Working from Home Tips
Dixon Wild Architects spent the last lockdown (2021) working from home. Auckland was in lockdown for about 3 months. This is a long time to be away from the office! Working from home can have its distractions. During lockdown we learned a few things about maintaining productivity while working from home. We’ve listed a few below, have a read!
1. Set up a home office
This means finding a dedicated space to work. It is important to maintain a good work-life balance, even at home! Set up a space on the dining room table, in the kitchen or laundry. By separating work from leisure, it helps to maintain healthy work habits and boundaries. Try and pick a spot that is away from the main living area.
2. Try to stick to a routine
It can be difficult to set up a routine in lockdown. If you struggle keeping focus it may be a good idea to keep to a daily routine. Starting the day right can make a big difference. Your routine can be anything from waking up with a cup of coffee to preparing lunch for the day. Its up to you! Once you have a routine in place it will be easier to switch from work life to home life.
3. Keep moving!
One benefit of working from home is avoiding rush hour traffic on the way to work. You don’t have to travel far to get to work. But, without daily activity it can start to take a toll on you physical health. Taking breaks throughout the day is important. Make sure you get up for a glass of water or some sunshine. Get out of the house during your lunch break. Having a break away from the computer can make you more productive when you come back to it. Check out these work from home exercises.
4. Set up a VPN server
Before the last lockdown Dixon Wild Architects moved to a fiber internet connection. We received a new modem in the process and our IT guy hooked us up with a VPN server. This made it much easier to retrieve files from the server and work remotely. Previously, we would save files onto the desktop – which clogged up the memory and slowed the computer down.
5. Don’t be too hard on yourself!
We all loose focus from time to time. The last few years living with a global pandemic has been hard enough. It is okay to make time for self care. Make sure you go to bed at a reasonable hour and eat healthy.
