The Coronavirus is at the forefront of everyone's minds at the moment. We can't ignore the huge impact it is having on so many people and businesses. Those that are healthy want to carry on working and, for some, with face to face businesses shutting, this is not possible. Other's, however, do have the option to work from home. If that's you, you are among the lucky one's, you are healthy enough to work and you can carry on working. But it can be tough, lonely and isolating if it's not what you are used to and getting into a healthy working from home routine can be a challenge. Below are some tips on how to set up some healthy #workingfromhome practices so you can be your most productive self, while still prioritising your own #wellbeing and #selfcare.
1. Set an alarm and get up early. Treat your day as if you were going to the office. Have breakfast and a coffee if that’s how you usually start your day and then, and this is important, get showered and dressed. It may be tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day, I mean, who’s gonna know, right? Wrong! Getting dressed is a cue for your brain that it is time to start the day. 2. Create a dedicated work space, room or area. Don’t work on your couch or bed. Put some thought into your work station. Think about your chair, desk and monitor height to promote good posture. Try and place your desk close to a window as natural daylight is your very own natural mood and productivity booster and helps with your circadian rhythms, meaning sleep should come more easily, too. Limit distractions and turn off social media notifications to help you resist the urge to keep checking your phone.
3. Set a schedule and stick to it. You may not be commuting but that doesn’t mean you should work longer hours. It’s important to have a plan for the day, take regular breaks and prioritise your tasks just as you would do at the office. Don’t work through lunch and when you take breaks, leave your desk, stretch, move around to keep the blood flowing in your legs. Eat away from your work station and do something that isn’t work related, read, listen to a podcast or meditate, for example.
4. Make a list and get started early on an easy task. Ticking something off your to-do list first thing is a good way to get started and sets you up for a successful day of work. Your mind is in a positive state from the get-go. Try not to multitask, no matter how strong the urge. Stay focused on one task at a time to be most productive.
5. Know when you are at your most productive and work to your body’s natural productivity highs and lows. Set tasks that will require more concentration during the times you know you will be most productive.
6. Communicate regularly with your team and/or manager. It’s important to stay connected. Set up video calls where you can, as face to face contact is vital for connectivity and also prevents crossed wires that can happen in text communication. It's much better to hear people's tone of voice and see their facial expressions.
7. If you can, leave the house and get some exercise. Get outside. See the sky. Don’t forget the importance of movement and exercise. Physical activity is not just good for our body but also our mind and it will help your productivity. If you can’t leave the house due to quarantine, there are so many great videos on YouTube teaching dance classes, yoga and even strength training. There are also great mindfulness videos and apps like Headspace, Calm and Insight Timer if you are struggling to quieten your mind. Look for chair yoga stretches to do while you are working to help keep your spine healthy.
8. Set a finish time for your working day and finish then. Log off so you aren’t tempted to keep checking your e-mails. Working from home should not interfere with work/life balance. Your self-care and wellbeing is more important than anything.
I hope these tips help you form a healthy and productive working from home routine. If you are working from home and doing any of these or have any other good advice please share in the comments! Wishing you all good health.
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