Any working from home tips to share?

[Thethingswedoforlove]

I have been tasked with coming up with some tips for my area at work. Definitely for the actually working. But I am also interested in anything to help the lonely/ isolated. Any intra-team competitions? Step count? Team miles run? Gardening gang? Soup recipes? I dunno. What are others doing?

Watching for myself 😊

We have a street whatsapp group and it's so jolly. Everyone young and old chiming in. I love it.

I find a run first thing in the morning sets me up for a day of working without going mad.

Loose leaf tea in a pot.
Makes you actually take a moment outside of just focusing on work or fuelling up

Go out for a walk first thing then come back in ready to start the day.
Get a proper desk set up - this could be months and it’s too long to sit in bed or on a sofa with a laptop
Do online exercise classes eg yoga/hiit. Lots of free ones popping up on Instagram live for example
Hydrate!
Buy nice coffee or tea
Check in each morning first thing using Zoom or similar so you see people
Talk about the stress, be aware everyone is going to be impacted

Proper desk, comfortable chair at right height for desk, good lighting

Dig a large pit in your garden now. Bury all members of your household in it.
Then dig a larger pit and bury all of your neighbours who are now also working at home and, you are quickly learning, have some really annoying habits.

I've WFH for over 25 years. Until DH downshifted and invaded my office, I used to like having radio 4 on in the background.

If you are a couple working from home, add a third imaginary coworker, e.g Karen.

Complain to your significant other when Karen is leaving dirty cups, not taking her turn at the coffee run, wants the heating too high/low.

Takes the personal attack out of the compromise

Set an alarm and get up/showered/dressed as you would if you were going to work. Pjs and dressing gown just makes me feel slooby as if I’m not working. Have a work station set up. Make sure you stretch your legs every once in a while, make a cuppa etc. Go for a walk at lunch time. Move around if you can, I always do chores like hanging washing out if I’m dialled into an audio or something

Proper desk, comfortable chair at right height for desk, good lighting

Yes - obviously it may be difficult, but its worth spending some time on footrests, raising monitors to the right level, that sort of thing. And then making sure you take breaks.
On another thread I was recommending doing some stretches, Pilates type stuff especially for neck and back (I should have said shoulders too). They can really seize up if you're sat staring at a screen too long, especially if the positioning is a bit off. Maybe you could come up with a 5 minute routine?

Comfortable chair
Regular breaks
Good lighting
Keep in touch with others on phone and what’s app
Stick to your normal hours

One end of my sitting room transformed into office space for DS and I - all furniture bought secondhand in last 24 hours

'Normal hours' will probably work best for some, but in reality many will have to 'tag team' childcare with their partner.
Personally, because most of the team I'm in are in California but QA is in Bangalore, I work weird hours which suit both me and my job. If it's sunny and I can get outside in the daylight but then have a Skype meeting in the early evening it's win-win.

Do what works for you in your situation, if you're in management try not to be too prescriptive.

What @ErrolTheDragon said.
Make things an 'offer' or 'suggestion' rather than 'compulsory fun' or fixed rules. People will have to work around their families and other caring responsibilities, and maybe limited broadband etc.

These are great. Thank you!

And I won’t be prescriptive at all. These are ideas. Not instructions. We have already been clear that we know that productivity will fall and people will be creative with working patterns etc

Any others?

Some good ones already:

• A early morning walk before settling down to work really helps me avoid that feeling of getting out of bed just to sit back down again
• A proper desk and chair (preferably in a room designated as a office) etc. help me seperate work from home a bit more
• A team call first thing helps set up the day and keep in touch with people
• A good coffee machine gives me a reason to take a break mid morning
• A definite lunch break away from the desk. I take the dog out again for another walk.
• A specific finish time so the day doesn't drag into the evening
• Plenty of tea breaks
• I try to speak to at least 3 people on the phone (not in the team call) througout the day to help keep me connected

• I try to stay off mn. I fail.

I've worked from home for years and so has DH.
Ways to stay sane:
Agree to get your own tea/coffee/lunch when you naturally need a break. Don't interrupt each other's work rhythms.
Go for a walk every day.
A desk is a good idea but if you start to feel cabin fever, move around the house. I have a home office but often work in bed, on the sofa, in the garden, at the kitchen table just for a bit of variety on the eye and the spine.
Skype your work mates if you need to chat. Or at least phone them. Human contact and actual discussion are better than email chase.
Your day ends when it would end at work.
Remember at work you are not in exam-style focused concentration for 8 solid hours a day and you won't be at home either, so don't feel guilty for taking a break, having a stretch or cup of tea, sticking a washload on or having a chat with the cat You'd be doing a similar thing at work. You are likely to get far more work done but feel more tired at home if you focus hard.
Enjoy the non-commute. Go for a walk or cycle ride, do a fitness youtube workout.

I view time on MN during the day as a substitute for lunchroom chatting. This is a tea break. (I do also only work part time anyway)

Some great ideas here. Thank you