Pomegranate has had to follow the rest of the UK by working remotely to stay safe. This is a first time as a business we have had to do this and some of us will find it difficult being out of routine and away from our colleagues in the office.
There are many benefits for individuals to work from home like not wearing trousers, saving hours on end not commuting and having new furry assistants.
But as we know there are also many drawbacks, lack of internet especially when trying to conference call, having to spend all day with your partner, or feeling the pressure to extend your working day longer than it normally is. The pomegranate team has come up with their top 10 tips to tackling working from home!
1. Stick to your routine
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It’s important to still wake up at the same time as normal, just like if you were going to work. Or if you enjoy the lay in at least stick to the same working hours and morning routine - it’s good to still prepare for the day ahead, both physically and mentally.
2. Always make your bed
Making your bed is important as it can help reduce stress levels, keeping your bed clean and tidy will help to reflect your personal space and state of mind, so you can have a clear head at the start of your working day. According to Admiral William:
If you make your bed every morning you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another.
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By the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that little things in life matter. - Admiral William
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3. Practise yoga
- Research in the Journal of Work and Stress found that “doing yoga at lunch significantly reduced work related anxieties and improved productivity”. Your brain could use that break to recover and relax to help you get back on track of your tasks and be ultimately productive.
4. Take breaks
Make sure you take a lunch break. It’s vital that you take time during the day to switch off for a bit and not look at anything work-related. You don’t work 100% of the time in the office anyway so you shouldn't try to at home, as it could lead to being very unproductive.
5. Blame mess on an imaginary colleague
You and your partner may want to agree on making up an imaginary colleague so you both have someone beside each other to blame for the inevitable dirty washing in the sink or coffee mugs in the bathroom. That way you can keep tensions to a minimal and blame everything on poor Cheryl.
6. Get changed out of your pyjamas
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Getting out of your pyjamas before work will ensure that you are in the right headspace, plus you don’t want to be videoing your boss in your nightie!
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7. Don’t work in your bedroom
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Create a workspace somewhere other than in your bedroom. By keeping your bedroom separate from your work space helps to divide the work and life differences, and will also help you relax more at the end of the day.
8. Wear shoes
Wearing shoes in your home will make it feel like you are in the office. It can also set your mind better for a full day of working so you can separate the time to work and the time to relax.
9. When your working day is over it's over
Just like how you normally switch off when you get home from a working day it’s important to do this when working from home. Instant messages can stop you from relaxing and make you overwork. Clearly define what hours you will be working and stick to it.
10. Communicate with the people you live with.
Make sure that you tell the people that you live with to be quiet especially if you are on a video conference call. Even if you are working from home you still need to remain professional during meetings.
Some people may find it difficult working at home without being able to socially interact with colleagues so we have put together a collection of podcasts, webinars and 1-1 sessions which can help you beat some boredom and perhaps learn something new. Register here for our list of light reading tools to help you stay motivated at work.
Sign up here for a free session
