Working from home – sounds like a dream doesn’t it? While it’s the thing that many an office worker looks forward to, it’s now a reality for many office-based staff in New Zealand due to the rise of COVID-19.
The New Zealand COVID-19 Alert Level system is comprised of four different levels that are determined by the Government. The alert levels specify the public health and social measures to be taken in the fight against COVID-19. When in Alert Level 4 we must only leave home for essential personal movement. Staying home helps to stop the spread of the virus.
While working from home does sound appealing – working at your own pace, endless access to the fridge and lots of cuddles with your household pets, the reality can be quite different. Most of us don’t factor in the need for a home office when considering whether to add a desk to the spare room or some gym equipment so are unlikely to have a dedicated space to work at, free of distractions. Unless you're very prepared, your makeshift home office is also unlikely to have all of the essential workplace supplies that you’re normally used to.
Working from home can be a challenge for anyone, especially for those that may be doing so for the first time! To help you out we’ve covered four things that you can do to make working from home that little bit easier.
Stick to a routine
This one sounds like a no-brainer – stick to a routine and working from home will be a breeze, right? While some people are natural routine followers some are not so this can be a tricky one to follow, and stick with. Having a solid routine in place can make all the difference in how productive you are and the amount of work you can get done from home – many people also think that they manage to get more work done from home than in the office too!
Not only is a routine important for productivity in your new home office, but it will also make all the difference to your mental health and happiness. The Wellington City Council suggests that you start the day with an activity that’s non-work related like going for a run or taking your dog for a walk (remember that keeping up social distancing is key).
If you find it hard to stick to a routine it can be helpful to make a list of everything you want to accomplish for the day. This can be done on your work device, a notebook or a whiteboard if you’re lucky enough to have one of those at home.
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Set up a workspace
A crucial part of staying productive while you’re working from home comes down to the space you’re working in. While it’s hard to find a space to work from that’s going to be distraction-free (especially if you’re at home with family) it’s still important to have a dedicated space that you can go to each day to get your work done – and we don’t mean the couch!
Dining room tables can be a great place to start if you don’t happen to have a home office, or a desk in a spare room that you can work from. If you don’t have a desk available, now’s the time to get creative to see what you can put together out of existing supplies you have around the house. It’s also important to let family members know that while you may be working from home, you’re still working your normal hours during the day so if they can keep you from getting distracted, the better!
Having a dedicated workspace can be hugely beneficial as you transition to creating a work environment in the same space that you retreat from stress, and relax. Mentally separating spaces like your living room from work means you can still switch-off during the evenings, and switch back on when you enter ‘work’ for the day. This stops your brain from confusing the areas you’re in and their purpose thus enabling you to focus, or relax, as required.
Communication
In any workplace communication is key and this is no different when working from home if anything it’s almost more important to stay in touch with your colleagues to see how everyone’s going, update people on what you’re working on, and get any extra help you may need.
Video calling applications like Zoom, Google Hangouts and Skype make it simple to keep in touch during times when you need to work from home. Setting up daily calls with your colleagues is also a good way to stay on track, and will help you to plan what you need to get done for that day. Outside of the video conferencing tools available applications like Slack can assist in quick messages and sharing questions and comments. You can use time-tracking software like Toggl to show what you’ve been working on and where your time goes or use platforms like Trello or Monday to manage large projects across multiple remote workers. Technology really can be your friend when working from home although it might take some getting used to.
Break up the day
When working from home it can be easy to get into the habit of working all day and skipping the standard breaks we would take when working in our normal environment. Working all day without a break can leave many people feeling exhausted and can also result in counter-productivity – a bit of fresh air can go a long way in getting the brain going again after a long morning of screen time!
Ensure that you still take your normal meals breaks and ensure that you can get outside at least once a day. A lunch break can be a good time for a quick walk around the block to re-focus and re-energise for the rest of the day ahead.
There you have it – four tips to help make working from home easier! While the right routine and a dedicated office space make all the difference in successfully working from home, having the right office supplies on hand will also help to ensure you can get your work done.
From notebooks and pens to printer paper and office accessories, you’ll find everything you need for the home office all in one place. You can view our range of office supplies including a number of sustainable alternatives by heading to our website, and then ordering online. We will also deliver to your door saving you the hassle of venturing out.
