How to work effectively from home
The past few weeks have seen a major shift in British society and culture. Many of us, who are still lucky enough to be in a job, have found themselves having to move their office into their own homes and attempt a working style that most have never experienced. UrbanU has gathered five of the top tips for working effectively at home.
Establish a Routine
Wake up, brush teeth, clothes on, breakfast, start work. To maximise productivity from home, try and get yourself into a routine. This is just a normal working day and it should be treated as such. Set yourself strict times you work and do not work outside of these hours. Try and stay consistent everyday with breaks, lunch
By Robyn Mclaughlin
hours and starting and finishing times. Maybe try and work in a lunchtime work out or a before work morning walk to account for your usual commute.
Be organised, neat and tidy
As best you can, try to remain organised and professional in your working approach. Treat your home study or dining table as your office. How would your employer and colleagues expect you to treat it and leave it at the end of the day? Tidy up as you go making sure to do a clean around at the end of your working day. Pull out anything you will immediately need the next day and place into a neat pile. Try not to eat lunch at your desk even if this is what you are accustomed to, this will minimise mess but also
By Robyn Mclaughlin
ensure you are getting enough time away from work. Try writing ‘To Do’ lists at the beginning or end of each day for the next. This is all the tasks you must try to get through. Be realistic with this however, only put as much on the list as you would manage in a normal working day. We may be at home, but we still have meetings, team discussions and deadlines. Use a planner to effectively plan your days and weeks in advance. Refer to this regularly to ensure you do not miss anything important.
Put clothes on
You must not, by absolutely no means, stay in your pyjamas all day. This one is non negotiable. Getting dressed in the morning is key to a successful day psychologically preparing you for a day’s work. Even if it just means putting on a slightly different shade of legging. Research by California State and Columbia University revealed
By Robyn Mclaughlin
how “The formality of clothing might not only influence the way others perceive a person, and how people perceive themselves, but could influence decision making in important ways through its influence on processing style.” Showing that the way we dress can alter the way we think as well as effecting our confidence in ourselves. Putting clothes on can act as ‘Behavioural activation’ according to UVA School of Medicine clinical psychologist Claudia W. Allen. She says that treating getting dressed as something you need to do, as opposed to something you like to do, can incite this activation. This is a popular depression treatment and prevention treatment. Although putting on makeup before a 9am zoom meeting may seem frivolous and arbitrary in these times, you should not feel guilty for wanting to look your best for greeting your team. Applying makeup has been proven to ease anxiety and increase confidence. Vivian Diller, Ph.D, says that "Habitual behaviours help us to clear our minds…Like rhythmic breathing during meditation, morning beauty routines induce a feeling of calmness and control."
Create a working environment and stick to it
Being able to create an effective working environment from your home may seem impossible especially if you do not have a great deal of room, kids running around all day or others also trying to work from home getting in your way. Try to block off somewhere in your home, even if it is just big enough to work in,
By Robyn Mclaughlin
where you can get some peace and quiet with minimal distractions. Let the people you live with know the times you will be working and ask them to minimise disruptions. If possible, do not work in your living room of bedroom. You want to try and keep these as work free zones so, in your time off, you feel like you have somewhere you can retreat to and relax without associating them with work. Try to choose a neutral environment, a kitchen table or perhaps move a desk into your hallway trying your best to separate your work and home life as effectively as you can. It is imperative you have a desk or table to work on to create some structure to your working.
Give yourself breaks
How many breaks would you usually take in a normal working day in the office? Try and keep the number of breaks you would take there the same as you do at home. This will ensure you are giving your brain a rest during the day. Use this time to take the opportunity to stand up and stretch. Virtual assistant service, Virtalent, co-founder Ellie Wilson
heads up a team of 50 remote workers and says that, “It’s important to stand up, stretch, move around and even go for a short walk to take a break from your work and your screen…Being cooped up without stopping for a break can mean your productivity levels drop, you become more tired and less motivated to complete what you're working on.". Use the time you would usually be commuting to do some exercise. An hours commute normally in the morning? Replace with an hours walk. Working out in the morning has been proven to be very beneficial to your health and can increase productivity.
Let us talk breaks and snacking. It is so easy, come 3pm, to reach for a milky, sweet coffee and chocolate digestive to hold your hand and boost energy levels through the remainder of the afternoon. However, doing this daily will have an impact. How many times have you gone to have that coffee and biscuit only to return to the pack in your drawer for maybe one or perhaps two more biscuits? The sugar and high carbohydrate levels in this sweet treat can leave us with cravings for more sugar to continue fuelling our bodies. Instead try replacing this afternoon snack with something high in protein and low in sugar. Peanut butter spread on banana slices is an excellent high protein snack. The peanut butter, unsweetened, contains high amounts of protein and natural fats which will keep you fuller for longer whilst the banana is a fibre packed complex carbohydrate, that will slowly fuel your body. An easy, healthy snack guaranteed to diminish those afternoon stomach pangs.