The DO’s and DON’Ts of working from home

January 15, 2021

Working from home has become a new common-place for workers around the globe. As the world stays cognisant of the Covid-19 pandemic, and with a second wave officially upon us, businesses have decided to recommend that their staff remain working from home for the foreseeable future.  

That’s why we’ve created this invigorating and revealing list of Do’s and Don’ts – to help you stay productive from your new home office and provide you with some top tips and things to avoid in order to stay mentally strong as well as physically healthy. 

Do: 

Have a designated workspace 

Replicating your work environment is an important part of the work-from-home process as it takes your mind out of your relaxed home environment and transports into a more work-centric space. A great way to do this is to designate a certain part of your home for your work needs. This area should only be used during work hours and avoided when you’re not working. Don’t forget to use a comfortable chair that offers your back the right support it needs while sitting at this work station. Make sure you pick a spot close to your internet router so that you receive the best possible speeds. 

 

Get a desk stand 

Desk stands have become immensely popular over the last couple of years – as they offer a great way for workers to stay energised and concentrating while they work. What they do is provide an elevated position for your laptop, requiring you to stand while you use it instead of sitting. This elevated position has been known to ease back pain and raise productivity. A recent study showed that staff using standing desks were 45% more productive on a daily basis than employees who sat during their shift. 

 

Get up and walk 

Get up, move around and take your eyes off the screen. Not only is it great to keep your body moving and your blood circulating, but it also gives your mind a short break from work. In the office, we often take many short breaks in order to grab a cup of coffee, chat to a colleague, or simply to get some fresh air. When working from home we often forget to take these breaks and tend to sit in front of our laptops for hours on end without moving – which can cause fatigue that badly affects your motivation. 

 

Wake up early – keep your routine 

Keep your regular routine and make sure you wake up nice and early – even though it’s tempting to sleep in a little bit. Wake up at your regular time and do some exercise, have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, have a shower, and get dressed in similar clothes that you’d wear to work. This way, you’ll ultimately energise your body and mind for the busy day ahead. 

 

Create an eating plan 

Now that you’re working from home, you’ve got a little more time in your day to make sure that you’re eating regularly and healthily. When we work form office, we tend to get a bit lazy often opting for takeout at lunch – which is not only an expensive endeavour but an unhealthy one, too. Now that you’ve got a little more time on your side use it to create easy, tasty and healthy meals that will help feed your body and mind, and keep you concentrating for longer. 

 

Don’t: 

Regularly Work Longer Than You’re Required To 

There’s nothing wrong with putting in a few extra hours each week, but constantly putting in an extra couple of hours every day will cause burnout and fatigue – which inevitably will negatively affect the quality of your work and your motivation. 

Set regular working hours and stick to them by creating structure and boundaries – this will have a positive impact on your overall mental health. Also, by designating yourself a small semi-detached workspace that is separate or at least slightly removed from your everyday living environment can help disengage your mind – allowing you to only focus on work while you are sitting within this space, and switch off when you aren’t. 

   

Work In Your Pyjamas  

We know what you’re thinking, ‘’Wait, isn’t this the best part of working from home?’’. Well, yes and no – it’s more about comfort. You can be comfortable in regular clothes, too. Try and find a good balance between comfortable clothes and regular work clothes. It’s all about your mental state; if you flop out of bed in the same clothes you slept in, your mind isn’t going to be as engaged as it would be if you got out of bed, showered, and got dressed in comfortable clothes.   

  

Work From The Couch  

Having a designated workspace is an extremely important part of the work-from-home process. The thing about a couch is that it generally resides in your lounge or living room area, which is a relaxation zone within your house. Not only this, but couches are also far too soft and will wreak havoc upon your back. That’s why once you have designated yourself a working area, make sure you have a chair that supports your lower back and posture – which will keep your core activated and your mind engaged while you work.  

  

Forget To Socialise With Your Coworkers 

Don’t forget to maintain regular contact with your team and coworkers. When you are in the office, you’ll take periodic breaks to have a chat with those you are close to, but at home, you are generally alone with your thoughts – which can be demotivating. Human interaction is great for your mental health, so sitting alone in your home without sharing a word or even a short message with your colleagues can be detrimental to staying positive about the work you do.  

Socialising and staying in contact with your colleagues also helps build and maintain strong communication skills within your team, which will help you stay on top of projects. It also makes work fun which creates enthusiasm and energy, meaning you will find a new-found appreciation for what you do which will ultimately improve not only the quality of your work – but also your passion.