Making Home Working a Success!
When the pandemic started last March, the structure of our working day in the ‘new normal’ changed overnight. All non-essential offices and shops closed and working or ‘Zooming’ at the kitchen table became commonplace.
According to the Office for National Statistics, in April 2020 over 44% of workers were carrying out their role remotely from home. This, as well as all children being home schooled, transformed the day-to-day structure of our lives, especially in how employees engaged with one another.
When the restrictions were lifted in July last year (albeit it temporarily), many people continued to work from home following government advice. The Work Foundation at Lancaster University in collaboration with Newcastle University Business School published a report that delved into remote working. It found that employees valued the flexibility and autonomy that resulted from remote working and that these preferences would dictate our post-pandemic future, whereby hybrid working became the norm. It showed that 89% of those surveyed said they would want to continue to work remotely as restrictions eased. In addition, according to the Office for National Statistics, in April 2021, 85% of workers expected a hybrid model of working for the foreseeable future.
Due to the high number of people working from home, the property market has changed significantly over the last 18 months as people have re-evaluated what’s important to them and what they need from their homes. More space is in high demand to accommodate the high number of people still working from home and, with people refined to their gardens for socialising last year, many people want more outside space. This, coupled with the stamp duty holiday, resulted in a property market boom that no one expected. Family homes with four or more bedrooms are still most in-demand, and with a significant lack of supply, this has further driven up prices.
If you are one of those people who are working from home either permanently or on a hybrid model, how can you ensure you get the most out of your day? Here are some tips:
Start your day as if you were going to the office
It may sound simple, but it’s essential that you get up, get dressed and start your day as if you were going to the office. It may be tempting to stay in pyjamas for the day but having the right mindset from the off is essential. What’s more, you may have to join a Zoom meeting – in which case you won’t want to be seen with unbrushed hair and a pyjama top! Having the right mindset will help you to stay motivated and on top of your daily tasks. It’s also a good idea to consider how you used to start your day – did you read a book on the train, listen to the radio, walk or cycle to work? Try and introduce this into the start of your day so that you aren’t getting straight out of bed and sitting at a desk.
A designated workspace
One of the challenges that homeowners and tenants have experienced is finding the right place to work. It’s important to have a dedicated space rather than to sit with your laptop on the sofa or at the kitchen worktop. This will help you to disconnect from work when your day is finished, otherwise work productivity and your home life could suffer. There should be a clear separation between home and work so try to designate an area even if you live in a small flat. It doesn’t have to be a separate room, but it should feel separate from the rest of your home even just from 9-5. If this is difficult and you need to work in a living area, make sure you pack everything away at the end of the day and ‘leave’ your workspace.
Keep regular hours
Just as you designate a workspace, be clear about the time you start and finish work. This will not only help you to plan your day, but also to transition back to the office when the time comes. If your role is collaborative, being on the same schedule as your colleagues makes everything easier. If you live with others, this separation is even more important. Talk to your family or housemates to establish boundaries so that you can minimise distractions during the workday. What’s more, having a separate time and space to work will allow you to be more present in your home life.
Stay focused
Distraction is one of the most common challenges facing people who work from home. It’s easy to get distracted but you need to be aware of just how much this happens. If you take regular breaks during the day, it’s ok to put a wash on or tidy up, but don’t do anything that will require too much time, planning and energy. At present one of the biggest distractions is the news so try not to check what’s happening in the world too much.
Socialise
When offices closed and we all worked from home, many people found themselves cut off from friends, colleagues and family. Eighteen months on, it’s easy to forget that we need to be around others and when you work from home, you can become stuck in a rut. Talk to colleagues throughout the day on text or Zoom as if you were in the office and set time aside to catch up with people during the day.
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