Working From Home Hacks

Almost everyone has been told to work from home and I’ve had messages from a few people saying how hard they are finding it to concentrate. Well don’t worry peeps, it’s partly as it’s a very unsettling time. Even I am finding that and I’m normally good at being focussed.

Here are a few working for hacks I can share after 5 years of being a self-employed designer and business owner:

1 – Location - If you can, even if it’s tiny, try and find a place away from domestic distractions, a table in your bedroom perhaps. This image is of me working in my lounge but I also have a desk, in a built-in cupboard, in the snug, when I need to focus on the dull stuff like my accounts.

2 – Time Well Spent - You have gained all that commuting time, use it wisely. Get up as normal and do something like yoga, meditation, a language lesson. There are so many apps you can use. You’ll be back on that commute before you know it, so make the most of this time and your lunch breaks.

 3 – Outdoors - Whilst we still can get outside; do some exercise, walk to shops or the dog, around the park anything, do some gardening. Staying indoors all day is depressing and will sap motivation. I will post more about things to do in your garden in the next few days.

4 – Other People’s Expectations - Don’t let others you live with assume that you WFH is an opportunity for you to go to the post office, dry cleaners, food shop, cook a meal, do the ironing etc. You still need to get a day’s work done, so don’t fall into that trap, even if at first you might want to. There is time to sort out washing, put a load on or water a plant, whilst the kettle boils though.

5 – Take Breaks - Get up, stretch, walk around, make a drink - I make lots of tea, they rarely get finished but it gets me away from my screen for 5 mins to rest my eyes. But don’t start using snacks as rewards for a job done, stick to a low cal. drinks only.

 6 – What to Wear - When I really want to crack on something, I will get up with the alarm, clean my teeth, boot-up HAL, make a coffee and start in my PJ’s, this way often I can get an hours work done without blinking. Some people swear that they need to be in their work clothes, if this is you then whatever works! BUT do not stay in your PJs all day or the postman will clock you and you are going to get to know your postie really-well in the coming weeks, you don't want to start that relationship with you as a sloven.

7 – Keep Online Meetings Short – As they are harder to concentrate in, make sure there’s an agenda and it’s worth having a time limit. This helps to keep the energy up otherwise you’ll get distracted and start checking emails, online shopping or whatever.

8 – Structure Your Day in Advance - I try to spread my calls and meetings, so I have a bit of contact at low energy points. Make sure you stop at a reasonable hour too, don’t let working spill into your evening, you need time to switch off or it will affect your sleep.

9 – Switch It Off! - Email, social media, phone notifications, all of it. There’s no one there to see you, so if you let them distract you, you’ll get nothing done. I look at social media in bed with a cuppa first thing, then switch off until lunch time. If you need to access social media for work, I do, then schedule that time too.

10 – WFH with Your Partner - Grumpers is self employed too, so we’ve rubbed along WFH for years. In our case we work away from each other, agree your spaces in advance, we swap sometimes as required. We often have scheduled times to meet up for lunch or a coffee break, giving us a bit of human contact and it’s surprising how useful someone outside your industry can be for objective advice.

Sorry I don't have kids so I have no idea how one copes with WFH with kids there; planning meetings and childcare arrangements with your partner in advance is going to be key though. You can't both be on that really important meeting at the same time, with them trying to kill each other happening in the background. Strategic doling out of treats and TV time also needs to be considered....good luck, keep well and I'll see you on the other side!

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