5 ways to stay productive while working from home

Get your set-up right

When I work from my flat in Brighton, I have my monitor, desk and chair set up so I’m ready to go. But considering the current situation, many won’t have had a chance to sort their dream desk set-up. So what’s the best way to maximise your space and stay productive? Our D&A expert, Alistair, shared how he initially made his space work for him...

• Get a monitor if you can. This was the best decision I made when I started to work from home regularly. If, like me, you’re constantly flicking between tabs and programs, then it’s worth it. I’m fortunate enough to have got one from work, but you can find great, affordable second-hand options on eBay or Amazon. It’s worth investing in for the increase in productivity.

• Get a laptop stand. Don’t have the space for a monitor? If you’re working from home regularly then you may want to invest in a laptop stand that can move to the correct height for you. Or, as a makeshift approach, just find some books or boxes to prop it up. My colleague James has found the perfect solution…

• Pick a spot with good lighting. We’re on our computers a lot, and poor lighting can really put a strain on the eyes. Don’t have the luxury of a perfectly placed window? Try downloading some software for your computer that changes the brightness of your screen throughout the day.

• Find a quiet area for calls. Now this is only useful if you are working with multiple people. Me, my sister and my father are all now working from home, and it can get a little noisy. We pre-warn each other of our upcoming calls and ‘book’ a designated room.

Find a routine

Routine is the key to productivity, but it’s just as important for switching off and preventing burn-out.

My current routine is regimented by walking, feeding and playing with my dog – having a dog is a great way to remind you to take a break. Although I’m not suggesting that everyone goes out to get a dog (I am), there are things that we can do to remind us to stay productive in a routine:

• Install a chrome extension to remind you to take breaks, like the aptly named Break Timer. It’s fully customisable, so if you’re screen sharing on a call you can set this to not pop up.

• Keep your phone away. My girlfriend hates this because I’m slow to reply and will only check in on my breaks, but it helps my concentration. You can also put time limits on apps – that’s sure to stop you scrolling!

• Treat your day as a normal working one. Set your morning alarm, get dressed as you would do for work and get your lunch ready beforehand. I personally like wearing comfy clothes, but our Head of SEO, Alex, likes to dress smartly and then change after the day is done (much to the amusement of the team).

• Exercise. Working from home allows you to do this more easily. Try a HIT workout, go for a run or join a virtual yoga class (Louise, our HR director and part time yoga instructor, runs these for us every Tuesday).

Consider your flatmates

The only difference between your flatmate and a colleague is that they see you at different parts of your day.

Be considerate of your flatmates and their working routine too. There are a few things you can do to stay productive whilst working with others at home:

• Host a five-minute flat scrum. Discuss your diary for the day, for example, what video calls do you all have coming up? Knowing this will allow you to better plan out your day, avoiding moments like this…

• Keep your space clean. You’d put your plates in the dishwasher at work – why should it be any different at home?

Create checklists

Who doesn’t love scoring out tasks on a list? I find they really help to keep you on track. There are lots of online platforms that have that same feel-good checklist factor, like Monday.com, Basecamp and Trello, to name a few.  Monday.com even has a visual feature helping you see your progress by how many llamas you’ve turned green.

Switch off

If you’re following the advice in step two, switching off will be easier.

The truth is, you just need to be stern with yourself; when that laptop lid is shut, it’s shut. Find that hard? You could pop your laptop away in a cupboard to stop you being tempted (something I’ve done with junk food too).

But for me, the best way to switch off is to have a good social life and hobbies. Usually, I play football and volleyball every week which makes sure I leave the office on time, but with the current situation, I’d advise pre-arranged virtual catch ups with friends to look forward to after work. Or, you know, a dog walk.

In fact, she’s telling me it’s 5.30pm… best be off!