Tabby’s Top Tips On Working Remotely

Pyjamas, make-up free face, no morning commute, Netflix…the list goes on. Before, working from home seemed like the ultimate dream for many of us. Now? Not so much. The reality of working from home with little contact to the outside world is less than ideal. So, here are my top tips on how to master working from home, how to stay productive and keep spirits high:

Get your head in the game

If you can crack your mindset and mood, the rest should fall into place. Perhaps a quiet moment of reflection at the beginning of each day will help to settle your mind.

Work your hours

First things first… set your alarm! Take a shower, get dressed and eat breakfast as you would on a usual day. Ok.. suits and heels are not necessary but comfort is key as long as you are presentable. You will likely have daily virtual meetings, so if you show up with your hair wrapped in a towel it might not set the best impression.

At Mindera, we follow the lean principles of self-organisation, which enables us to work from home at our discretion by taking a common-sense approach. Whilst it offers autonomy and flexibility, it also offers challenges. The best advice we can give is to create a manageable schedule and work your usual hours. You must be organised and religiously stick to your schedule, otherwise, you risk getting side-tracked and falling into an unproductive lull. Google Calendar is your friend ;)

Set up camp

Create a workstation set-up similar to what you have at work. Keep it clean and minimal, perhaps you could add some greenery to help set the scene — or maybe even a cat!

The early bird catches the worm!

I would recommend starting the day earlier than later. If you wake up late you will likely finish late, eating into precious evening time. Believe it or not, one way to work from home productively is to dive into your to-do list as soon as you get up. Getting the project started first thing can be the key, otherwise you’ll prolong breakfast and let the morning sluggishness wear away your motivation.

Unplug

You are entitled to a break! Take a breather when you need it. Grab a cup of coffee, call your mum, take a power nap, put the washing on or meditate and then get back to the grind.

H2O

Everyone knows that drinking water is important for their health. Stay hydrated, it is crucial for reaching peak productivity.

Never leave a glass of water unoccupied!

Connect with colleagues

To avoid cabin fever, regularly connect with your colleagues through online methods such as Google Hangouts or Zoom. At Mindera, we have a morning meeting every other day at 10 am. We are also introducing a daily drop-in session, for anyone in the business to say hello, share a story etc. Self-isolation can be a daunting prospect, try to do all you can to keep engaged with co-workers. Remember, we are all in this together!

Blast those tunes!

Lots of people experience a mid-afternoon lull: that dip in energy levels, alertness, and concentration are part of our natural circadian rhythm. This usually happens after we have eaten lunch. Why not listen to some upbeat background music to help lift the mood and stimulate the brain.

Exercise

I hear you… “Gym’s are closed!” OK, so you now have a legitimate reason not to go to the gym, hurrah! But regular exercise will help keep you motivated and it reduces stress and anxiety. If you can’t get outside for a walk, Youtube and Instagram have a range of free home workouts. From Monday, Joe Wicks is releasing free 30 min workouts for adults and kids (Anything is better than nothing!)

My colleague Pedro’s home set-up

End game

Define when your day is done by picking a finishing time. Don’t be deceived into thinking working from home establishes more work-life balance. You can easily get caught up in your projects or activities, especially in a relaxing home environment.