To ask of you work from home...

[LMW1990]

What do you wear and what routines do you have in place to keep focused?

I'm about to start a great contract. My client/ employer are London based. I'm up north.

I never really know how to dress as daft as it sounds. I don't want to get into being slobby but at the same time would like to take advantage of the fact I can be comfortable and don't have to spend 30 minutes getting ready!

I'll be working pretty much 9-5. Any tips for keeping focused whilst at home? Obviously I don't have the TV on etc and I have a dedicated workspace.

TIA

I wfh full-time, but hours vary and a lot of it is evening, so I am in PJs for much of the time. Only get dressed if I need to do a school run. I have a lot of "nice" PJs so can wear clean ones every day, and normally wear the with a nice wool or cashmere sweater, so I don't feel like a slob . It's perfect for me as those are the kids of clothes I love wearing, just pure comfort and warmth. Even before I wfh I spent more on PJs and loungewear than on "proper" clothes.

I don't find focus a problem tbh - if I'm working, I'm working. I'll have the odd cup of tea but certainly don't feel tempted to go and do chores or anything I prefer working to chores any day.

I have no video calls or anything, but am in frequent contact with other colleagues, and it would become apparent if I was away from my desk.

Oh, and would add, as another one who is too tight to have the heating on much, cashmere wristwarmers and sheepskin boots are invaluable!

I’ve been telecommuting for 9 years. I wear T-shirt’s and yoga pants. Focus really isn’t a problem. I just go into my office and close the door and work.

It depends on what time I'm starting. If it's pre-8, I'll happily wear pyjamas and then shower and change into clothes at my break at 10:00.

The thing that makes me focus most is having set breaks, and having set activities to put in that break. So if I'm starting at 8. I'll break and shower and dress at 10:00.

If I'm starting at 9:00, I'll make sure I'm showered and dressed by then, and will break at 11:00 and do the washing up or laundry or whatever job needs doing (just one job - don't start a long cleaning session). Then a lunch break at 12:30, I'll organise so I know what I'm going to eat for lunch. Back on at 13:00 at the latest, then work through until 15:00 when it's getting the kids, then when they're settled and such, I'll start again at 16:00 and work until 18:00.

The nature of my work means I'm more productive in short bursts, so it might be you need to structure your day around what activity you're doing and when your best hours are.

The best thing I find with working from home is that I'm significantly more productive between 13:00 and 18:00, so I make those my core hours.

What I'm actually wearing (usually jeans and a thick jumper) is less relevant to me than the structure of the day.