A large percentage of people are now working from home and having to adapt their working lives around the recent rules and guidelines to stop the spread of Covid-19. This time has been and is continuing to be a challenging time for a lot of the new remote workers. One thing that people are finding hard is keeping up their motivation and mood.
So, let’s have a look at some of the ways you can improve your remote working day:
Keep Your Alarm Set As Usual
Although it may be tempting to have a lie-in now that you don’t have to commute to work, you’re inevitably going to have to do it again in the future. Keep your alarm set to your normal time, get showered, dressed, and have your breakfast ready for your normal time of leaving the house. Keeping to your regular routine is not only going to help keep your mind focused it will also help you stick to your routine long-term.
Stick To Your Commute
If you would usually go on a daily commute, stick to it. No, we don’t mean that you should be traveling to work, we mean that you should introduce a local walk before you start your day. There are a number of benefits that come with this; fresh air and a connection with nature help to punctuate your day, plus you are getting a healthy dose of daily exercise. Now that the lockdown has eased in some parts of the UK you may be able to take a walk during your normal commute home too.
Set Up Your Work Space
If you don’t usually work from home, it’s a good idea to try and set up a dedicated workspace. It will help you to focus and stay clear of distractions as well as getting you into the work frame of mind rather than the home frame of mind. Because so many people have had to suddenly work from home some have had to choose to use their own personal devices like their Mac, if this is the case it’s a good idea to make sure it is in the best working order by completing tasks such researching how to make Catalina faster, clearing your desktop and clearing some space for work.
Connect With Your Colleagues
Try to keep in contact with your colleagues as you would have if you were int the office. It provides you with the opportunity to get set up for the day, share concerns, and talk about workloads. It can be easy to misinterpret emails so try to make sure you take the time to use tools such as zoom to communicate. You should also try to make sure you keep it positive.
Make Your Lunch Better
You’re at home, this means that you have ease of access to your fridge and kitchen. Take advantage of this and make some extra special lunches. This means you can banish the soggy sandwiches. Step away from your computer and make your lunch from scratch. You could even spend some time in your garden to relax and refocus for the afternoon.
Make Sure You Mark The End Of The Day
Just like replicating the start of your day, you should also mark the end of your working day. It can be really easy to overwork when your work is at home with you. Put your work area away, tidy it your space, and then go outside or try working out outdoors.
Try New Things
Having extended time at home can take its toll on your mental wellbeing, it’s good to think about trying something new. Listen to different music, find a podcast that you fancy but have never got round to listening or read a book that you’ve meaning to start. Just like keeping your body active is important, your brain needs it too.
Remember Sleep Is Important
Stress and uncertainty have a nasty habit of changing our sleeping patterns, so try to keep this in mind. Stick to a regular bedtime just like you are going to stick to waking at the same time. If you’re having a hard time switching off, add in some relaxation before you hit the hay.
This is an uncertain time for many, but if you follow the tips above it should help you to improve your remote working day and keep positive. Is there anything you are doing to keep your self feeling good and are you settling into working from home?
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.