5 simple tips to tackle working from home

1. Set and stick to a routine. Without steady schedules, the lines between work and personal time can get blurred and be stressful to get right. Follow your normal sleep and work patterns if you can and stay consistent.  Most importantly, when your workday stops, stop working. Shut down, stop checking emails and focus on your home life.

2. Make a dedicated workspace. If you can, find a quiet space away from people and distractions like the TV. Get everything you need in one place before you start to work – chargers, pens, paper and anything else – and shut the door if you can.

3. Give yourself a break. Making time for breaks is important to help manage feelings of stress – try to take lunch and regular screen breaks. Give yourself time to concentrate on something else so you feel more focused when you return.

4. Stay connected. There are lots of ways to stay in touch with those who matter – boosting their mental wellbeing as well as our own. Human interaction matters, so schedule a Teams call and pick up the phone instead of emailing. If you are struggling with working at home, speak to your colleagues or manager about your concerns.

5. Be kind to yourself. Remember, this is an unusual situation and things may not feel normal. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you might not fee las productive as you usually would do in the office. Be realistic about what you can achieve given the circumstances and relax when your work is done.