We find ourselves in unprecedented times right now, where we have all been thrown very much into the unknown. Most of you that can are being asked to work from home, and this is leaving you out of routine, disconnected and in some cases alone and isolated.

It’s not just coronavirus sending us to work from home though, we are in an age where so many of us are able to work remotely and companies are encouraging it more and more.

Here at Ellen Jackson Videography we spend most of our time working alone and have done for the past 8 years. So we thought therefore, now was a good time to to teach you what we have learnt to keep ourselves as productive and as mentally healthy as possible.

Routine:

For all of us routine is so important, it is a comfort, and believe it or not helps reduce stress… it is how we are able to create time for the important things like meals, or relaxation. So when it comes to working from home it is so important that you try and stick as close to your working routine as possible.

Set your alarm at the same time (you can maybe allow yourself an extra 15mins in bed) get yourself up and ready as you would to go to work normally, so if you usually have a shower and breakfast, stick to this routine.

The most important thing to remember though is to GET DRESSED. Leave your pyjamas in the bed where they belong. You don’t have to get dressed into the clothes you’d usually wear to work, comfy clothes will still be fine, but get out of your bed clothes.

And stick to your normal working day routine, so if you start at 9, start at 9, if you finish at 5, finish at 5, if you have an hour lunch break, take an hour lunch break.

The more you stick to this the more of a habit you’ll be in, and it’ll become easier each day.

Where to work:

When deciding where you are going to be working in your home, the best thing to do is to find somewhere that is separate from where you relax, so your bed or sofa is out of the question. The reason for this is that you’re then going to associate that area with work, so later on when you finish work and try to sleep, you’re going find it harder than you usually do or you’ll find yourself not being able to relax on the sofa the way you used to.

Try and make yourself your own designated working area, even if you don’t have the luxury of a separate room, create yourself a little table and chair area – optimise your environment and keep your desk space and area as tidy as possible – something lots of us are not good at (creative minds etc)

If your designated area is able to have a door then this is the perfect solution, a way to shut the work away at the end of the day, or keep the kids out whilst you’re working.

Communicate:

Communication is so important to us a human beings, it’s what we need to get us through the day, and being at home may mean you don’t have the usual banter that you would with your work colleagues.  But we live in a modern age, there are so many ways in which we can fix this. Schedule time in your diary for a Skype meeting, a chat on Facetime or even a good old-fashioned phone call, this is particularly important if you are living on your own as well, because without communication we can quickly become very isolated and lonely.

And if you do happen to know someone who is living alone and working alone (when you’re not), why don’t you make the effort to give them a call, or reach out to them, just to check in and see how they’re doing. A little hello from someone can go a long way in this digital world.

The Great Outdoors:

If you’re able to get outside on your lunch break and take a little walk, whether that is round the garden, around the block or whatever is possible this is a great idea. In a normal day in the office you move more than you do at home, so a little wander outside will get the blood flowing, and it’s often good to just get away from the screen for a bit. On top of this fresh air is so good for us, mentally.  Studies show that being outside can do wonders for relieving stress, anxiety and depression.

Conclusion:

So in conclusion

• Stick to your routine.
• Get dressed.
• Avoid working in relaxation areas
• Finish at your usual time.
• Go outside
• Communicate with colleagues.

We really hope this helps to keep you healthy, motivated and productive during this difficult time. It is important to remember to do everything you can to make yourself as mentally healthy as possible, make time to do all the things you usually do, whether that is relaxing of an evening in front of the TV, or taking a bath.  For us it’s journaling – getting all of those irrational thoughts out of our heads and on to paper. If there does come a time when we are needing to stay indoors you’re going to need your mind to be healthy more than anything!

Ellen Jackson