7 Tips For Working From Home During The COVID-19 Pandemic

The Coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to businesses never faced before. Many people are having to work from home for the first time and are struggling to cope as a result.

Here’s some tips to make things easy.

1. Have a dedicated workspace for yourself. This needs to be away from where you eat, sleep and live ideally. Having that working area will help you feel like you are ‘stepping into work’ and become motivated.  Arrange your workstation so that everything you need is near you.  Files, printer, stationary and so on. This will make things run more smoothly throughout the day.  Make sure this area is kept cleaned and wiped down each day.

2. Set up a schedule or to-do-list each day. This will help you stay focused.  You can check this at intervals during the day to make sure you are on track.  This will also help you feel more confident that your day is running to plan. Try to start your day at a set time each day and end at the same time.  However, if you are on flexible hours you may feel that working around home life works better.  Work out a plan which best suits your needs and stick with this each day.

3. With the Coronavirus outbreak people are now working from home for the first time. In these circumstances a good work-life balance becomes essential. It is key to try to stick to the goals you set for each day.  This will make you feel that you have achieved what you set out to do for the day and in turn feel more confident during these uncertain times.

4. It is good to let others know how your workday will consist. It is good to talk through how your day will work with others.  Make sure you check in with your manager regularly, so you are both aware of any new updates or setbacks.  If there are going to be any delays to work that needs to be completed or if someone else needs to pick up work.  If others are aware of your day, they can also adjust around you and help you when needed to make things easier.

5. Make sure you are dressed each day when working from home. As tempting as it may be to stay in your pyjamas and work all day, it will definitely help to have a routine.  This will help you prepare for your day ahead.  And help you follow what would be your normal daily routine.  There has also been seen to boost your psychological wellbeing.

6. During the Covid-19 pandemic it is easy to only think short term and run on a day to day basis. But make sure you plan ahead.  This will give you something to aim for.  Whilst no-one knows how long this will last, having events, meetings and business booked in for the next month, quarter and even year will only benefit everyone.

7. Taking regular breaks is a must when you are working from home. Stay hydrated and try to eat healthy snacks.  Try to not have the TV on whilst working from home as it distracts people easily.  Catch up with the news of an evening after you have finished your workday. 

Make sure you have windows open where you are working and try to spend some time during the day in the garden (even if just for 15 minutes). 

If, however, you are not able to go outside, then make sure you keep your windows open when you can to let in fresh air.

It is important to mark the end of your workday and know that you have switched off and are no longer working.  Switch your PC/Laptop off, close this down and walk away.  Take some time away before you go back and start your evening routines.  This will then give you time to go from work mode to home mode. And lastly, try not to be so hard on yourself if you are finding the transition difficult. 

Working from home isn’t for everyone and is difficult to juggle family life and working life all under the same roof.  We are after all going through a pandemic, a very worrying time.