​Eight steps to make working from home a success...

As I write it looks like a lot of us are going to be working from home.  Hopefully this will keep you safe and help keep your businesses going.  For me it's not too big an adjustment as I spend most of my working life in my home office sat at my laptop but for most people working at home is difficult.  Here are the eight most important things I have learned about home working.

1. Get organised.  It is my experience that most people need structure.  Normally we get our structure from our normal workplace.  It is vital that we create a new 'routine' to keep us on track.  A good place to start is what you are used to;  get up, get ready and get working as you would if everything was normal.
2. Find a set place to work.  This is where we hit the first major change, where do you sit?  You have to designate a place to work that will allow you to operate without impacting too much on the normal running of the home.
3. Manage your time.  When I started life as a teacher my day was literally programmed by a bell that sounded every 45 minutes.  Your normal day may not be that structured but there will have been some sort of timetable.  At home it is important to have a 'plan' of what you are going to do and when you are going to do it.  At the very least this will help keep you away from the domestic distractions that will now surround you.
4. Make sure you have the tools you need.  Most modern working involves technology and setting up at home needs some thought.  Decide what you need to be productive and try to set up in a way that allows you easy/sustained access but causes minimal disruption to your home.
5. Be disciplined.  In many ways setting up 'physically' is the easy bit; getting up every day and working to a plan requires dedication.  This is especially true in the early days until you establish your new working practices.
6. Ask for help.  The human element in all of this this cannot be overstated.  Most people work in partnership with others so before you take over a room and start demanding silence in the house, consider the effect of your actions on others.  Often the best first step is to outline your plan (to those affected) and ask for their help in delivering it.
7. Communicate regularly with others.  You need to communicate with and manage the expectations of the 'others' in your business.  Co-workers, managers and customers all need to be told about the new structure and how your relationship with them will change.  Just letting them know what's going on is a huge step forward.
8. Keep your spirits up.  'Enforced isolation' can be difficult psychologically.  Maintaining a good mood and mental disposition is important.  One of the simplest ways of doing this is to take 'time-outs'.  Take a few minutes every day to step away from the pressure and 'allow yourself time to breathe'.  My chosen option for this is mindfulness.  Fortunately there are many apps and websites that can help with this.  Whatever you decide recognise your pressure points and have a way to minimise them.

For more on this it may be worth visiting my pages on -
Working from home
Motivation
8 important habits for maintaining mind, body and spirit
Routine and Discipline

Good luck and stay safe.
James.