The current COVID-19 situation means working from home is the new norm for an unknown period. To ease the transition, we’ve put together five suggestions to make working from home better.

Making Working from Home Better

1. Dress for Work

It’s tempting to roll out of bed and straight to your new ‘working from home’ desk. But wearing work clothes is going to help mentally shift you into work mode. Get dressed for work, and once your working day is finished, get changed out of your work clothes. It’s going to feel great!

2. Prepare Your Day + Chunk Time

The night before, plan your day and set boundaries for the day. Provided your employer is happy with it, there is the opportunity to make the day work better for you. Schedule in exercise, lunch in the sun, and a micro break in the afternoon. There is also the opportunity to chunk time. Chunk activities together with the same purpose i.e. Emails/Research/Meetings/Sales. This makes it easier to control your flow of work, and makes sure you’re able to handle interruptions when they come, and get back on task when you engage again.

3. Turn Off Notifications

Interruptions = getting sucked into an unproductive vortex. Turn off notifications, and then set a reminder to check emails three times a day; start of the day. Just before lunch, and once more just before you finish your scheduled working day. Don’t get sucked into the email vortex that kills many hours for even the most productive of remote workers. The same applies for social media and phone notifications.

4. Move Your Body

It’s important for mental health to move (and it’s been proven to boost immunity). Currently it’s ok to get out into nature and go for walks – that’s an option following physical distancing guidelines. Alternatively, there are hundreds of free yoga and workout videos available online to tap into. All this will help you be more productive, and also feel more balanced.

5. Set Up Online Events

Set up virtual team lunches and Friday night drinks (BYO of course). Set up the camera and share general office chit chat during shared event times. Don’t forget to get together for the birthday cake (online of course) and keep human connection high.

Do you have any other tips for working from home?

The one eighty team have been working from home for a while now in preparation for the Level Four NZ Government imposed lock down which means we are fully set up to be able to engage and chat with you should you have any hiring or career points to discuss – we’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to contact us.