Staying productive, positive and connected whilst working from home
marzo 19, 2020
From time to time we all work from home, whether it’s out of choice or due to illness, childcare issues or office modifications.
Owing to the spread of COVID-19, many of us are being advised to work from home for the foreseeable future and we may struggle to keep morale and productivity high over prolonged periods. In such uncertain times, it has never been more imperative to have a shared determination to stay productive, positive and connected.
We’ve compiled advice from some of the best productivity coaches and experts to help you overcome isolation and get into a productive headspace at home.
- Stick to your routine
Get up at the same time you usually would on working days, keep your meal times regular and follow the same working schedule as you would if you were in the office. If you usually exercise, your gym might be closed, but you should still complete at-home workouts at the same time every day.
- Get dressed
Make the effort to change out of your pyjamas. You’ll be surprised at how much this changes your mindset and boosts energy levels. Separates and loose, floaty dresses are a great way to look professional (as you never know when you’ll need to jump on a video call), yet have the comfort and ease of loungewear.
- Maximise your commute time
For many of us, working from home means we gain an extra two hours of the day that would otherwise have been spent commuting. Instead of doing household chores and life admin, use this time to read a book, meditate, do yoga or walk the dog. This will ease you into a positive headspace in preparation for the workday ahead.
- Encourage team spirit
It is important to keep in regular contact with your colleagues. It’s a good idea to check in with them first thing when you sit down at your desk and last thing when you finish up for the day. This could be as simple as a ‘good morning’ message or a more elaborate group chat.
A daily group video call is also a good idea to ensure everyone stays motivated and focused on goals. Remember when video calling, you can’t beat a plain wall as a background and be sure to warn your children, partners or housemates when you are about to start, so you have no unwelcome intruders.
The best professional group messaging and video-conference tools are Zoom, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Skype for Business.
- Natural light and fresh air
Be sure to position your workstation at home near a window if you can. This will help keep your mood positive and reduce the feeling of cabin fever.
- Positive music
Music is great to have on quietly in the background, as we are all subconsciously accustomed to the background noise of our offices. Our favourite positive playlists on Spotify are ‘Instrumental pop covers’, ‘Brain Food’ and ‘Happy Jazz!’.
- Eat lunch away from your workspace
This will help you separate your ‘home’ and ‘work’ time and also help keep the feeling of cabin fever at bay. The change will also make you much more mentally prepared to start working again when you return to your desk.
- Nap
Having a nap while you’re working from home doesn’t make you lazy - it is scientifically proven to actually make you more productive. Most sleep experts agree that a 10- to 20-minute nap will leave you feeling more alert and in a better mood.
- Read some 'good' news
Sign up to the Good News Network to help inject some positivity into your day, because not all is bad in the world.
- Fresh flowers
Bring the outside in, by signing up to a flower delivery subscription from brands such as Bloom and Wild, Flowerbx or Freddie’s Flowers. Not only will they brighten up the room and lift your spirits, but cut flowers ‘breathe’ out up to 10 times more oxygen than they absorb.
And above all, we hope you and your family remain safe, healthy and happy during these scary times. We remain available to you on email (studio@libbylondon.com) and phone (020 7720 6789) to answer any questions you may have. Please also keep tagging us in your #workingfromhome images on social media… They brighten our day!
We are #InThisTogether
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