Here are some tips from the CubeMatch team to help keep you productive and maintain the vital social space required in these exceptional times. Love it or hate it working from home is the new norm and may be for some time to come. Not everyone has a home office and even those that do have one, many do not have it set up to complete a full workday.
1) Carve out a workspace
While it can be difficult, find one place preferably away from distractions like the TV. Mentally you will be in a better place for work when you “go to work”, even if this means simply closing the door of the spare room.
2) Have Virtual Coffee Calls
Keep work social. For most of us work is a social activity in our many and varied interactions in any given day. Remember the days when we shook hands, grabbed a coffee and had a chat with our colleagues or when we just visited a colleague at a neighbouring desk? Well now it’s time to do a “virtual coffee” so grab a coffee and then ring or video call your colleagues & talk about your workday A virtual coffee break is the new way to stay connected.
3) Get off the couch !
Slouching on the couch might be a good idea for checking in with your friends on Facebook but it is not a healthy or a productive way to work. Find a decent chair – a kitchen chair is fine for those who do not have an office in their homes and then find a suitable place to put your laptop at a decent height.
4) Keep a work routine
The best way to start your day is to keep a daily regular routine, e.g. : get a shower, get dressed, take the time to make a coffee and a nice breakfast before starting to work… We all know it can be very tempting to stay in your pyjamas all day long but setting up a routine will help you get into the right mindset and engage your “work mode”.
5) Stay organised
It is very important that you remain productive. Setting daily and weekly goals will help you to identify and prioritise your task and achieve your goals. Having a plan and to-do lists to complete will help you stay the course .
6) Keep in touch with your team
Nowadays we have access to several technologies such as instant messaging and videoconferencing tools to keep in touch with co-workers and maintain a good communication flow. At CubeMatch we do two videoconference scrum meetings per week, where everyone shares their goals, successes but also obstacles. Those meetings are very helpful and allow people to stay informed but also to get the support they need.
7) Do regular breaks
When you feel your focus and productivity are decreasing don’t hesitate to take short breaks throughout the day to reset your brain and put your mind back on track. Staying on a chair all day will not help your productivity or your body posture. Take a nice lunch break away from your desk and smaller breaks once in a while to stretch and also make sure to grab some snacks and stay hydrated.
And the most important points to remember are:
- It is essential to maintain social distancing
- It is crucial that this does not turn into social isolation.
CubeMatch meets for Virtual Drinks every Friday using Microsoft Teams. A BYO event that keeps us all in touch and gives us something to look forward to! We encourage you all to try it for yourselves.
Stay safe !