Although COVID-19 has presented an emergency response which has led to working from home for many people, remote working has been on the increase for a while and will continue to increase in today’s digital landscape, which will inevitably change the workplace dynamic.
Working from home can seem like a dream come true for some, however in these uncertain times, many professionals now find themselves in a remote working situation out of necessity.
“Managing the boundaries of this reality can be tricky, not to mention anxiety-inducing, yet with careful planning, guidance and a refreshed perspective, we’ve seen how you can make your home workspace work for you.”
– Tania Diggory, Founder & Director of Calmer
With this in mind, the team at Calmer has created an exclusive book, Working From Home: The Complete Calmer Guide To Remote Working, which provides actionable steps for successful remote working – from adopting a healthy mindset, to creating a mindful workspace, to ensuring high productivity. This guide is due to be launched just before Easter and ahead of this – here are few tips to help those of you who are new to remote working during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Plan your day each morning
Start your day with a planning session, grab a notepad and pen and write down what you’d like to get out of your working day to help set you on the right track. Having a clear structure for the day and knowing what you may need support within your team is important, and it will help you to reduce distractions.
Keep connected
We need human connection in order to thrive, so ensure you regularly connect with others in your personal and professional network. If you work alone, get in touch with people who lift your spirits, and for companies, be sure to communicate with your team at different times during the working day. We suggest occasionally booking in a virtual team meeting via video conferencing or one to one calls, as a healthy way to give that illusion of proximity.
Take a break
Stop. Breathe. Trust.
Taking a break while working remotely can feel like a challenge – it’s common to feel the need to stay connected to the laptop so that your colleagues or clients know you’re working. Stop. Breathe. Trust. We need breaks in the day in order to feel more productive, and numerous studies have highlighted the optimum time to take a break is around every 90 minutes or so. Stretch your legs, make a comforting hot drink and/or focus the mind on something different. Try setting your alarm to remind you to take a break every 90 minutes or so; it’s good for your wellbeing and can boost your productivity.
Create your workspace, keep to office hours – and get dressed!
Keep consistent with a healthy start and finish time for your working day
While it’s tempting to work all day in your PJs, try starting your day as you usually would when commuting to the office. It can make a positive difference in how you feel, ensure a productive mindset and help you keep a sense of routine, which is important for nurturing good mental health. You could use your traditional commute time to do something different and get your mind and body ready for the working day; remember that just because you’re working at home, it is not necessary to work all hours. Create your ‘workspace’ at home and nurture it. Where possible, keep consistent with a healthy start and finish time for your working day, there will always be work to do and your laptop or desktop computer will still be there tomorrow!
To find more advice for working from home, click here.
For more good tips, visit the Calmer website, join their Facebook Community, or follow Calmer on Twitter and Instagram.
Content Team
Work in Mind is a content platform designed to give a voice to thinkers, businesses, journalists and regulatory bodies in the field of healthy buildings.
