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The coronavirus outbreak has much of the nation remote\nworking, many for the first time. Once you become accustomed to it, working\nfrom home can be a fulfilling and productive experience, however it can be\ntricky to strike and maintain a healthy balance at first. Making it a success\nfor you is likely to require a few tweaks to your usual routines and habits!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Set Yourself Up With A Dedicated Workspace<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Slinking from the comfort of your bed straight to the\nnearest desk space \u2013 or reaching out for your laptop and working from beneath\nthe duvet is unlikely to be the most productive of settings! Choose an\nappropriate space to be your designated work area and set it up with all the\nequipment you need. Preferably this area will have minimal foot traffic from\nother members of the household, so avoid the kitchen at all costs! Ideally you\nwill be able to close the door behind you, enabling you to get down to\nbusiness, free from distractions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Define Your Work Hours<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating clear boundaries between your work and personal\nlife is crucial. Sure, you may need to deviate from your work schedule once in\na while to fit around emergencies and so on but the boundaries you define play\na key role in protecting your personal time and sanity, helping you to maintain\nproductivity during working hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is all too easy to blur the lines, getting distracted\nwhen you are scheduled to be working or sucked into being available for work at\nany time of the day. Organise your time efficiently so that you achieve your\nwork goals, before making a clean break to enjoy some relaxation and a sense of\npeace during your free time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Hone The Technology Fundamentals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Talking to clients is a breeze when you have the right\ntechnology at your fingertips. At home it takes some thought and preparation to\nensure that your communications are seamless. Run a few tests before\ninstigating a video chat with a client to make sure that your microphone and\nwebcam are set up correctly \u2013 and check that your Wi-Fi connection is up to the\ntask! You may find that you need a few new tools to enhance your set up and\nconnect efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. The Power Of A Great Morning Routine<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A great morning routine can have far greater impact than any\nclock when it comes to setting your mind up for a productive day in the home\noffice! Think about your current routine and the triggers that are generated\nfrom your actions. Do your current habits do a good job of indicating that it\nis time for work? For some, it could be as simple as getting out of your onesie\nand brewing a fresh pot of tea! Others may find a short meditation or a jog\naround the block more beneficial. Experiment and work out the best morning\nroutine for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Set Some Ground Rules Within Your Household<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unless you live alone, you will need to set ground rules, so\nthat other members of the household know what they can and cannot do during\nworking hours. These will vary hugely from one household to the next \u2013 but a\nrule like \u2018no recorder practice before 5pm\u2019, or the simple action of hanging a\n\u2018do not disturb\u2019 sign on the door, could help to avoid an unexpected and\npotentially embarrassing interruption to a telephone or video call!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Use Lists To Keep You Focussed<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You cannot beat a good list for keeping you on track and\nfocussed. At the end of each day, make a note of any tasks you were unable to\ncomplete, so that they are fresh in your mind for the next working day. Try\ncircling the 5 most important tasks for each day on your list and make it a\nrule to always prioritise those first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Schedule Regular Breaks & Get Outside!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reward yourself with breaks at key points during the day as\nthis will help you to stay motivated and on task in between. A 10-minute screen\nbreak to relax with a cuppa is a great way to recharge your batteries and\nstopping to enjoy a nutritious meal is another important break in your working\nday. Never underestimate the importance of getting outside in the fresh air\neither \u2013 this will work wonders for your sense of wellbeing. Walk the dog, take\na brisk stroll or go outside to do some stretching, and breathe, looking up and\naround. You will notice the difference immediately \u2013 I promise!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Identify & Combat Your Distractions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognise the things that are most likely to distract you\nand you are immediately in a position to overcome these challenges. For\nexample:<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are all human and prone to the lure of a message from a\nfriend or a quick surf on the net, but simple strategies can keep us in control\nand on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9. Stay Hydrated<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Staying adequately hydrated plays a key role in maintaining\nconcentration, boosting mental performance and avoiding fatigue. Try filling a\njug or reusable bottle with your target amount of water for the day and place\nit on your desk as a pertinent reminder to sip away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10. Make It Fun!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The current situation we find ourselves in is challenging\nand stressful so make a point of doing what you can to inject a little fun into\nyour working day. Whether that means working in your comfiest garments, blaring\nyour favourite music or enjoying an extended feast with your loved ones at\nlunch time \u2013 then go for it! There must be the odd perk and silver lining to be\nenjoyed in these uncertain times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By Lizzie <\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: teapot\ncreative<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The coronavirus outbreak has much of the nation remote working, many for the first time. Once you become accustomed to it, working from home can be a fulfilling and productive experience, however it can be tricky to strike and maintain a healthy balance at first. Making it a success for you is likely to require a few tweaks to your usual routines and habits! 1. Set Yourself Up With A Dedicated Workspace Slinking from the comfort of your bed straight to the nearest desk space \u2013 or reaching out for your laptop and working from beneath the duvet is unlikely […]<\/p>\n