5 TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME
It’s been a weird couple of weeks. Between loo paper panic, a Level 4 lockdown and my grandma meeting my boyfriend over Skype – there’s a lot going on. Not to mention, most of us are suddenly working from home.
As a former freelancer, working from home isn’t entirely new for me. So here’s a few things I’ve picked up that you might find handy too.
1. Don’t make business personal
Surprise – your boss now lives in your bedroom. Or living room, or wherever your new “home office” might be. Taking video calls and team meetings from home means your coworkers are now all “up in your grill,” so to speak.
For your privacy (and sanity), keep colleague and client calls in one spot. Case in point: Jennifer.
2. Set up for success
No desk? No worries. Work with what you’ve got and make it your own. This is the DIY Pinterest moment you’ve been waiting for. Go crazy with plants, paper dividers and inspirational quotes. And, whatever happens, resist your bed. If the sweet, siren song of your K-mart duvet calls your name – tune it out and keep working.
3. Find time to yarn
Who knows a thing or two about isolation and remote work? Astronauts, that’s who. Former NASA astronaut Scott Kelly shared that social isolation isn’t just lonely, it can actually weaken our immune system. So gossiping with coworkers, unnecessary Teams calls and “dank memes” may actually keep you staying strong for longer.
4. Stick to your routine. Your routine. your routine.
It seems like we’re hearing this everywhere, from the Daily Mail to the Economist. But what does “routine” actually mean? In short, it’s the daily habits we build without knowledge. And what keeps us sane in an otherwise dystopian present. Do: keep up your elaborate pre-work breakfast spread. Don’t: forget that ‘pyjamas’ and ‘loungewear’ are the same thing.
5. Perfect the art of the email
Does the word “upskill” ring a bell? Everyone’s at it right now. But if basket weaving isn’t your thing, try developing the art of the email. It’s harder than you think. And more useful than you’d imagine. Plus, you’ll come out the other side with coworkers who don’t hate you.