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The Toons Guide To Working From Home

The Toons Guide To Working From Home

The Toons Guide To Working From Home

Posted on - 8th April 2020

For a long time, many of us have taken great pains to keep our work lives and home lives separate. We’ve fought hard to find a work-life balance, and drawing clear boundaries between the two helps to distinguish one from the other. 

But in these strange times, many of us are now working from home. Our kitchens are all of a sudden moonlighting as offices and our bedrooms have become our new boardrooms. Some of us are taking client meetings in our pyjamas or using whatever possible space is available to get all that important paperwork done.  

Our Guide To Working From Home

In this blog post, we’ll be sharing with you some tips for working from home. From setting up your workspace to switching off and keeping those boundaries in place where possible, here you’ll find everything you need to know to help you make the most of working from home without compromising on your lifestyle. 

Keep Your Routine 

The temptation to jump from your bed and straight to the kitchen table is very real. But sticking to your normal workday routine as much as possible will help you to get in the right frame of mind. Get up, have a shower and get dressed. Of course, if your normal work attire is a full suit that might not be necessary right now. But getting out of your pyjamas will certainly aid you in psychologically preparing for work.

While there’s no chance of nipping out to the local coffee shop for your morning coffee, you can still make it at home and enjoy it while catching up on the news. Similarly, sticking to the rhythms of a normal day will help you keep the structure. Take your breaks when you normally do and be sure to do the same with your lunch break! 

At the end of the day, change out of your workday clothes, store your laptop or computer out of sight and make sure you clock off when it’s appropriate. Working from home shouldn’t have to mean you lose your hard-won work-life balance. 

Have A Designated Workspace 

Where possible, create a designated workspace. If you associate your sofa with Netflix binges and relaxing, your mind will wander if you plonk down on it with your laptop.

A kitchen table, or a desk in your spare room, is the perfect space to call your office for now. Do what you can to make it your own and keep it as clutter-free as possible. If you have kids, it may not be possible to create a workspace that exactly replicates the environment you are used to at work, however, be clear to draw that line in the sand. Make it obvious that when you are in your workspace, you are working and shouldn’t be disturbed. 

Plan Your Day 

If your work allows it, spend some time at the start and end of every day creating a ‘to-do list’. Doing this will help you to stay focused on what you need to do this day and keep productivity high. 

At the end of every day, take some time to plan your work for the following day. And every morning, allocate 10 minutes of your day to reviewing your priorities for the next few hours. 

We all work differently, so take this into account. Some of us are more productive first thing, so plan all your meaty tasks around the times when you are firing on all cylinders. 

Take Regular Breaks 

If you are working from a computer for the majority of your working day, be sure to take regular breaks. This can be anything from getting up to make a hot drink to stepping away from your desks to stretch or focus on something else. 

Time away from a task can help you see problems from a different perspective, so don’t see it as slacking. See regular breaks as an opportunity to give yourself some space and a quick time out before refocusing. 

Keep In Touch With Colleagues 

If you work as part of a team, check-in with them regularly. This is helpful for you and everyone else. Pick up the phone for a quick chat or hop on a video call and ask how everyone is doing. 

f you are all used to working together in an office, it’s likely that you’ll all miss those little chats and catch-ups that you take for granted in the day-to-day. So make time to do just that, whatever medium you choose to use. 

Be Kind To Yourself 

If you’re not used to working from home, be kind to yourself if you find yourself struggling. Finding a rhythm and staying productive can be hard work when you haven’t done it before, so give yourself space to let your mind wander and think about other things. 

As well as this, make it clear to your team and family when you are in "work mode", and when you aren’t. This will ensure that you switch off when you are done and are able to engage in other things.