With current government advice, many of us are finding ourselves working from home for the first time. Maximising productivity is obviously important, but how also can we protect and maintain our mental and physical health during this testing time?
1. Make the distinction between work and home
A challenge in having all your creature comforts around, is remembering that you are actually there to work. As tempting as it may be to work on your laptop from your cosy bed (with the added bonus of saving on the heating), is this where you are likely to be the most productive?
Try your hardest to keep distractions to a minimum. Working at dedicated desk and in a room without the PS4, TV and (in an ideal world), small children running around, you are definitely likely to get much more done.
2. Stick to a solid routine
You may no longer have a commute but creating a consistent routine will set you up for the whole day. Wake up at a regular time, shower (if that’s what you usually do) and get changed into actual clothes. Pjs may be comfy but they will not get you into the work mindset.
If you work 9-5 in the office, copy these hours at home, making sure to have a proper break for lunch. We all work late every now and then but remember, maintaining a good work/life balance is still important.
3. Set realistic goals
Having an entire day laid out out in front of you can appear daunting and with such a (seemingly) huge amount of time available, many of us will over promise when planning. Setting smaller, realistic targets is a great way of making sure you complete your day’s work with a well earned sense of achievement.
4. Break up your day into bite sized pieces
In the office, it is very unlikely you are sat at your desk for eight hours. Tea rounds, meetings and office chat may be distracting at times, but they also break up the day. At home, assign 40-60 minute slots for work, with the reward of a short break at the end - if it works for revising children, it can definitely work for us.
5. Get your exercise on
We all know that regular exercise helps you stay physically fit and healthy but with proven links to reducing stress levels, your mental health will also thank you. It does not have to be 10km run - whether a 25 minute HIIT session, a walk around the block, or a cycle during lunch, your body and mind will thank you in the long run.
6. Try not to be anti-social
When you are used to the hustle and bustle of a busy office, working alone is a complete contrast. With mobiles, video conferencing technology such as Pitch+, and applications such as Slack, your colleagues and clients are just a call/message away. In the current climate, staying connected has never been more important.
To everyone working from home, we hope you find these pointers useful, and to see how we are maximising our time whilst working remotely, you can follow us on social media. To key workers unable to work from home, from everyone at Pitch, a massive thank you!
