Yesterday we’ve asked you whether you want to stay productive or relax during the crisis we all found ourselves into. And most of you voted for productive!
Last week many of you probably found yourselves working from home. For some, it is not a huge change but for others, it's a working situation that might be hard to navigate and stay productive. As much as it seems like a dream to be able to work from your couch while wearing your pyjamas all day, the reality is often very challenging when trying to stay focused at home.

Everyone works differently, but we’ve gathered some tested tips that we hope you’ll find useful in bringing you more stability in these uncertain times and more focus in your work from home journey.

Give yourself time to process and readjust

Or in other words, cut yourself some slack! If you’re working from home for the first time or you are used to be really social and surrounded by people this change is probably bringing you lots of unsettling feelings of loneliness. Even if you are generally working from home, being stuck in isolation with little to no options for a change of scenery can bring an extra dose of anxiety. Realize and accept that your pace might be different than before and you might not be as productive and focused as usual. And that’s okay!

START YOUR MORNING RIGHT

Wake up as usual
When you are at home it might be tempting to snooze your alarm for an hour or not to set up an alarm at all but this will ruin your schedule and will make it harder to work and be productive. It will also make it much harder if you have to go back to working in an office at some point soon. We are all a bit more lazy and apathetic lately with being forced to stay indoors so waking up early for work at home might be a bit difficult. Don’t get discouraged and keep on trying.

Make up your bed
Don't you feel a bit more accomplished once you've made your bed and your bedroom looks in order? That's a feeling to jump-start your brain into a productivity mode.

A fun way to brush your teeth
If you’re not a morning person a fun way to jump-start your brain (learned from Jim Kwick) is to brush your teeth with your left hand (or right hand if you are left-handed). While brushing your teeth is a habit that comes naturally, not using your primary hand makes it an activity you have to think about and therefore helps wake you up.

Hot and Cold Showers
Cold showers, the Wim Hof way, are a bit of a stretch and we literally get chills just thinking about it but switching from hot to cold (or cool) water a few times in your morning shower can have an amazingly refreshing effect. It is said that it boosts the immune system and blood circulation among many other health benefits. We’re no medical experts here but what we can say is that this method definitely wakes you up fast and makes you feel more aware and present.

Light exercise
Get your morning yoga or workout done before starting work to boost those endorphins! We desperately need more of them and physical activity helps relieve worry and anxiety. If you’re used to going to the gym or guided workouts, doing exercises at home is probably not very exciting and motivating but we’re leaving you with a Youtube channel that has tons of great workouts that need no equipment and you can do in your bedroom or kitchen. Ease your way into this habit and find what works for you. You might not feel like doing this every morning so don’t beat yourself too hard if you skip.

WORKING ROUTINE

Now that you’ve started your morning in a positive way and you feel refreshed, get a cup of coffee or tea and let’s see how to do the work for the day more pleasant and productive.

Change your pyjama into “work” clothing
Staying in your pyjama all day will only make you want to watch Netflix all day. Trick your brain by dressing as you’re going out of the house. No need to put a dress shirt or smart office pants of course, but put something comfortable that will make you feel like it’s time to work.

Make yourself a dedicated workspace
Prepare a corner that is comfortable and feels like an office. Arrange and decorate your little space so you feel good and happy when you sit down to work. Avoid working from your bed or the couch. It’s comfy and nice but you will be easily distracted and feel like you want to snuggle and watch Tv shows instead. Also, if you work from a desk when you finish work you can get away from it and go 'home' to your kitchen or couch.

Make your to-do list on paper

It is much more satisfying to check the tasks off your list when it is on paper.
List things based on importance and priority. Start from the biggest, most challenging or most time-consuming task from your to-do list while your mind is still fresh. You'll feel more productive and motivated after you complete a big task. Make sure to include also small tasks as they are easier to tick and give you more drive to go forward. However, be realistic about your to-do list especially in the current situation where feelings like restlessness and worry are present and can interfere with your work routine. This way you won’t feel disappointed or discouraged at the end of the day and you will start the next day with even more motivation to battle the to-do list.

Short focused intervals
If you think about it your working day at the office (or in normal conditions) is naturally divided into shorter intervals – focused work, then meetings, then more focused work, then going out to buy materials, have lunch, more focused work, deal with shipments and deliveries etc depending on your work specifics.

You might find it easier to break your work hours into shorter intervals with quick breaks in between. This way it’s not one big blur of tasks and your mind can get a breather more often. you could easily stay focused for 30- 40 minutes without distractions but then your mind starts drifting to social media or unanswered emails. Experiment with your work schedule or try the Pomodoro method - 25 minutes very focused work with a 5-minute break.

Schedule your breaks
One longer lunch break, one shorter afternoon break for a snack or depending on your schedule. But plan them ahead. This way you will avoid stopping all the time for a smoke, to get coffee or snacks. Get some small breaks so your eyes can rest, do some eye exercises. If you have a balcony go get some air. You can do light exercises or yoga in your lunch or afternoon break.

Cooking lunch
One of the best things, when you work from home, is that you can prepare a warm lunch. However, choose recipes that are relatively quick because you don’t want to end up cooking half of the afternoon. It is also helpful to plan your meals for the week or to prepare some of the ingredients beforehand and now more than ever you need to prepare and avoid going to the supermarket often. This way you know what you will be cooking for lunch, you have bought all the items and you don’t have to look for recipes or go grocery shopping in your “lunch break”.

Can’t focus? Try listening to white noise
If there are many noises around you (ex. your partner, family, dog or even your loud neighbours) it might be hard for you to focus. There are many apps (like brain.fm) with soothing sounds like rain or birds singing, as well as white, pink or brown noise. Sounds strange no doubt but give it a try, it might work for you. If you like classical music you can also try listening to it while working.

Call your colleagues
If you have colleagues, schedule a call with them even if it is not mandatory and work-related. It’s a way to stay social, discuss challenges, shares your work schedule and progress, get feedback, motivate each other or just talk about how you are all coping with the situation. Maybe some of them have their own tips for working from home and being productive. Why not initiate an after hour wine drinking online with your coworkers to lighten up the day!

And lastly, stay hydrated, stay safe and try to stay positive!

How To Work From Home