Coronavirus - How to work from home without losing your *hit


Working from Home like a Boss


Hi, I'm Katriona, and I have been working from home since October... before the Coronavirus made it cool. What I have learned from this whole experience is that it drives you insane.

Everyone thinks they want to work from home - I was certain of it. I traded jobs, got a new career and packed in kitchen work because I was so sure of it.

Literally 2 weeks into not seeing another living soul except my dog, never leaving the house, and having no reason to do my makeup in the morning, and I was cracking up. I went ahead and made provisions for myself to make sure I didn't lose it entirely.

So here is how to work from home and still be productive, without wanting to throw the laptop out the window.

Working From Home is All About Boundaries





If you don't get up early enough, you won't get everything done that you need to. Rule Number 1 of working from home is therefore all about boundaries. Get up early enough that you still have plenty of time to wake up before you start.

Despite popular advice - don't work in your pyjamas. That this is even floating around on my airwaves upsets me. I wouldn't leave the house in pyjamas to work so I wouldn't do it indoors, either. Jeez - imagine you had a surprise video call!

Besides anything else it is bad for your mental health. Working in your pyjamas and sleeping till lunchtime eventually erode you sanity. You also need to consider the opposite end of the day. If you are still working at midnight that's up to you... but the next morning your motivation will be non-existent.

So:
  • Wake up reasonably early
  • Get dressed, do your hair, and be ready
  • Set a fixed (strict) finishing time
Repeat as necessary.

Get Out!


If you are working from home you need to get out often. At least once a day, preferably twice. I found that going out with the dog in the morning wasn't enough, I needed an hour out at night, too. Grab a coffee and drive around. Go for a hike, climb a mountain, go plant some trees. Just because we are isolating from each other doesn't mean we can't do activities if we are on our own. 

This works on multiple levels. You get so sick of looking at the four walls. Cabin Fever is a real thing and not just a film. Getting out allows you to exercise, thereby giving you more serotonin. Not going to lie, I also have a daylight lamp. This is more to do with the fact that I live in Scotland than it does working from home.

In the morning I spend an hour walking the dog in the forest. In the evening I go do other things. Under virus lock down I would suggest losing yourself in a game, book, tv series, or some other hobby. If there is a hobby you have always wanted to try but haven't had the time for then now is that time.

Separate your Work Space


One of the best tips for working from home without going mad is to separate out a work space. Sit in a place you don't usually sit, set up a desk or use a spare room as your office. Why? The same reason you don't want to be working in your pyjamas. 

There has to be a clear line between work and home. Home is where you relax, work is where you slave away 'for the man'. If you bring your work into your home space you soon find you can't turn it off. The PC pings across the room at 10 pm on a Saturday night and you check your email because there is no separation.

Designate a work space and, if you have a big family, make sure they know not to bother you while you are there.




Brighten the Room


This one actually came from my mum! She came to visit me for a week and pointed out that my living room was dour and depressing. I brightened it up and it really did lift my mood. 

Do Other Things


It sounds stupid but to successfully work from home, take advantage and use the home time to do other things, as well. You save your commute time, for example. So if you have been working all day and it is making you angry, walk away and do something else.

Got a leaking tap? Go fix it. Want to darn some clothes? Go do it. Really need to paint the bathroom? Now's the time. Doing other things takes the stress off. A change in task actually helps maximise your production. There have been studies and everything.

Socialize!


Again; when you are working from home or self isolating there is no need to go quiet. Get on the phone to loved ones and stay in touch. Video chat. Download new social media apps, phone games, and skype to stay in touch. I recommend Tik Tok and Snapchat for an absolute scream. It's one thing to give yourself kitten ears and a pink nose but personally I love the demon eyes filters.

Further Reading


If you want some more interesting things to read while you are at home then there are some of my stories over on hubpages. I can also confirm that the team at Five Minutes Spare have some great content up - as do the guys over at Lilly Likes. You could even find my work on Amazon if you were truly desperate. 

Oh and if you are looking for a new hobby... how do you feel about rocks?

The dots in the rock peeping out are garnets.


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