Top 7 ways to maintain a normal routine whilst working from home

So… everything’s a little up in the air at the moment. We have already seen bars, restaurants and gyms close and you may have been asked to work from home. To some this might be seen as a dream come true, to others this could mean a slippery slide into an un-productive and lazy lifestyle. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Working at home shouldn’t be a reason to skip your usual routine of a balanced lifestyle so I’ve put together a list of things to do to maintain a positive mind-set for the day, keep some routine and keep you sane. Use your time wisely.

1.     Set an alarm:

Let’s be honest… It’s so easy for us to hit that snooze button “just one more time” or to roll over and dream away the day, but that’s just not proactive. Make sure you wake up ready for the day by setting your alarm the night before and waking at the usual time you would if you were going to work. 

2.     Exercise

You’ve done it! You’re up and out of bed, time to get the heart beating. Exercise is key to a balanced lifestyle in any state. Obviously, gyms across the nation are closed right now but don’t let that be an excuse to stop you exercising. Whether you like it or not, working from home will mean you exercise less simply because you won’t be walking as much. But It doesn’t have to be like this. The internet is a wonderful thing and right now its full to bursting of content like ‘At Home Workout’s’, early morning live exercise classes, meditation and yoga work outs. All you have to do is google it. Instagram is another platform with an abundance right now of home workout, so they won’t be hard to find. ‘Gym Shark’ and ‘The Body Coach’ are to name a few.

Use this time to wake up and shape up… I guarantee you will feel better for it.

3.     Shower and get dressed!

Don’t skip the shower and lounge around in pyjama’s all day, there’s literally no good in that. Doing so just creates that lazy, chilled mind-set which isn’t always the most pro-active. There’s no daily commute so you have a little more time to get ready at your own pace, so just enjoy it. Showering and putting on some casual (not pyjama’s) clothes will set you up for a more productive day. I don’t mean the suit and tie, or any other formal attire because obviously nobody is going to see you, but just getting into some clothes that make you feel good will set you up to tackle the rest of the day.

4.     Coffee & Breakfast

Coffee, Coffee, Coffee! If you’re anything like me and you can’t function without the stuff, then get the kettle on! If your first job of the day at the office is to brew up, then do the same at home. Emulate your usual daily routine to help you keep on top of things and to maintain a sense of normality. Everybody knows not to skip breakfast, it’s the most important meal of the day, it will kick-start your brain and has everything you need to keep you full, feeling good. Food is power so use the extra time to make a suitable breakfast before you start for work. It’s all in the time management!

5.     Sit at a desk/table

If you have a suitable desk or table, then make use of it! Don’t easily fall into the trap of the sofa. You sit there, you’ll get distracted. Remember… although you’re at home, you’re supposed to be working! So, sitting in the correct position at a desk or table similar to how you would at work does wonders for productivity and your mind-set.

6.     Free Apps/Productivity 

The wonderful world of technology. It’s here to help us get through this. App’s like ‘Microsoft Teams’ and ‘Houseparty’ help keep you connected to your employees and your friends. Make sure you utilize these to stay in touch, send documents, have video conference calls and above all, just chat. You chat at work with the people beside you and now more than ever we need to talk to each other. If you’re working from home these are the perfect free app’s to physically help you work and to help you feel less isolated. That and they’re actually just fun and we all need a break.

7.     Breaks/Lunch

Which leads me nicely on to my last point… It is still important to have breaks every 2-3 hours when you’ve been working at your computer. Make sure, just as you would in work to take a break, even if it’s just to make a drink, go on a toilet run or get some fresh air. Doing this ensures normality and makes you feel as if you’re on a usual working day just in more comfortable surroundings. Ensure you take your full lunch at its usual time to re-feed, reflect and catch up with your family or friends. Breaks are important to free the mind for a little while and can make you feel revitalised and ready to get straight back to work with some brand-new ideas. 

In short, the easiest way to feel good, feel less isolated and be productive is to try to stick to your usual working day routine as much as possible. Even if you are not working from home, it’s good to keep a good morning routine. Keep connected with your employees and those around you.  It’s so easy to slip off the wagon and Netflix and chill… but by following these step’s I can guarantee will keep you out of trouble with your boss!

Don’t forget – we’re all in this together… Stay Safe, Stay at home.