During three decades of providing advice and training on remote working, I have never suggested that perching at your kitchen table, having your toddler share your desk, or working haphazard hours, were a good way to ‘do’ home working. Oh, how things have changed in just a couple of months! I still don’t think any of those things are a good idea, but the circumstances in which hundreds of thousands of people are suddenly working from home (WfH), mean advice needs to be updated for the new world of coronavirus lockdown.
Finding a place to work
Try to take a detached look at your home, and the people and activities that it caters for. You may not have a spare room, or a garden office, but think creatively about all your home’s spaces and how its occupants move around them. Ideally you are trying to find a spot that:
- Allows you to leave your work paraphernalia in situ and walk away from it
- Doesn’t have other people frequently walking into it or through it
- Has natural light
- Gets a good signal from your wi-fi internet connection
In the past I would have advised that a bedroom should ideally be kept as a relaxing space and not used for work. But in many modern open-plan homes it might be the only place that is out of sight, and sound, of the rest of the household. So, think about a bedroom, and any other spaces that might meet the above criteria. You’ll probably have to compromise somewhere, so consider what feels best for you, even if it’s not ideal.
Something to sit on
Lounging in a chair or on a bed to work is not good on a regular basis. You need a table you can get your feet and knees under and put your computer on. A friend has found that a dressing table with knee-hole makes a reasonable desk. Even more important is a proper chair. A dining chair is very bad for your posture over any length of time. Could you bring a chair home from your employer’s office? If that’s not possible then perhaps have a chat with your manager about the organisation reimbursing you for buying a suitable ergonomic chair, or arranging for one to be delivered to you.
Working hours
I’d like to see rewards move to recognition for meeting objectives rather than the hours of effort put in, but when it comes to scheduling your day, having a regular structure will help your brain switch into work mode. Be realistic about what you can do within the constraints of your personal situation. Share your preferences for work and family time with your partner, if you live in the same spaces, and especially if you are both WfH. This becomes even more like a 3-D jigsaw puzzle if you have babies or older children that need your time as well as support for home-schooling. Being able to divide up the childcare and schooling responsibilities will help you both to cope with the pressures.
Once you are clear about what you think will work for you, discuss your plan with your manager, and relate it to what you need to achieve in your role. If you’re a manager, then try to be as flexible as possible in accommodating what your team want to do. It may not be ideal for either of you, but you’re unlikely to get consistently good work from someone who is always stressed about the other elements of their life.
Adapting over time
Hopefully, you, your family and your manager, will become more comfortable with the new ways of working as lockdown continues. Try to keep an open mind and tweak how and when you do things, as you adapt and learn from the current circumstances. I’ve tried to avoid the use of the word ‘unprecedented’ because it seems to be constantly repeated in the press and on the news. But this truly is the most unusual situation in which to be trying to maintain effectiveness in a job, and keep the rest of life afloat.
I’d love to hear how you have adapted life to cope with the pandemic restrictions and especially any tips you have that you’ve found useful in making Working from Home effective. Please post your ideas in a comment.
