How to effectively work from home

Working from home has become somewhat normal in a post-pandemic world, and the benefits of it have come to light. When speaking to your work, it’s best to focus on why it’s good for the business, but it’s no secret that there are personal benefits to gain.

Mainly, the time you save commuting you can spend with your loved ones. For me, it’s 1hr45 each way. That’s over 3 hours of extra time per day I get to see my little boy – 15 hours a week! 

It’s also easier to book appointments – for instance you can book a weigh-in with the health visitor at 8:30am and still start work at 9am.

Depending on how flexible your employer is, they may allow you to work your allotted hours when your little one sleeps. This will likely work better when you have a routine and are working part-time.

But it’s important to remember the business benefits of working from home. More flexibility with overtime, more energy (equals more creativity and accuracy) and less distractions, to name a few.

So, to ensure that these benefits show, your first point of action needs to be setting up your workspace. If you need new equipment, it’s worth organising this with your company or investing in it yourself. Some equipment you might need to get started:

• Desk and chair
• Additional monitors
• Monitor raisers
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Spare laptop charger (check with your work to make sure you are using the right one)
• Whiteboard
• Notepads
• Pens

It’s up to you which of the above you choose to get but having a practical workspace to motivate you is a MUST when WFH.

As with in the office, it’s all about location. Gone are the days of envying your manager with the glass box office – it’s time for you to create your own little hideaway!

As cute as your baby is, making sure you are somewhere free from distraction during working hours is essential. If you’re not lucky enough to have a spare room, consider investing in an outdoor office, (check Facebook marketplace for second-hand jobbies) and make that your hub. Alternatively, and more often the reality of the situation, you can set up shop on your dining room table and just have the space off-limits for your working hours.

You will of course need to have someone else there to take care of baby. As we are all aware, childcare is a full-time job in itself!

Finally, if your team doesn’t do it already – log all your tasks on a project management board such as Trello or Monday, making it as easy as pie for anyone else to dip in and see your workload. The more accessible you make your work, the better it will be for ensuring a butter-smooth remote working environment.