Working from home

Some employees have been able to work from home instead of going to a workplace. Whilst this is great for keeping job security and ensuring many businesses can continue, it is important to plan how you will work within your home to avoid stress and to keep a clear line between your work time, and your rest. 

UPDATE TO UK RESIDENTS

As of Monday the 28th of September 2020 in the UK the government has since changed their stance on returning to work. It is now required to work from home where at all possible to limit the spread of COVID-19. The Rule Of Six is also in place, which limits you from meeting more than 6 people. Additionally, if you are not self-isolating when told to do so you can face a fine of up to £10,000.

Our top tips: 

If you’re part of a team, you’ll likely take to great apps such as skype, teams and others. But try to set some ground rules. In the office, it’s easy to shout out and start a group conversation that you’ll all take part in but bombarding each other with conversations can be overwhelming. So instead have agreed times to talk as a group and save topics or questions for each other until then. 

Find your space:  Don’t work from your sofa or bed, it’s important to try and draw up some boundaries and clear areas where you’re in ‘work mode’ and when you’re in ‘offline mode’. If you can, find a different room to where you would normally relax. Without these boundaries, you’ll work more hours than you should, and it’s vitally important to keep a good work/life balance. 

Clock in and out: Try to keep to your regular working times – have a clear time to start, and a clear time to finish. Of course, if you have children or loved ones to care for, your employers should offer flexibility to allow the time during the day you need. But it’s important not to let your workday stretch into the evenings, or times you’d normally not be working. 

Remember to eat: Eating healthy is important for all parts of your body, including your brain. It’s very easy to plug into the matrix, and not unplug until the end of the day. Keeping up with regular healthy meals is very important. Plan your day, what will you eat for breakfast, lunch and then dinner. Of course, right now, the normal diet you may follow might not be possible, and many of us are having to be creative with ingredients. So where possible, at least try to mix up meals. Foods such as vegetables, meat, eggs, dairy products and even maritime, can be a great source of vitamins and minerals. Learn more via the NHS. 

Take breaks: Work can make you skip meals, which isn’t great. But also, you should be unplugging and taking regular breaks throughout the day. In fact, it’s commonly agreed that 5 minutes away from a PC screen every hour can be of great benefit, but also that lunch hour, fully away from work can do wonders for your stress levels. 

Get Outside: Where possible, take your break outside!  Spending time in nature – even if it’s your own back garden, or if social distancing rules allow, take your break as part of your daily work out. The sun and fresh air can do your mental health wonders! 

Actually work: Netflix, consoles, TV… it can be very tempting to fall into bad habits. Try to stick to the above, have clear breaks, a clear end to your day and a clear place to work from. Distractions are everywhere, but taking those distractions away will make you more productive, helping you to stick to work schedules, and meaning you’ll work set hours but achieve as much as you need to. 

Be honest: If you are struggling, not feeling well or under pressure – talk to your employers. They have a duty of care to support you.