Many of us are working from home now, including the entire CCB office so we thought we’d share our top tips on surviving and thriving in a working from home environment.

Set up a designated working spot

It’s easy when working from home to get comfortable wherever you please but to increase productivity, it’s important to set up a home office or at least a set working desk to help keep your mind work-focused and keep your work separate from other aspects of your home-life.

Set up a routine

With no set starting or finishing time or public transport to catch, it’s easy to work too many hours or perhaps not enough hours. Setting a strict start time to your day and setting an alarm means you will be in a structured routine. It’s also a good idea to have a dedicated finishing time so you don’t work too many hours.

Stay healthy

Try not to fall victim to unhealthy snacking and sitting at your work desk for long periods of time. Ensure you take regular breaks and make healthy meals, and also incorporate exercise into your day, making sure you’re not spending long, intense hours completing your work without moving

Exercise

Isolation is actually a great time to start exercising – even without venturing out of the home. There are a many exercise classes on YouTube and local gyms have really stepped up to provide you with home exercises. Exercise has well documented benefits and will keep you feeling mentally positive as well as keeping you healthy physically. A big advantage of being home is that you can exercise on your lunch break! 

Reward yourself

Reward yourself through the day to keep you moving through tasks. The thought of a small reward at the successful completion of a task can be enough to make you push through. Having some chocolate, making a coffee or playing with your pets are just a few reward ideas.

Stay social

Working from home can be lonely. Schedule some video calls with colleagues and contacts throughout the day. Some home-workers even work in chat-rooms with colleagues on in the background for that truly “social” office feel.