How To Work Effectively From Home

With the government recommendation to work from home remotely and the uncertainty of how long most of us will be having to work from home, I thought, I would put pen to paper around some of the learnings I have encountered while operating a recruitment business from home.

For most of us, remote working is great and working from home can be seen both positively and negatively. Positively, my commute is a round trip taking the kids to school and not stuck in rush hour traffic going no way fast. Also, another advantage is that you are working from the comfort of your home, with your home luxuries.  When I have work that requires quiet time, I can crack on without distractions!

Working from home; however, may at first seen as a luxury but once reality sets in that this may be more long-term, then the novelty of working from home requires a lot of discipline.

Over the past decade, more and more employees are working from home, and with the trend of self-employed working from home is a growing phenomenon.

10 Ways of how to effectively work from home

1. Planning

Whether you are at work or home, planning for the day, week or month ahead will ensure all significant projects are in your diary and all team members diaries can be co-ordinated in advance. Scheduling in the tasks and priorities of the day and planning them into your diary ensures the business still operates smoothly.  Ensure you leave some white space in your day for thinking and creative time and don’t be too hard on yourself, if not all of your ‘to do’ list is completed. Review and reschedule the essential tasks for the next day.

2. Create A Positive Mindset Routine

Although you may be saving on the commute to the office, it’s so easy to hit the snooze button. From experience, I have found it is crucial to be intentional every day, in creating a morning routine that is positive and sets your day ahead. Some include meditation, creating a positive mindset, affirmations, exercise, reading or journaling, whatever it is, just so that it puts you in the right frame of mind to start your day motivated. Have a healthy breakfast and create a morning routine that ends with you starting work.

3. Have A Structure For Your Working Day

For me having a set routine each day with some flexibility gives structure to a day. Period.

For most who have never worked from home, it may take time to adjust. Be flexible in your day to see what works best for you. Your company may stipulate your working hours that are akin to if you were working in the office. You may start early on significant projects, have a couple of hours off at lunch for a gym session and work a bit later as you feel refreshed. For others, it may be completing their morning exercise first, starting work around 9.00 am with a mid-morning break, an hour for lunch and a short afternoon break, closing off around teatime. Some concentrate better with music others in complete silence. Whatever works for you.

4. Take A Break Without Guilt!

It is so easy to start early and continue to work into the late hours of the day as you have no daily commute. The line between work life and home life can merge into one.

It’s essential to take time out away from the ‘screen’, and from work to have a healthy work-life balance, for yourself and your loved one. Taking breaks and scheduling in some ‘me’ time for a walk outdoors or a catch-up for a social or a coffee break is essential as energy levels and productivity fluctuate throughout the day. You don’t always have to be on it.

5. Have Regular Team Meetings With Work Colleagues

Some common problems of remote working are the feeling of loneliness and disconnect from humans. Humans still require connection with other humans and working from home can be very isolating and not suitable for long term mental health. Companies with telecommunications such as Zoom or Business Skype can connect virtually and collaborate with remote employees so that they can talk over tasks and company projects as well as the latest episode of Eastenders! Or you may schedule in a call to a work colleague or friend when you take a break, as it can be a lonely existence working from home when you see and meet with no one. Just by hearing a voice allows communication, interaction and make you feel connected.

6. Have A Dedicated Work Space

It is so easy to grab a coffee and climb back into bed with your laptop. Occasionally this is ok, and I have been guilty of this. However, for a productive day, having a dedicated workspace with a desk is not only good for mental health but also physical posture as you are not slouching over the laptop in bed or on the sofa.

7. Set Boundaries With Others In Your Environment

It can be so easy as you are working from home to be the taxi driver, the cook, the cleaner, the washer upper and everything else!  This can be physically exhausting but also a mental drain on your productivity and a distraction to complete the chores which can impact your work. Set the rules for what you can and can’t do during your working day with loved ones.  Creating a habit, I have a policy of shutting my office door at home to mark ‘I’m working’.

8. Get Outdoors

A good practice is to move regularly, whether you are in the office or working from home. Our bodies need movement, and when working from home where the commute is down a flight of stairs, we need to be mindful of getting some fresh air and Vitamin D and the occasional brisk walk. The change of scenery will do you a world of good not only for you physically but also for your mind and mental health.

9. Enjoy The Experience

All in all, we are in unprecedented times, and the majority of the working population are going through similar experiences. I suggest that working from home is still like working from the office, in terms of meeting key objectives and ensuring the business operates smoothly. It’s business as usual here in terms of booking meetings (virtual instead of face to face), planning for the future, making calls rather than waiting until everyone is back in the physical office.

10. Be Grateful

So be positive and patient, take advantage of being at home with the extra hours for yourself and enjoy the home working experience. Each night, it’s important to wind down with whatever relaxes you, a favourite book or podcast or chilling out on the sofa with a glass of wine watching Netflix with the family. I end the evening feeling grateful for my life and thankful for what has been achieved during the day.

I hope that after things settle, we can all look back and say we enjoyed our time at home, with not too much disruption to the work.