How to supercharge your efforts when working from home
Updated: Nov 3, 2021
Updated November 2021.
Working from home has become a weekly (or even daily) occurrence for many of us since the Covid-19 pandemic came to the UK in 2020. But, while the majority of people would say they get more done without the distractions of colleagues or the avoidance of a long commute, working from home can have its challenges too. Here are our five tips on how to make your time working from home as effective and productive as possible:
1. Keep to a routine
When you are at work you will probably have a routine of how you work and socialise. It is important that if you can to keep to something similar. So if you meet a friend / colleague for a cup of tea after the daily briefing you can do the same, but now agree to do so by a video call (FaceTime, WhatsApp etc) and enjoy the tea and a chat!
2. Diary Management
When you are at work you may not have lots of meetings in the diary but when you are at home it can be a great way of keeping focused. If you have tasks to do, make a diary appointment, which means that you will set the time aside to complete them. Also use your diary to let others know when you are not available.
3. Don't feel guilty about doing the washing up!
Many homeworkers feel guilty when they are at home if they do a household chore or answer the front door rather than doing their emails. You shouldn't feel guilty at all - if you were in the office, you may well stop at a colleague's desk for a "chat" for a few minutes on your way back from a meeting. View doing the washing up in the same way!
4. Make sure you call your team
It can be really easy to get to the end of the day and realise that you have actually spoken to anyone other than via an email or a text. Especially when you are focused on completely a task. Make sure that you speak (a voice call!) to at least one person from your team a day. This will make sure that you are connected to each other and not just through a screen.
5. Pack up at the end of the day
It is so easy to leave your workspace at the end of day with your laptop open, notes over the desk etc. If you were in the office, it is likely that you would have a clean desk policy to ensure that the office is tidy and secure. Do the same at home, and this will ensure that you "switch off' from work at the end of the day.
Do you have any top tips to share or your own experiences ? Get in touch at value@lodgecourt.com