Is ‘Working From Home’ the new, permanent normal? Here’s how to get it right.

While we are used to working from home now, it may still cause a few problems. Work can seep into every aspect of your life, merging everything into a slightly less efficient, unhappy homogenous lump – and it can be lonely. So you need to think ahead and stay proactive. Let’s run through some danger areas and look at possible solutions.

Where will you set up office? If possible, find a room or area to set aside. Keep your work contained in that area so you can walk away from it – literally – when you are not ‘in the office’. Is your wifi good enough? If not, can your employer help?

Home insurance – does it cover you to work at home?

Again, if not, speak to your employer. Storage – do you have somewhere secure? Planning your daily life. This is key, especially as we enter a winter of continued restrictions. If your personal and business life blur into one unsatisfactory lump it quickly becomes unsatisfactory and unproductive and in the long term, unhealthy. There is a difference between working hard and working smart. So, you need boundaries and routine. What are your working hours going to be each day? Consider your availability to your business, your employers, employees and family.

In other words, if an employee cannot knock on your office door out of hours, they shouldn’t be able to reach you at home out of hours. The same applies for your family during working hours.

Managing your time effectively

Have a daily or weekly To Do list that you actually diarise. Establishing key priorities (not all tasks are equally important or urgent and there is a difference between importance and urgency). Plan breaks throughout the day including some exercise – and set these in stone!
You may not be expecting to see anyone else that day but I think sitting at your desk in your dressing gown doesn’t help you work in an efficient or effective way.

It’s all part of those boundaries. If you want people to respect your business and your effort, it helps to look the part as well as play the part.

Small tools can really make a difference so take from this what suits your situation and remember it’s ok to keep adapting. This is the year for adapting!

Alice Johnsen is a life coach based just outside Sherborne. To contact here, please call 07961 080513 or visit alicejohnsen.co.uk.

Support Us

Thank you all so, so much for the love and appreciation you’ve shown us since we launched the New Blackmore Vale.

Please show your support and add a review on our Facebook page or on Google.