Working from home is no longer the rare concept it was a few years ago, and although a huge number of people were forced to start working from home last year, it’s still something that divides opinion. Whilst some employers were reluctant to trust their employees and understand the benefits of working from home, at e-clinic we have used remote working technology for demos and training for over a decade. All of our team now work from home and will likely continue to do so, and we see this as a benefit to them and the company. With good planning and resources in place, working from home can actually improve productivity and work-life balance, which we know keeps both our team and our clients happy.
Here are our ten top tips for working from home:
1. Set up a dedicated work space
In an ideal world, everyone working from home would have a dedicated office, but that’s not always possible or practical. Whilst those with rarely-used dining rooms or a spare bedroom can more easily set up a home working space, even carving a small area of one room for work use will help. Ensure you have a fully adjustable chair that suits your needs, and check the height of your monitor. If you use a laptop, consider getting a separate monitor and mouse so that you can set these up according to the recommended setup or perhaps even try working from a standing position. We use our HR consultant to ensure our staff are all set up safely and comfortably, so that we can avoid those bad backs from slouching over a laptop, and eye strain from incorrect monitor setup.
2. Create a routine
Whilst working from home can afford you more flexibility, creating a routine can help kick start your working day and help to improve your productivity. Whether it’s a morning workout or a really great cup of coffee, try to incorporate existing habits and activities to help frame your day and provide a signal that now is the time to start tackling your to-do list, or replying to emails.
3. Take proper breaks
Part of your routine should be given over to appropriate breaks, and these will punctuate your day and ensure you’re working to your best ability. Whilst it can be tempting to work through, it’s really important to give your eyes a rest from your screen, stretch your legs and ideally get a breath of fresh air. Apps such as TimeOut and Smart Break let you schedule your breaks, reminding you to take anything from a very short break to stretch and shake out your arms, up to full meal breaks with on-screen countdowns.
4. Take sick days
Working from home won’t stop you from getting ill, and just because you are working from home doesn’t mean you don’t need a rest if you do get poorly. You might think that it’s better to soldier on and work from your sick bed, but not getting the recovery time you need will likely mean you take longer to get better. Like taking breaks, it can seem counterintuitive to take sick days when it comes to your productivity, but getting back up to full speed is paramount and what you do manage whilst you’re ill probably won’t be your best work anyway.
5. Stay connected
Working from home can certainly feel isolating, so it’s crucial to maintain regular human interaction. You could choose to video call instead of emailing, or arrange to walk during your lunch break with a friend or colleague. If you’re used to socialising with colleagues after work, perhaps organise a group quiz over video call, or plan short team building activities once a week. Even taking a walk in nature can enhance your sense of wellbeing and provide a healthy connection.
6. Ask for support when needed
Working from home might mean you feel isolated from colleagues who are there to help you, so don’t forget to speak out when you need assistance. Whether you need IT backup or HR support, remember that there are people whose job it is to provide what you need. Also consider any ongoing training or necessary updates to your qualifications, and ensure you ask for access to those if applicable. Likewise, make sure that your own team know that they can still get in touch with you whenever they might need to.
7. Plan your meals and snacks
Avoid working to the point of hunger and then rushing to find something to eat by planning out your meals and snacks ahead of time, such as at the beginning of the week or workday. Quick foods are often full of refined carbohydrates and heavily processed ingredients that will make you feel sleepy and sluggish, so preparing your lunch the evening before or that morning will help you make healthier choices that will also aid concentration. It’s also a good idea to avoid eating at your workstation, both to stop it getting messy and to ensure you have a proper break.
8. Communicate
Think about how you’re communicating and how it relates to what you’re trying to communicate. It’s important to go beyond email and use other digital tools that can better replicate face to face communication and to ensure everyone is able to communicate clearly and efficiently. Not only does effective communication aid productivity, it can also help maintain your relationship with your colleagues, managers, and clients. It’s important to ensure everyone has input and feels they’re working together, so features such as shared screens for presentations for example can help everyone to feel like they’re all on the same page. Varying your communication methods can also help keep things fresh and separate out different work functions and projects, so for example we might use Teams for a project update, and then Zoom for a wider team meeting.
9. Switch off
Work-life balance is paramount, so keeping to your hours should go without saying. When you’re at home though, it’s all too easy to slip into unnecessary overtime, or checking your emails when you’re not supposed to be working. Remember that you’ll be more efficient in your work hours if you take a proper break, so make sure to finish on time, turn off your computer and work phone, and don’t let work spill over into your own time. You’ll get back to work more refreshed and with more energy to take on your to-do list that way, and setting this example to your colleagues rather than emailing them after hours will help to ensure everyone maintains healthy work habits and boundaries.
10. Acknowledge the perks
Our colleagues have certainly felt the benefit of more time and less stress by avoiding lengthy commutes since working from home. Home-working can certainly help us to attain a better work-life balance, so if you’re nervous about taking the leap it’s a good idea to think about the perks. It could be that you simply get to see more of your family or do more of the school runs. Or perhaps you can take up a new hobby, or start to make your own bread as you’re able to take regular breaks to the kitchen to knead to dough. Make sure you’re taking advantage of working from home and it’ll feel like a pleasure rather than a chore.
