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Covid-19 has changed the world a hell of a lot, especially working conditions. Whereas before you could happily head off to work in the mornings and then come home in the evening, this is rare now. It is more than likely you have been told to work from home all of the time or some of the time. This is known as hybrid working, you spend a few days in the office per week and the rest of your time at home. You might have also stepped away to start a self-employed role working for yourself. If this is the case then you will need to set up a brilliant and private home office. Take a look below to see what you need to successfully work from home.
This one may seem a bit strange and obvious but when you work from home it is a nice idea to not work in your pyjamas. If you get up and start work straight away then you won’t be able to differentiate between home life and work life. It can be extremely difficult to work from home so you need to try your best to separate the two. Getting up, getting ready, and getting dressed will help you get into the work mindset. Once you have finished work, change out of your work clothes before you start doing things around the house.
It is essential you find a place to work where you don’t spend a lot of time. This is similar to the whole pyjamas thing, you don’t want to associate your home with a workplace. Find a space within your home where you can shut the door at the end of the day and not have to think about work until the next morning. If you have room within your home then you could create a work area away from everything else. This could be a guest room with a desk in it or you could convert your garden shed into an office.
Working from home means you are open to more distractions such as the doorbell, people shouting, and kids running riot. If you are working from home with other people around it is important that you inform them not to disturb you. Have a sign on the door stating that you are working. It may also help to put a notice on the front door so nobody rings the doorbell. If you are expecting deliveries then place a storage box by the front door so deliveries can be left in there.
Remember, a phone can also pose a huge distraction when you are trying to work. With the constant temptation to press the on button to see if you have any notifications, you can soon find yourself behind on tasks. Silence it, or turn it off during working hours so you aren’t too tempted.
Have a planner on your wall, this will give you the chance to write everything down as and when you need to. If you have lots of things to do within your role and are worried about forgetting things then it will certainly help to have a planner. Your work may not supply you with this but you can always pick one up quite cheap online. There are many different planners you can get your hands on, you can get academic ones that run from September to August or yearly ones.
When you work in an office you will have access to great working equipment. This means you will have a comfortable, adjustable chair and an ergonomic desk. You will also more than likely have a mouse and keyboard that will reduce the risk of developing RSI. Repetitive strain injury can prevent you from completing work for several days as it will take a while for your joints to recover.
You should kit out your home office with furniture that you use at your main office. Better yet, your boss might let you take some of your equipment home with you. This could be your chair, your keyboard, and even your monitor. If you have to get your own furniture then make sure it’s comfy and supports your body in the right way.
When you work from home it is essential you have a reliable internet connection. If your internet is slow and clunky then it can keep dropping out as you try and work. If you work with people then you need your internet to be stable and capable of great things. The last thing you want is for your internet to drop just as you are dealing with a customer or client. If you are just relying on a wifi connection then to make this stronger and ensure it doesn’t drop then you could use an ethernet cable. You can get different lengths as it depends on where your internet box is based within your home.
If you set yourself goals then you know what you need to do and how to get there. For instance, you might set yourself the goal of completing all tasks before the end of the week. When you think about goals, it may help you to use the SMART acronym. This stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. You don’t want to be setting yourself goals that you won’t reach or that will drain you trying to reach them. Always have them in mind, maybe write them down so you can glance back over them from time to time.
Finally, this one may seem out of your control but in fact, it is really easy to manage. Work can seem like a never-ending chore, especially if you don’t really enjoy your job. However, making sure that your home office has access to a window for fresh air and natural lighting will make you feel more awake during the day. You can also ensure you feel alert by taking regular breaks throughout the day. Also, make sure you take a lunch break as you are entitled to this.
This is a collaborative post.
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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