Working From Home

Did you know that 46.4% of Londoners had worked from home at some point in 2020?

Working from home has become the norm in current times. The rise in remote remote-based jobs has seen many people have to shift their routines and adjust habits to create a successful environment to work in. Maintaining productivity can be a real issue for some, however, others have been thriving.

But where do you even start when working from home? How can you make the most productive space possible? Is there a way to create a work-life balance when you work at home?

Well, this guide will help answer those questions and more. Let’s get started.

Tips To Setting Up The Perfect Office When Working From Home

Having the right setup can make so much difference when it comes to productivity. If you’re going to be working remotely for a set period of time, you should make the effort to create an environment that will help your performance. Here are some tips for making the best space for work.

Have A Dedicated Space	Making a specific space for you to work sets boundaries, creating separation from work and home life. Also, this will improve productivity as you have a set working area. If you have a large enough home, converting a spare room would be ideal, however, simply using a small room that has an area for your computer equipment will suffice. Try to make sure this isn’t your bedroom, as this can interrupt sleep. Your bedroom is for sleeping, not work.
Improve Your Lighting	Lighting can have a huge impact on your performance and can often be overlooked. When it comes to your work space, having an indirect light to illuminate it is ideal. Usually, overhead lighting works best so that you can see your work area and so that the light isn’t reflecting off your screen and put you off. If possible, get as much natural light as possible, both reducing energy usage and improving productivity. Also, think about your screen brightness, adjusting it to be slightly brighter than your ambient lighting.
Set Your Monitor To The Correct Height	A good tip to start with monitors is to avoid the cheapest options, as they can increase eyestrain over prolonged use. When it comes to adjusting the height, this is important for preventing injuries. Your eyes should be around 25% below the top of the screen to keep you from slouching over and keeping your posture in check.
Make Sure You Have Good Internet Speed	Slow internet speeds can be extremely frustrating, especially when there are deadlines to meet. The minimum you should be looking for is 50Mbp, however, depending on your job, or if there are others at home, you may want to aim higher.   The best internet connection is a wired Ethernet cable. This can be useful for more important tasks such as video calls. To do this, you need to connect your computer to your router.
The Right Chair	With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose the perfect office chair. However, try to stay away from dining chairs and deck chairs as they aren’t suited to working as they aren’t typically at the correct height.   The right chair can help with posture and reduce the risk of injury. The chair should come with adjustable heights, lumbar support as well as arms that can be changed to fit your body type.

Tips To Staying Motivated When Working From Home

Stick To Normal Hours

Before work became remote, you likely will have had a schedule to keep to. They were guidelines that you followed and they helped to create a work-life balance. Remote work can sometimes remove this structure, which can be a good thing for flexibility.

There are other benefits such as being able to sleep in more than normal or working a little bit later to suit your needs. This can however disrupt those hours you were used to. Apps such as RescueTime help to manage your time, helping to determine when you are most productive to plan your day better.

Make Sure To Plan Breaks

Taking the time to have a break is important for staying motivated and fresh. Moving your eyes away from the screen can keep your mind active and allow you to refocus on the task at hand.

Standing up and walking about will get your blood circulating, improve your health and give yourself a much-needed rest from work. For lunch, take an hour to eat and destress, then two 15 minute breaks are the standard for the average worker.

Get Fresh Air

Moving your body and improving blood circulation is necessary for your body to function at its peak. Try to aim for getting out for some fresh air before you start work, during a break and after work to break up the day.

It is important to get natural light into your life, so make sure to take the time to get outside and enjoy some nature. Even if it is for 15 minutes on a break, it can have a positive impact on your productivity.

Keep In Contact With Colleagues

Working away from your office can be a lonely place, with isolation and loneliness a common issue with remote work. Many companies had a thriving office culture, with socialising at the heart of the business.

To combat this, try setting up a team messaging app where you can speak with your team, or organising a time where you can meet up for a coffee or virtual video chat. For those without a strong remote culture, be proactive and go out of your way to make it work.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a fantastic tool to keep yourself motivated at work. This is the act of paying attention to the present moment. Taking some time, even if it is for just 5 minutes to appreciate the moment you are in can take away the stress of work.

Rather than being tangled in the day to day stress of work, schedule some time for yourself and be mindful of where you are. At first, it may be difficult, however, practice will make it easier.

Tips For Improving Mental Health When Working From Home

Being away from the office can take its toll on many workers. Missing the social environment, being away from close colleagues or just the routine of work-life can be a lot to take in. There are places for you to find more support. Charities like Mind have created guides and toolkits for you.

If you are struggling and finding things difficult, take a look at this page. There are people out there that want to help and support you. Here are some tips for mental health at home.

Be Kind To Yourself	Take a moment to remember this situation we are in isn’t normal and it is very unusual. be realistic and acknowledge that you may not be as productive as you usually are. Writing in a journal each day with 3 things you are grateful for can be an ideal way to start your morning. These can be anything, it doesn’t have to be a huge essay, just three simple things you are happy about.
Have Boundaries	When you don’t have a schedule to stick to, it can be easy to lose track of time. So, to combat this, have a start and end time for work. Of course, remote work allows you to be flexible, so if you want to change your hours to suit your productivity, speak to your manager about altering your schedule.
Stay Hydrated	Being busy can make it easy to forget to stay hydrated. Making sure to drink enough water will help you massively. Plus, it will make you need to go to the bathroom, allowing you to get up, stretch your legs and get the blood circulating. If you drink a lot of coffee, try and drink more water to offset it, as coffee can be dehydrating.
Digital Detox	Technology can be overwhelming and draining for us all. being connected 24/7 can make it hard to switch off. To avoid this, take a digital detox. After work, turn off your device and spend some time doing what you enjoy and what makes you happy. This will help to separate work life and home life. Put social media on hold for the evening. You can do this by locking certain apps, or setting time limits on them to avoid the temptation of a late night scroll.
Maintain A Healthy Diet	Having some healthy snacks around the house can help to fuel your body and keep your mind working at its best. Try and avoid junk food as much as possible as it can have a negative impact on your mental health. Instead, take a mini-reset, fill your fridge with good foods and enjoy the benefits. Another tip is to eat lunch away from your computer, breaking up the day.