5 things that make working from home easier
Swapping a commute of being squashed up against strangers for a few steps in your slippers to the next room is all well and good, but if the novelty of working from home has begun to wear off, it’s time to rethink your set-up.
Whether you’re struggling to concentrate amid interruptions from the rest of your household or you’re finding your 9-5 is eating into your downtime without an office to leave behind, there are plenty of ways to make remote working work for you
1. you have to Define your work space
Much like putting on a uniform, having a designated space to work in will help you to get into the zone and focus on your emails, instead of thinking about putting on your next load of laundry. The most important thing is to be comfortable; your neck will soon complain if you’re hunched over a laptop all day, but do the best that you can with the space you have. A desk or table complete with a monitor or laptop stand and a separate keyboard is ideal, paired with a chair that supports your back (a lumbar support cushion can work wonders if you’re noticing new aches and pains). For smaller spaces, try foldaway desks that you can collapse when you clock off, or if the sofa really is your best option, LapGear portable solutions will hold your phone, laptop and mouse while supporting your wrists as you type
2. You should have better connections
There’s nothing worse than watching the wheel of doom when you’re on a deadline, or a Zoom meeting cutting out just as you’re about to speak. While your home broadband may have been sturdy enough to keep up with you out of work hours, now that you’re using it for video calls, file transfers, streaming and so much more – perhaps alongside others who are working in the next room – it could be time to upgrade
3. Dress appropriately.
There’s no doubt that loungewear is one of the highlights of remote working, and if you’ve mastered the art of Zoom dressing (smart on top, elasticated on the bottom) and feel on top of your game even when you’re in slipper socks, then carry on. But if your attention span is waning, you may find that getting dressed as if you’re heading out to the office can get you into a more productive mindset – not to mention ensuring you’re ready for unexpected video chats or greeting the postie. What’s more, if you’ve fallen off the wagon when it comes to getting outside for a walk, you’ll be ready to go; and you’ll appreciate that cosy pyjama feeling so much more come the evening
4. Have a schedule to work.
By all means take advantage of the time you’ve gained in the mornings by enjoying some extra shut-eye, but avoid the slippery slope of waking up 10 minutes before your first meeting just because you can. Starting your day with a routine – be it a walk around the block, a short yoga session or catching up with the news – will help to create structure so you feel more on top of your workload. If you’re feeling distracted or finding yourself working well into the evening now that you’ve nowhere else to be, plan out your tasks (and breaks) for each day and give yourself a set deadline for clocking off
5. Set the background noise to suit your needs.
. Whatever your sound preferences, recreate your ideal work environment. Noise-cancelling headphones will block out interruptions, and carefully curated playlists for when you need to get your head down or boost energy can work wonders. You can even use online apps such as myNoise to listen to white noise, the hubbub of a bustling cafe or the tap-tap of keyboards in a calm office; whatever gets you through
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