Workers from across the globe, who are working from home as an increasing number of employers attempt to stop coronavirus from spreading, have shared their tips to navigating the practice.
Taking to Twitter, the thread was kicked off by scientist Emily Lakdawalla, from California, who wrote: ‘Friends, there are going to be a lot of people newly working from home starting this week, and it will be a difficult transition for some.’
Asking for advice, she continued: ‘*IF AND ONLY IF you are experienced at working from home*, please reply with tips for working effectively & avoiding distractions!’.
Workers from across the globe, who are working from home as an increasing number of employers attempt to stop coronavirus from spreading, have shared their tips to navigating the practice (stock image)
Taking to Twitter, the thread was kicked off by scientist Emily Lakdawalla, from California, who wrote: ‘Friends, there are going to be a lot of people newly working from home starting this week, and it will be a difficult transition for some.’
And Emily was quickly inundated with replies from staff in similar situations, racking up almost 5,000 likes and comments.
British chef Jack Monroe wrote: ‘I’ve been working from home for seven years and I am injecting this thread into my bloodstream right now because it is INCREDIBLY USEFUL (I’ll be back with my own sub-par tips in the morning….later in the morning…!!)’.
Elsewhere one joked: ‘Refrain from having children’, while another advised: ‘Make a cat-proof barrier around your keyboard’.
Another advised on how to transition, tweeting: ‘Leave the house in the morning to go to work, walk round the block and then come back into your house and settle down to work. Helps make the mental transition.’
British chef Jack Monroe wrote: ‘I’ve been working from home for seven years and I am injecting this thread into my bloodstream right now because it is INCREDIBLY USEFUL (I’ll be back with my own sub-par tips in the morning….later in the morning…!!)’.
And one wrote: ‘Set and stick to work hours. You can split hours morning/night with afternoon ‘off’ or timeshift, but still have set hours or you’ll constantly get derailed. It’s easy to get distracted by flexibility to take a social call, duck out for an errand, or procrastinate with chores.’
Advising about how to differentiate, another said: ‘If you can, work in a different room to your living room/where you will spend the evening (even if it’s your bedroom) so you’re at least moving rooms when you finish for the day.’
Speaking from experience, one worker advised followers to have a separate working area.
She wrote: ‘I work from home most of the time anyway. My advice: •stay away from the TV •if your bed triggers nap mode, work in the living room. If not possible, fill room with LIGHT (natural, or desk lamp) •keep your phone on another desk and put on silent for the hours you plan to work’.
And one wrote: ‘Set and stick to work hours. You can split hours morning/night with afternoon ‘off’ or timeshift, but still have set hours or you’ll constantly get derailed. It’s easy to get distracted by flexibility to take a social call, duck out for an errand, or procrastinate with chores.’
And speaking to other parents, one revealed it was best to plan post school hours out of the home.
He said: ‘Work your usual office hours. After 3pm when the kids come home is most difficult so plan for it. Take walks during conference calls. Go out for coffee and lunch. No TV in the background. Treat it like a normal day at the office.’
Talking about their battle with their cat, another wrote: ‘Keep a second keyboard nearby to use as a decoy for your cats.’
And others cited the benefits of working from home, writing: ‘One of the best things about working from home is being able to have a powernap after lunch. Makes you so much more productive in the afternoon.’
Warning against letting work take over your life, one Twitter user said: ‘Set work hours and have a distinct work space. When you’re done working for the day, leave the space, and leave your computer there. Do not check email on your phone after hours, or if you do, do not respond until the morning unless it’s urgent.’
Many warned against the temptation of getting distracted by things at home