Staying motivated when working from home

For some people, working from home is a first and just getting motivated to sit at our desks and start something is tough when we're in our home environment, surrounded by distractions. So if you've been told to work remotely, what's the best way to stay efficient and keep your spirits up?

Maintain a routine

People who work from home often will tell you about the importance of just getting dressed. Shower and get dressed as though you're going to the office. Have breakfast and have a work 'start time'. Don't immediately go to your laptop: give yourself a healthy morning routine as if you were going into the office.

Dedicate a zone for work

Find a space in your home away from the rest of your family where you’re less likely to be distracted. Make your space tidy and remove any clutter. Inform the rest of the household of your working hours – so they know not to disturb you and you can avoid any awkward interruptions!

Try the Pomodoro technique

Distraction is the enemy when working at home. We highly recommend trying out the Pomodoro technique, a simple time management process that boosts productivity and focus. This is how it works: choose a task you'd like to get done; set a timer for 25 minutes; work on that task until the alarm goes off; tick something off your to-do list and then take a short break. For every four Pomodoros, you can take a longer break.

Take advantage of virtual communication tools

Connecting with colleagues when working from home is probably more important than you think. We normally spend most of our day in close proximity to our colleagues, which makes it easier to stay in sync effortlessly. We believe it's the "face time" that's important. This week we’re loving Zoom, a video conferencing tool used to schedule virtual meetings with people to stay in the loop and maintain relationships. The best part is you can host up to 100 participants in one meeting, which we’ve found is perfect for Friday after-work drinks!

Mentally close the door on your work

It's so easy to fall into the trap of overworking at home, so set a time for when you’re going to finish for the day. If it helps, write your job list for the following day – the physical act of writing everything into a notepad will act like a "brain dump", helping you to close the door on your working day and switch off.