So, working from home looks set to stay with us a little longer. And I know most people are looking to make things a little easier on themselves in this regard. Read on to discover some handy tips that could help with that.
Set up
Once you know you will be working from home on a long-term basis, think about your set up. Working on the couch is a no no. Your back needs to last a lifetime, so arrange a proper desk or workstation as soon as you can.
Invest in a good chair, with moveable back and wheels. A static chair is awful – you may as well sit on the floor.
You can get keyboards and a mouse for under £20 from places like Wilco’s, ideal if using a laptop, but also prop your laptop up higher so the top of your screen is in line with your eyebrows (boxes are good for this).
If you can’t make use of a separate space, make sure you pack it all away at the end of the day, or at least cover it with a towel/sheet so you don’t feel obliged to look at it after tea.
Systems
If you are relying on post it notes or bits of paper, look at a reliable system that will support you no matter where you work.
If you work with a team, the system needs to be able to support them all.
The one we recommend is Asana but there are loads out there like Trello, Monday, Todoist. Or you may already have a system in place – check it is suitable for remote working.
These systems can help you manage your projects, tasks, clients and to do lists, and remove the need for post its notes. Most have an app so you can still access and manage everything when you are away from your desk.
Think about data protection and confidentiality. Do you have somewhere secure to keep hard copies of documents? Do you need to consider backing up your laptop etc?
Phone
If you can, have a separate phone for work. One you can turn off or put on silent when you finish work for the day or go on holiday (remember those days..)
Or sign up to a call handling service and have calls taken by them. Then you can manage when you speak to people.
Zoom
Video calling is now the norm, and looks set to stay. So, make it an easy and enjoyable experience where possible.
Try and do video calls on your PC/laptop rather than a phone. Otherwise you run the risk of your arm going to sleep from holding it, or people seeing under your chin when you rest it on the table.
Make sure your background is suitable. You can’t hide behind the office anymore; we all get to see inside your house! Use a plain wall if possible, or a tidy bookcase, better yet, put your banner up behind you – free branding exposure while you are sat there.
Dress as you would for a business meeting or networking. Yes, casual is the home working wardrobe, but we all still make a first impression based on what we see, and that T-Shirt may not be the impression you want to leave behind.
Change your name on the screen to your full name and business name if possible. “Sarahfluffy69” is ok for your friends and family but it would make me think twice about wanting to work with you. Plus, if the meeting has a waiting room, the host may not let you in if they can’t work out who you are. Same goes for things like “Sarah’s iPhone”
Wellbeing
Working from home or remotely from your team can have huge advantages, but one big disadvantage is the potential for loneliness. Make sure you fit in time for networking and 1-1 chats even if that’s via phone or video call.
Take regular breaks from your screen – you should look up from your screen every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds, and look to a distance of 20 feet if possible.
You also need to move more – you don’t have trips to the copier, to the canteen, to the post tray to keep your body moving. So, every hour, get up, stretch and move somehow. Put the radio on and dance in the corner for 5 minutes – nobody is going to see you (unless you are on a Zoom of course!).
Lunch breaks are important – set a timer to remind you and have a full break away from the screen, in another room if possible. I know 1 person who walks to the local sandwich shop in their lunch time, just as they would if they were working in a city-based office.
Hopefully some of the above will help you be more efficient at home/remote working, but will also add to your mental wellbeing too.
If you need any support with any of the systems or other services such as call handling please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
