With offices around the world closed while we hunt for a coronavirus vaccine, millions are working from home for the first time. Adjusting to conference calls from your bedroom can be disorienting, but making small changes to your environment can energise and improve your concentration.
Behave as though you're going to work
Maintaining some of the practices you would usually undertake in the workday mentally prepares you for working from home.
Clothes maketh the man.
The clothes one wears has a profound impact on the way they conduct themselves throughout the day. A fresh set of clothes ensures a fresh start.
Take five minutes to walk around, or stretch your legs, every twenty five minutes. Experts call this the 'Pomodoro Technique'. It will alleviate feelings of being stuck in one place.
In trying to maximize productivity we often tend to have desk lunch breaks. Taking a lunch hour break can help re-energize the mind, replenish working capacity and maintain office routine.
When working from home the structure of what may have been a typical workday is less rigid and we end up spending longer hours in front of the screen. Maintaining regular hours is crucial to prevent creative burnout and a healthy work-life balance.
Taking a break outside the house, as per regulations and with proper precautions can help counteract stress induced by long hours of racing against deadlines. It also provides a much needed respite from digital devices.
