A better homeworking experience
Working from home may be the new normal, but many people were thrown into it without much time to prepare.
As someone who's been working from home since 2008, I’ve got some suggestions to help you have a better homeworking experience. (This blog is based on a video I made for Women in Pensions.)
Make a dedicated work space - even if it’s temporary
I’ve been hearing from various friends that they have to work on the kitchen or dining-room table, or some other space normally used for communal family/house activities.
If you have to use a shared space mark it as your work space while you're working. This can be as simple as putting some books round it and laying out your work equipment. Make sure the rest of your household know that, during your working hours, this is your space. It might even stop them stealing your pens.
What to wear
The number of 'style tips for working from home' articles has mushroomed, although a lot of them seem to be trying to sell leisure wear. It's well-known that clothes affect how you feel and think, which is why working in your pyjamas is a no-no as it keeps your brain in 'bed' mode.
I've evolved a sort of 'working from home' uniform of stretchy yoga-type trousers and T-shirts with a jacket or fleece depending on the temperature. I still put them out the night before like I did when I worked in an office, so I don't have to think about them in the morning.
Some people find getting dressed in smarter work-type gear helps them be in 'work mode'. I heard someone on the radio the other day say he still puts on a suit, even for working from home. If you have video conferences with clients, you probably need to wear something reasonably smart. On top, at least.
And of course there's Dress Up Friday when people are putting on smart office wear, full-on glam party gear or fancy dress. Why not?
Have a work routine
This is probably the most important thing about working from home. You have to organise yourself more than you would in the office because you don't have the office routine. You need to make your own work routine. Decide on what your day will look like and write it all down. Lists are your friend. Prioritise your tasks or services in whatever way works for you – I number mine in order of priority.
Are there times you need to be available to other people for calls or video meetings? Plan to be ready at those times. Include any reading or research you have to do in your plan. Set alerts if you need them. (I'm terrible at this - more than once I've dialled in late to a call or forgotten it until someone messaged me!)
The beauty of this is, if your job allows, you can work in line with your personal rhythms rather than having to keep to a one-size-fits-all office routine. I'm a morning person and do my best work first thing, so I start about 7.30am and work offline until about 9am. Then I make some coffee, check my emails and messages and plan what I'm going to work on the rest of the day. You might have a different rhythm. I know some people who do their best work at night.
Take breaks
This is also really important, especially if you work in front of a screen like most of us. I use something called the Pomodoro Technique, where you set a timer and work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break completely away from your screen.
As well as making sure I take breaks, I've found this works like magic for getting more work done and avoiding distractions. It was developed by an Italian, Francesco Cirillo, and I love that it's called 'Pomodoro' (‘tomato’ in Italian) after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he used when he was a student. I don't have one of those; I just use my phone. There are other variations like 45 or 50 minutes with a 10-minute break. You may need to play around a bit to find what works for you.
Above all, have a proper lunch break. You need to eat well to do good work.
Which brings us to …
Healthy habits
When I first started working from home I was really keen to avoid the temptation to snack all the time and sit around all day.
It's an ideal time to establish some healthy habits.
Set times for breakfast and lunch so you're not tempted to snack all the time.
Get up and stretch very time you take a break, especially if you're making do with a random kitchen or dining chair rather than an adjustable office one.
Do some exercise! There are now millions of home-based workouts available online. You don't need a lot of room, or a lot of time – if you do five minutes every hour for 6 hours that's half an hour in your day. Check out darebee.com for an apparently endless supply of free workouts.
I find working out or going for a run just before lunch makes me more productive in the afternoons.
Dealing with distractions
'How on earth do you manage to work from home?' people used to ask. 'Don't you end up watching TV or doing household chores?'
Distractions are difficult. I am a prize procrastinator and my personal vice is randomly surfing the internet, which is hard to deal with when you work on a computer. You may have family members or housemates doing things near your workspace, having the TV on in the background or asking you questions.
Try wearing headphones, even when you're not on a call. I play music while I work as I find it shuts off the noise in my head and helps me concentrate, but you could also wear them if you need quiet to work. They'll block out some of the noise and signal to other people that you don't want to be disturbed.
Use a timer routine, like the Pomodoro Technique I mentioned earlier.
Give yourself a little reward every time you finish something without getting distracted. Preferably something that isn’t checking social media. I like to read a chapter of a book.
Agree with colleagues that you'll keep each other accountable, checking in with each other by phone or instant message.
When you finish, finish
It's really important to separate your work from other things you do at home, so have a definite end to your working hours. Turn everything off and don't look at it again until your working hours start again tomorrow. If you're using a shared space, clear all your work stuff away and return the space to its 'normal' use.
Find what works for you
I hope you’ll find at least some of these tips useful. As with everything else, some things may work for you and not others. Play about and find out what works for you. Happy homeworking!