Get WFH Ready: An essential checklist 

With the world throwing us a big curveball and many of us adapting to a new kind of 9 - 5, we’ve pulled together some top tips on how to get set up from home. The good news? Over a million Brits work from home on a daily basis already, so there is a wealth of advice out there to guide us every step of the way. Here are eight key pointers that have helped us get in the WFH groove. 

1. Dress to impress: Sounds basic doesn’t it, but getting dressed is essential not only to your mindset but also to how you present yourself to your colleagues. No one will expect you to be trussed up in a suit and tie (hopefully!) but leave the PJs for the sofa and get ready to conquer the day.

2. Location, location, location: Many of us won't have a study to work in and may be navigating home working with a bunch of flatmates. Whatever your set up, try to create a space for work that is seperate from where you sleep or watch TV. This helps to delineate your work and downtime and fosters a sense of ‘going to work’. A comfy chair, some decent lighting and proximity from the biscuit tin also help. 

3. Routine planning: All of us office dwellers are going to feel slightly out of kilter at the moment - at least to begin with. Creating a daily routine that works for you and scheduling regular breaks will go miles to normalising the situation and helping you stay productive. Communicating this to your team will help you stick to it and let them know when you are available. 

4. Get talking: With social distancing and self isolation high on the agenda for all of us, it’s more important than ever that we communicate. Thankfully, the tech is here to help - from Google Hangouts to WhatsApp and Skype to Zoom. Get video call savvy and make sure that you also make some time to chat with colleagues away from meetings. Schedule a lunch date, 4pm tea break to check in, Friday office quiz and have fun with the virtual hang outs. 

5. Mental health matters: As well as our physical health, we all need to keep in mind the implications of the current situation on our mental wellbeing. We’re lucky to be part of an industry that has so many brilliant resources in this area. As well as being open with family, friends and colleagues about how you’re feeling, both Santus and NABS have some great resources for managing stress and anxiety.

6. Step up the step count: For many of us, the prospect of no gym, no spin classes, no yoga or running clubs is rather a daunting one. But just because your normal exercise routine might have been put on hold, there are plenty of ways to stay active and, without the commute, you might even have more time to spend upping those steps. Build physical exercise into your routine - whether that’s a run on your lunch break, an evening walk or a free online workout. You could even get your colleagues involved!

7. Music to our ears: If we’re looking for positives to working from home, being able to be your own office DJ has got to be up there. Make yourself a dedicated playlist depending on your mood or use one of the great ones already on offer with Spotify. Don’t underestimate the power of a toe-tapping tune to lift your spirits and motivate you.

8. Be strict with switch off: It can be hard to know when to log off when you’re working from home, but make sure you don’t slip into a habit of working 24/7. Take up a new hobby, read a book, schedule a group chat or set time aside for a home workout to make sure you switch off at the end of the day. Moving your social activities online will also help you keep your work/life balance in check.