WFH: a survival guide

Phoebe Altman shares her top tips for working productively

After almost a year of COVID-19, working from home now feels relatively ‘normal’, despite the world still feeling entirely abnormal. Morning merges into afternoon, today into tomorrow and weekdays into weekends. My productivity is often erratic, but I find that focusing on the things that I can control throughout my day helps me stay on track. Here are some tips to make it more bearable!

Routine

I live by this quote from author, Matt Haig: ‘find a routine baggy enough to live in.’ The inevitability of cancelled plans, technology glitches and unexpected emotional breakdowns over the last year has meant sticking to a strict schedule just isn’t realistic anymore. Give yourself more time than you need to complete a task, just in case!

To-do lists

I make lists purely for the satisfaction of being able to cross something off and I actually often add things to it that I’ve already done. Try it, I promise you’ll feel more productive!

Getting ready

I know there’s not exactly much to get ‘ready’ for at the moment, but I’ve found that changing out of my pyjamas and showering before I start my work for the day does huge things for my productivity. You’ll feel particularly smug if you’ve been able to exercise and make a good breakfast too. I’m not advocating that you put on actual clothes (jeans? I think not), but the act of getting dressed in the morning sends the message to your brain that it’s a new day.

Phones

My phone is my biggest distraction when working from home and I’ve come to realise that out of sight really is out of mind or, even better, out of reach, out of mind! If I only need to stretch my arm to grab my phone I will, without doubt, end up down an Instagram rabbit hole. However if my phone is in a different room, the effort of having to get up out of my chair is enough to put me off. To help ease the addiction I’ve been setting timers on certain apps. I began optimistically with a 30-minute limit for Instagram and, to my embarrassment, ended up receiving the ‘five minutes left’ warning before lunchtime. I’ve now extended it to 45 minutes which has given me a happy medium between productivity and distraction.

Taking breaks

Rest is an essential. I’m really efficient when working for an hour then taking a 10-minute break rather than trying to work straight through to lunch; it’s much less daunting when the day is broken into manageable chunks. During your breaks, make an effort to get out of the room you’ve been working in, stretch and try not to move from one screen to another!

Phoebe's WFH essentials

• Tea and snacks on the go at all times

• Cook proper meals

• Get outside everyday

• Talk to someone if you’re having a bad day

• Don’t be too harsh on yourself THIS IS NOT A NORMAL TIME!