How to Work From Home

Working from home sounds like the dream, right? Flexibility, comfort and no need to brave the morning commute are all definite bonuses. However, there are downsides. Your world becomes a lot smaller, you can become too reliant on gym kit (without actually doing any exercise) and your work/life balance can easily become very blurred.

As someone who has worked from home for over 15 years, firstly when I left the world of magazines and newspapers to go freelance, and now with Wardrobe 44, I know a bit about the highs and lows of home working. The temptation to snack/to tidy up that random cupboard you haven't touched for years/to not leave the house because it's raining/to sit for an eternity mindlessly scrolling your phone instead of focusing on the task in hand...Oh yes....I know ALL about that.....Leaving home to go to work enforces a kind of discipline on you, which I've come to realise is good. If you are working at home, it's important to keep a routine, get out the house and get dressed in nice clothes - working in pjs might seem a fun idea, but trust me, like all fun ideas, there comes a time when the party has to end.

On a personal level, my main struggle with wfh involves keeping the right balance between work and home life and getting out enough, especially when I'm tired. I'm not a naturally organised person and can spend hours flitting between tasks, which ends up with nothing really getting achieved and stress levels increasing. In a bid to reset my work/life routine, I turned to a couple of friends and then to Instagram Stories where I asked for tips on how to WFH successfully. You had some great ideas, which I'm sharing below. Not everything will work for everyone, but hopefully some of the advice might appeal to you. Timetabling and setting an alarm are new ideas I plan to try in a bid to reintroduce a healthier approach to WFH. Wish me luck and let me know any of your WFH tips in the comments below!

Make working from home work for you...

NATASHA POLISZCZUK, Content Director of BookBrunch @natashapoliszczuik

"I always get dressed in 'real' clothes. Look the part even if no-one can see you: it puts your mind into professional mode. NB I don't mean a suit! Jeans and a nice sweater are fine.

Put your phone in another room, so you aren't tempted to mindlessly scroll.

Divide time into chunks. Working for an hour is less daunting then saying 'I will work until lunchtime'. Your focus will be better. Oliver Burkemann wrote that we can only really focus for a set number of hours a day - less than we think. So, I use this to prioritise what I need to get done and stop myself feeling bad about under-achieving.

Change location every now and then -whether that's the kitchen table or a cafe. 

Schedule in time to see real people - or work in a cafe where you feel part of the world."

JEN BROWN, MEET YOU AT THE BARRE @meet_you_at_the_barre

"I think they key for me is being disciplined to get stuff actually done. I'm terrible for getting distracted, so I have timers going off for everything. If I'm really in the zone, I write myself a timetable like school. 45-minute blocks (except for filming) and I also schedule in something every day where I see another human." 

 AND OTHER TIPS....

" Try and have a permanent spot to work from that you can close the door on."

"Get a routine. Get dressed properly. Be at your desk on time in the morning."

"5 minutes outside every hour or two, whatever the weather. Helps refocus, problem solve and reset."

"Have a separate space and tidy it, and close it when finished, like you are leaving."

"Set a time if you HAVE to get a thing done. Do NOT stop doing that until the timer goes off." I love this tip from Cathy at Alice's Wonders @aliceswondersuk

"Start the same time every day as much as you can. Get dressed - no pyjamas or dressing gown. White noice like radio in the background."

"I give myself (usually 30 minutes) first thing to just bosh out life admin, then I can focus."

"I put a timer on and give myself regular breaks. My timer howls like a wolf!"

"Get ready and into work clothes to get your head into work mode. Separate work and fun style."

MY TIPS

Take a break or three. I'm guilty of sitting and staring at my computer for much longer than I should, so schedule in proper tea and lunch breaks away from a screen.

As others have said, get dressed properly. It's very tempting to pull on gym leggings and a sloppy jumper and sit there all day (without actually exercising), but wearing proper 'work' clothes makes you feel more 'in the zone' and separates 'work' from 'home'.

Think about temperature. If you're anything like me, then you'll probably get cold sat at a desk, so a cardigan is always a good idea. Also think about wrist warmers, (which allow typing and stop cold wrists), slipper socks and even a scarf or snood for your neck. I don't know why, but I'm always cold at my computer!

Get out. Even if it's raining. There is always the temptation to stay in, especially when you have a lot to do, but a quick walk always does the world of good.

Keep structure - get up on time in the morning, have a good bedtime and try and differentiate between weekdays and the weekend. This is something I've struggled with, especially with my business being online and social media focused, but I do try and take time out on Saturday and Sunday. I also try not to look at my sales and spend less time on my phone over the weekend, although I find this incredibly hard.

OUTFIT INSPIRATION FOR WORKING FROM HOME

Erica Davies looks smart and comfortable for WFH in the Amber knit.

Claire Lopez looking both smart and cosy in the Eva rollneck and Tess cardigan.