Working from home survival guide

Here are my tips on how to work from home happily and productively.

Step 1. Get up and get dressed – no PJs at work

Get up, take a shower, comb your hair and put on some clothes, casual clothes are fine. This tells your brain that it’s not the weekend or you’re not sick. I put shoes on instead of slippers to help me keep a sense of work versus relaxation.

Step 2. Plan your day

Create a routine that works for you, nothing too rigid.

Once my kids have left for school, I make a coffee and check my emails and reply to clients as necessary. I check my to-do list (I love making lists) and prioritise tasks, it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I tick tasks off the list. Next, I address any urgent jobs or jobs that take less than fifteen minutes.

I take my dog for a walk (so she doesn’t bother me all morning), this gives me time to clear my head and think about the day’s tasks.

I aim to work between 9 am and 2 pm each day with a lunch break around 12 pm. I like to get up and stretch my legs at least every hour to fill up my drink bottle or check on the dog. Once or twice a week I have meetings with clients, which I try to schedule in the morning after school drop off.

Step 3. Dedicated workspace

You may not have a home office but it’s a good idea to have a dedicated workspace, this separates your work from the rest of the house and keeps you from overworking. If you have a room where you can close the door this will stop distractions. Having a good ergonomic chair is a good investment and making sure your workspace has plenty of natural light to stop you getting eyestrain and drowsiness.