It really is the fishtank...

Ok so I know there are 101 articles flying around LinkedIn right now on how to ensure productivity when working from home. I’m fortunate, if that’s the right word, that working from home has been the norm for myself and my team for over two years now and I thought it would be worthwhile counting down my Top 10 tips from practical experience for making working from home a success for you.

#10. Ditch your printer. You don’t need it and you will spend far too much time either trying to get it to work or swearing at it when the toner runs low, which will be every 3rd day.

#9. Smart light bulbs are not smart. Use the light switch.

#8. If you are going to use Zoom for collaboration and conference calls, the camera default is ON. Just saying.

#7. If you still can, stock up on as many AAA batteries as you can. No one likes to use the touch pad on the laptop.

#6. If you have kids and you have a whiteboard, don’t use the whiteboard.

#5. Cut your sandwich in triangles (2 big ones). That’s how they do it at the shop and lunch will feel like an outing.

#4. You will need to explain to other people on the conference call that the trickle in the background is actually the fish tank filter and nothing else. If you don’t have fish in your home office, you will after about 6 months.

#3. It’s probably too late now to do a Barista course. I’ve done one so I’m sorted, but I don’t know what you’ll do here if you haven’t. I’m very sorry about that.

#2. The universal sign for explaining to the Coles grocery delivery driver that you are on the phone is to point constantly at your headphones in your ear while mouthing “I’m on a conference call”. It won’t however stop them asking you all about your dogs. 

#1 The radio broadcast over your smart speaker will be slightly delayed. You will need to ensure you have a real radio to be able to be the first caller to win those concert tickets. Not that you’ll be going to the concert anytime soon.

Hopefully this helps someone out there in some small way. Stay safe, remember to check in on each other and just keep swimming.