen is 10 steps away from its so easy to just keep popping on to grab a biscuit...sandwich...piece of cake, all day long! Get some fruit, nuts and healthy treats and have them sat next to you. If you feel hungry try an apple first, and if you're still hungry then maybe you do need 3 chocolate hobnobs...you tried.
Support each other. No one knows what is going to happen over the next few weeks and months. All we can do is carry on as best we can with care and compassion. Support small businesses where you can, shop sensibly, sustainably and take care of each other.
Please share any tips you have with us over on our instagram or facebook pages.