The world has changed drastically over the last couple of years. Some of the biggest changes have come in how we work. Those that can work from home were encouraged to. Working from home is a big change from the office and this can take some getting used to. In this blog, we'll outline some useful tips to help you adapt to home working and get you working at your best.
1. Make a Workspace
One of the biggest barriers to working from home is finding a dedicated work area. This is somewhere separate from other living spaces, free from distractions such as TV, other family members or even pets. Gather everything you need for your job. Laptop, pens, work pad, chargers, whatever you need to do to get your work done effectively and efficiently.
Once you have all your equipment, now it's time to settle in somewhere comfortable to get your work done. It may be tempting to find a nice spot on the sofa and sit back with your feet up. It's easy to fall into this trap of getting too comfortable whilst working from home but try to avoid it. Try to place yourself at a desk if you have one. If not, convert your dining room table into a temporary workspace from 9 to 5.
If you don't have a desk and the dining room table isn't an option, then you may be left with no other choice than your living room sofa. When sat on a sofa, ensure you're sat comfortably and as upright as possible. Good posture is conducive to working effectively.
2. Make a Routine
And stick to it. One of the benefits of working in an office is having a strict routine to be able to stick to. Without this schedule, the line between work and personal time can become blurred and that work-life balance is lopsided. The best piece of advice is to try your best to consistently stick to your work and sleep patterns.
Get up when you normally would, swap your 'commute time' for a fulfilling breakfast, exercise or some morning reading. When your workday ends, make sure it ends. Put your laptop away, stop checking emails and give yourself some "me" time. Use additional energy saved from missing commutes and put it into family time, go on walks or spend more time prepping lunch and dinner meals.
3. Keep an Eye on Screentime
With work becoming increasingly screen focused and mobile phones and tablets becoming even bigger parts of our lives, it's easy to become glued to our screens. This is especially true when working from home where the transition from working screen time to social screen time is so easy. It can be easy to fall into a routine of looking at a screen from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep. This is where we have to act consciously and deliberately to take a break from our screens and give our eyes and bodies a rest.
Set hourly reminders to take a break, get up from your chair, leave your desk and go outside. Leave your phone behind and let your eyes refresh and rehydrate. This is a great way to give your mind and body a break, reduce eye strain and prevent headaches. Use Blue light filters on screens to help block out harmful blue light emitted from LED screens. To help protect your eyes even further, pick up a pair of blue light blocking lenses. Blue Light Control neutralises the blue light emitted by digital screens, preventing eye fatigue and eye strain. It keeps the eyes in better condition, offering more comfortable and relaxed vision and better contrast perception.
4. Find Time to Socialise
Going from an active and bustling environment like the office to a more relaxed and quieter one like your home can be tough. You miss out on all that social interaction that you're used to having throughout the day. This can often help break up the day and give you some distractions from work to help your mind relax and refresh.
Combat this by keeping in touch with friends and coworkers throughout the day. Use calls, texts or IM apps like slack to interact with others, especially those in your department. Keep up small talk and stay up to date with what your coworkers got up to at the weekend and keep them updated with your own life. It's important to keep up your position as a member of the team. This will make it easier to easily adjust back to being in the office, if that ever happens, as well as to stay up to date with any developments.
5. Get Out the House
Commuting to and from work might not be the best thing in the world but it does give us an excuse to get some fresh air before and after work. Whilst working from home it's easy to stay inside in the same spot all day. This is not conducive to working effectively at home or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Make it a priority to get outside at least once or twice a day, whether that's heading out for a walk or simply sitting in the garden to give your mind and body a break. Set a couple of alarms on your phone to remind you to get some fresh air.
Getting out and about will not only help your body but also your mind. Any mental blocks throughout the day can often be cleared by giving yourself some space and time away from your workspace. Nature can be a great source of inspiration with the added bonus that it's free! what more could you want?
Pick up a pair of new glasses with a variety of lens options and coatings to help protect your eyes, improve clarity and keep them feeling fresh.