During this pandemic, many, many people are being asked to work from home.  Other people are choosing to WFH whilst they self-isolate.  Of course, I acknowledge there are many fields of work in which WFH is not an option: doctors and nurses ‘on the front line’, vets, locksmiths, chefs – to name just a few.  But for those who work in offices, WFH can seem daunting and yet, just a little bit exciting.

Having worked from home for almost two years now, I’ve worked out some ways to remain productive and not go stir-crazy.

1. If possible, don’t work in bed.  It’s tempting to stay snuggly and bring the laptop to your bed; it’s much healthier to work away from the place you wind down.

2. If you can’t get outside for fresh air due to self-isolation, stick your head out the window – especially on a sunny day!  Fresh air does wonders for our mental health.

3. Set a cut-off point at the end of the day.  It can seem easy and productive to work right up until bedtime, but you need to leave time to unwind.

4. Try and eat lunch away from your workspace.

5. Work to your strengths – are you more productive in the morning or the afternoon?

6. Start the day with the short, easy-win tasks to get you going.  After lunch might be a time to delve into that big project before going back to easy-win tasks at the end of the day.

7. Before you turn off the laptop, write out a to-do list for the next day.  That way, you can relax with a clearer head in the evening and easily start the next day where you left off.

8. Stay connected.  Rather than email, see if you can video call or speak on the phone.

9. Stick to routines.  When there’s no necessity to shower and get dressed, it’s easy to slob around all day.  Getting dressed and ready for the day will put you in a better mindset.