Why routine is important in lockdown

For many of those lucky enough to be able to work from home, the coronavirus crisis has proved a steep learning curve. Far from the easy lifestyle many office workers may have imagined, it can in fact present many challenges. 

We’ve rounded up some top tips for making a success of working from home:

Occupational health

It may be boring, but it’s important to take health and safety seriously when you’re working from home. Going from an ergonomic keyboard and a supportive office chair to a laptop on your knees could wreak havoc on your body.

Your office HR team should be able to offer resources to help; whether it’s a budget for office equipment or advice on work-arounds.

Get dressed

There’s no need for full-on officewear when you’re working from home, but equally pyjama bottoms and loungewear can set the wrong tone. Getting up and dressed each morning, even if it’s just in jeans and a jumper, signals to your brain that it’s work time. Some work from home veterans swear by wearing shoes when they’re ‘at work’ for similar reasons - see if it works for you.

Take breaks

When you’re working in an office, it’s easy and normal to spend time chatting to colleagues or popping out for a coffee. When you’re working from home, these activities can feel like cheating, but breaks are important for your wellbeing and can help you to work more efficiently.

Make sure you take your lunch break away from your workstation, and don’t feel guilty about doing a bit of washing up or having a chat with your family while you’re making a drink - it’s exactly what you’d do in an office.

Take tips from friends

There’s a good chance that someone in your social circle works from home a lot under normal circumstances - and they should have some good advice. They’ll know you and your personality, and can provide tips specific to you. After all, everyone is different and it’s important to find what works for you.

Make the most of this time - its not forever

For those of us jugglng working from home, with home schooling the chlldren, there can be additional challenges, but try to look on this as an opportunity to understand more about what your children are learning, encourage them to be resourceful rather than asking you for the answers, but enjoy the increased opportunity to have more family meals together and the chance to just be together.

Look to the future

It helps to look beyond the here and now to look forward positively, and to make plans for what you will do post lockdown. If those plans include looking for a home in the mountains, then this time can be spent doing research on where and what you might like to buy. The team at Alpine Property Investments, would be happy to help you with your research and to answer any questions you might have. We have also had many zoom calls with clients during the last few weeks, so please do get in touch, we would love to hear from you.