Since the pandemic has hit us in the UK, things progressed rather quickly and we were told to stay home by the PM. Only key workers were allowed to go to work and those who are not able to work from home. But it now means that majority of the workforce are now working from home. So your living room or dining room is also your office.
A lot of workers haven’t worked 100% remotely before so this is a big change for them. At first the excitement of not having to commute everyday and keeping costs low is attractive and exciting. But eventually the novelty of it all wears off. It can get quite lonely and just getting motivated to get out of bed and downstairs can be a challenge in itself.
So how can you stay motivated, when you’re still working from home on day 4,319?! SwipSearch is a 100% remote team, so we have some great tips on how to stay motivated and positive during this time.
Get up and dressed for work as normal
You may be reading this thinking “Why on earth would I put on my work clothes, to go downstairs and sit in my dining room?!” A lot of people would agree with you and think the exciting thing about working from home, is working in your pyjamas! But the fact remains that getting up, showered and dressed like you are going to work, puts you in the right mindset. Have your breakfast and have your work start time (usually your normal working hours!). Don’t roll out of bed and go straight to your laptop. Some people like to get out of the house and go for a run or a walk, which mimicks a commute to work.
Have a dedicated work zone
And no we don’t mean your bed. Working from your bed is probably the worst thing you could do. We can guarantee that the TV will remain on, or you’ll be scrolling through Facebook, or just end up having a nap! Find somewhere where there are the least distractions. If you have a home office, GREAT! If not, then something like the dining room could work just as well. Remove clutter, make sure there’s natural light and if you can, work somewhere that doesn’t have a TV. If you live with others, it’s also good to let the rest of the household know your working hours so that you’re not disturbed. These small efforts can make a big difference to your working day.
Create a desk space
If you haven’t worked from home before, you may not have a desk setup, so make sure you create one. Keep in mind the DSE (Display Screen Equipment) assessments you had at work, and apply those theories to your home workspace. You can find a copy of a DSE checklist from HSE here. Consider purchasing a laptop stand, or if your workplace provides them, see if you can take one home. Your posture will thank you for it later.
Write a to-do list
It sounds cliché, but it really does help. Write down what you plan on achieving today and work through your list. Believe it or not, you have less distractions working from home, so you should be able to achieve most if not all of your to-do list. Just make sure you set realistic goals. Seeing how many items you’ve crossed off your list is motivation in itself to carry on.
Take a break
You’re allowed an hour’s lunch break at work. Please make sure you take this break when also at home. Being at home means you have quicker access to lunch, but make use of the full hour. Go outside and go for a walk to get some air (remember we’re only allowed to go out for exercise ONCE a day, so if you went for a run or walk in the morning, that’s you done for the day so choose wisely!). If you can’t go outside, then sit in your garden or on your balcony for some air and vitamin D. It will do you the world of good. The whole idea is to get away from the workspace and have a change of scenery so that you can rest your mind for a while before going back to the grind.
When you’re finished, you’re finished!
It’s so tempting to carry on working some more because you’re working from home. Don’t do it. Have a strict cut off time, and close the door on your work. Write a to do list of things that need to be sorted the next day and use this as a brain dump of your day and allow yourself to switch off. You can now be with your family and watch TV, play games or whatever it is you need to do. There’s always tomorrow and a good nights rest will do you good.
It’s a tough for weeks (possibly months) for a lot of workers right now, but with these tips, you can continue to stay motivated and productive during your working day. For those of you that aren’t working at the moment, we have written some tips on how you can stay productive during the lockdown here.
We at SwipSearch are here to support all of you whether you’re working or not. We know how hard it can be to work from home, so please do not hesitate to contact us should you need any advice. In the meantime, please, stay home and save lives. Be safe.
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