8 tips for working from home from someone who’s been there, done that

Ok folks, my time to shine is here.

I’ve been working from home at least part time for a few years now, and full time for almost two years. Since so many of you have now been sent home to work, I thought I’d share some of my hard-earned wisdom.

1.     You do need to wake up, but maybe not so early

Working from home can be either a challenge or a blessing. Take it as a blessing and enjoy one of the wonderful perks: no commute! Enjoy a small sleep in in place of this torture. Note I say small – you don’t want to mess up your sleep cycle! Or if you’re me, oversleep every second day and roll out of bed only when a cat starts trying to pull out your eyelashes. 

2.     Get dressed, but not into uncomfortable clothes 

You may need to answer the door, run down to the letterbox or take the rubbish out, so please put some pants on! They can be leggings though. Again, enjoy the freedom of working from home and put your suits and scratchy stockings away for a while.

3.     Taking breaks doesn’t mean you’re being unproductive

Working from home is strange, because you no longer have all the time-consuming office stuff to take up a portion of your day. Meetings are gone (or, if moved online, at least briefer), coffee breaks are solitary and short, and there are no birthday celebrations. This sadly means no cake, and it also means the work day can feel very long. So, don’t feel guilty for not being chained to your laptop for 8-10 hours. You wouldn’t be in an office, and you don’t need to be at home. Doing a quick little chore every hour can help keep your space clean, and replace the banter sesh you used to have with the IT guys on the way to the kitchen. Productivity is measured in output, not time.

4.     Try not to annoy your cohabitants

My husband has now joined me at home for work and we are both trying very hard not to annoy each other. It helps that I have my own office, and he has a very sophisticated set-up on the dining table, so there is a door to close between us. I should close that door. But I still often find myself hovering around behind him asking insistent questions or offering him treats so he’ll pay attention to me. Do as I say, not as I do. 

5.     Get a pet

 Eyelash removal aside, pets make working from home infinitely better. They sleep on your feet, they give you someone to talk to when your colleagues/clients are all occupied on Zoom calls, and sometimes they offer a distraction by vomiting on the carpet. Perfect.

6.     Stop working

When you’re working from home it’s tempting to keep working all night long. But your day needs to end! I like to conclude my work day with a trip to the gym (well, I did, pre-virus) to clear my head. Find something to mark the end of your work day, even if it’s as simple as putting your pyjamas back on (because you’re not going anywhere!)

7.     Find a way to be fit

As I previously mentioned, I used to conclude my day with a trip to the gym. That’s actually a fairly recent habit I have developed. I used to be pretty much inactive all day, every day. 10,000 steps? Try 10 steps! You get no incidental exercise working from home, unless you count walking back and forth from the fridge. But honestly, now that I’m getting active for 45-60 minutes most days each week, I feel HEAPS better about being inside and sedentary most of the time. Right now I’ve substituted the gym for workout videos on Popsugar Active, which is free for now in light of the corona crisis. Highly recommended.

8.     Be careful of the fridge

 As previously noted, the fridge is right there. So don’t buy snacks you love because trust me, willpower goes out the window at 3pm after a long day of talking to no one. Instead, stock up on fruit, veggies, and tea bags. Unless, of course, the supermarkets are sold out of healthy things. In which case, go ahead and eat ice cream for afternoon tea. You tried. You deserve it.

 Oh, and a bonus tip…

You might think you can concentrate on that important email while you’re watching TV, but you cannot. You may accidentally type some of the dialogue from Gilmore Girls into your email.