By Guest Blogger:

Tabby Duff, Digital Marketing Executive

Cantarus

With the latest government information surrounding COVID-19, more and more organisations are implementing work from home policies, including Cantarus.

The good news is that although we are currently in unchartered waters, it also presents membership organisations and associations with opportunity – when things eventually go back to normal, we might come out the other side having discovered an even better way of working – 77% of remote employees say they are more productive when working from home.

Remote working is an adjustment that takes some getting used to when we’re conditioned to the 9-5 grind, and the initial adjustment period can be difficult.

Here are our top 5 tips for staying productive when working remotely, and how to stay positive during what is a weird, uncertain time.

1. Set a New Normal Morning Routine

Your standard morning routine will inevitably change. Gone are the days of snoozing the 6:30AM alarm and rushing around to make sure you don’t miss your tram.

Even though you’re skipping the daily commute, you shouldn’t skip your morning preparations. It may be tempting to wake up 5 minutes before you’re due to log in, but getting out of bed at least 30 minutes early ensures you have time to mentally prepare for the day ahead.

Set a new normal. Whether that’s a cup of coffee while you set up your workspace, a 30-minute yoga session, walking your dog, or even just putting proper clothes on, having a routine will keep you motivated and ready for a day of productivity.

2. Establish Boundaries

The first few days of working from home are great – no more lengthy commutes with your head stuck in someone’s armpit, extra time to do boring household chores in your breaks, and unlimited access to all the snacks!

Nevertheless, it’s important to establish a balance between work-life and actual life. When you literally live at the office, it can be easy to overwork yourself.

Your bed might tempt you to stay a little longer without the need to leave the house, or you may overwork because your laptop is right there, but sticking to your hours ensures the most efficient working day for you.

3. Unless you’re Self-Isolating, Get Outside

The advice is to stay indoors as much as possible, especially if you live in a big city like Manchester or London. However, working remotely doesn’t mean staying cooped up at your desk going stir crazy.

As long as you are not self-isolating, go outside for a short walk (as part of your one outdoor exercise per day), change of scenery and some much-needed fresh air. It will help clear your head, and you’ll feel fresh and ready to take on your next task. Don’t forget to wash your hands as soon as you return home!

4. Schedule Regular Breaks

No one wants work to become monotonous, and spending every single minute of the day at home can make you restless. Take breaks throughout the day – being glued to a screen isn’t good for anybody! Get up and move around to break up your day just as you would if you were in the office.

The Pomodoro Technique involves breaking work up into 30-minute chunks with regular 5-minute breaks which helps prevent the brain from getting overly tired. This way of working has been found to be more beneficial than less frequent, longer breaks.

5. Stay Positive

Of course, this is an uncertain time and anxiety might be higher than normal for many of us, but we are all in this together. Try to focus on the positives. We’ll get through this and be back in the office in no time, most likely missing our working from home environments!

Take this time to recharge, realign & strategise. Listen to a new podcast, put on your favourite playlist, and spend some extra time with your family (or your dog) that you wouldn’t get to do usually.

For more top tips, check out our full blog article here.

Cantarus is a multi-award-winning full-service digital agency specialising in delivering websites & with deep expertise and an outstanding client portfolio in the membership sector. If you would like to get in touch with Cantarus, pop us an email at [email protected]