Working from home, a little advice

In light of a lot of companies switching to work from home practices to ensure the safety of their employees over the next few weeks (months). For those not used to it, it can be daunting. For those that are used to it, it is just daily life. But a little advice for everyone based on my last 10 years of working from home.

• Don't worry that you will not be productive, you can be a lot more productive without distractions. It is certainly a change, but you can adapt quickly.
• Take advantage of the extra time you now have. Go for a walk, do some exercise, catch up on the laundry, learn a new skill. Just don't waste the usual commute time.
• Or to the point above, your company may be struggling having to send everyone home, with increased sick pay and coverage going to be needed. So step up and get ahead of the day!
• Be open to conference and video calls. These really help you stay in contact with your colleagues and honestly, no one cares if you are in a hoody at your kitchen table.
• Make sure that you take regular breaks. It is really easy to just work through, from call to call and not realise what the time is without other people suggesting "going for lunch" or "making a round of tea". Take advantage of those 5 minutes between calls, stretch your legs and make a brew!
• Also, don't forget to have good posture. If you are not used to working from home, then you may not have an office setup. Leaning over your laptop for 8 hours will kill your shoulders and back. So think about your sitting position. Maybe even move your laptop to the worktop and stand for a little bit. But if your only option is a bad chair at a low table, then make sure you have a good stretch regularly.
• I mentioned it briefly above, but setup regular calls with colleagues. If you are feeling isolated from the world, then they likely are as well. If you have group chat software, then use it for a daily team catch up, even if you just talk nonsense, it will help everyone to know they are not alone.
• Reach out to your leaders if you are worried about anything, if you feel you need support or if you feel that you could help in some way. They will be open and appreciate the contact.
• Don't be afraid to be proactive. If you used the extra time in the morning and found a way that you could help the business, then suggest it and see. You never know, it might be the item that gets you the next promotion.
• If you have found the transition easy, or you are used to it, then support your colleagues that might be struggling. We are all different and some really like the office setting and need a little help adjusting.
• Oh, and don't forget to switch the heating up when it is cold and the lights on when it is dark. You won't be used to that if you spend all day in an office :)

I am also just one mind, and many others are also used to working remotely or have had to for short periods and found ways to manage, so please do share any advice you have, as I am always happy to learn from others.

And with all that said, I'm off to make a cuppa before my next call, stay well everyone ??