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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Try and eat lunch away from your workspace.
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Work to your strengths – are you more productive in the morning or the afternoon?
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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.
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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.
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Stay connected. Rather than email, see if you can video call or speak on the phone.
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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.
