Helping people achieve a lifetime of financial security

Work smarter – hints and tips

Working from home

April 2020

For intermediaries and

employers

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Work smarter – hints and tipsWorking from home

Now more than ever it’s vital we adapt and find new and better ways of working – to not only support our businesses but also to support the people we work alongside every day. And although many of us have worked from home at some point, we’re probably not used to operating like this for any great length of time.

So we’ve put together some ideas that you may find useful to help you, and others, feel your best while working remotely.

Keep

fit

Keep

connectedKeep

performing

Keep

motivated

Keep

developing

Keep yourself

mentally and

physically healthy

Stay in touch with

each other and your

employer

Find ways to make

working from home

better for you

Keep your focus and

manage your time

Stay focused on

your own

development

Helping people achieve a lifetime of financial security

Keep connected

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Check in regularly

Set up regular (daily/weekly) check in calls with your teams – make sure everyone continues to work together and share best practices.

Make time for a catch up

It’s better (and usually easier) to talk to someone for a few minutes than to try and solve a problem over email.

Be clear on roles and responsibilities

Recognise that working from home can feel quite different – make sure you’re clear on your own responsibilities and what’s expected of you.

Get each day off to the right start

Check in with your colleagues first thing every morning - even if it’s just a 10 minute call. You can check how everyone’s feeling and quickly pick up on anyone who might need extra support.

Keep connected

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Keep connected

Be open about scheduling requirements

It’s important that you’re open with anyone who may rely on you about when you will or won’t be available. Keep your diary up to date as well as your email auto-reply.

Use all forms of remote communication

It’s difficult not seeing people face to face during this time, but there are lots of ways to expand how you communicate such as Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams. Plus try and video call (if you can) as this will help add the social element we’re all missing.

Talk more

It’s easy to rely on email in the office but when working remotely and without the hustle and bustle of an office environment you could miss out on the short chats you don’t realise you count on. Pick up the phone when you need to speak with someone or even just to find out how they’re doing.

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Keep fit

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Say good morning

Check in and say good morning to your colleagues every day. It’s a nice way to connect and has the bonus of everyone knowing you’re available. Why not try saying goodbye as well just before you log off.

Keep fit

Eat regularly and stay hydrated

Plan your usual meal breaks into your day – don’t forget to eat as it can be easy to skip meals outside of your normal routine. Drinking enough water is important for your mental and physical health too. Changing your routine might affect when you drink or what fluids you drink. It could help to set an alarm or use an app to remind you. Visit the NHS website for more information about water, drinks and your health.

Have a virtual coffee

Why not swap your normal coffee chat with a virtual coffee catch up. It might not be quite be the same but taking the time to connect face-to-face through video is a big part of staying connected.

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Keep fit

Try to keep active

Build physical activity into your daily routine, if possible. Most of us don’t have exercise equipment like treadmills where we live, but there are still activities you can do. Exercising at home can be simple and there are options for most ages and abilities, such as:

• seated exercises

• online exercise workouts that you can follow

• sitting less – if you notice you’ve been sitting down for an hour, just getting up or changing position can help

Take a break

Make sure you take regular breaks from your computer – perhaps set a timer for yourself so you don’t find yourself missing breaks. Going for a short walk as a break is a good way to clear your mind and make sure you get some fresh air – but please remember the social distancing guidance.

Helping people achieve a lifetime of financial security

Keep performing

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Keep performing

Commit to deadlines

Be clear on deadlines and what’s expected of you. If you can’t deliver in those timelines, or if you encounter problems work with your colleagues to agree any changes.

Take time to focus

Make sure you plan in time to focus on the task at hand. Finding the balance between your work and home schedules are key – so be clear on what works for you.

Don’t be a slave to your notifications

To make sure you work effectively it’s important to not be driven by emails coming in or notifications going off. If you need time to focus, then consider silencing these. Try not to work reactively all the time.

Review goals in the short term

You should have agreed goals and these should continue to be your focus. However, if the current situation is

impacting on these, you might need to be flexible.

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Keep performing

Commit to deadlines

Be clear on deadlines and what’s expected of you. If you can’t deliver in those timelines, or if you encounter problems work with your colleagues to agree any changes.

Accept the ‘new normal’

Under the current guidance we can’t expect working to be the same as it was – so being able to come to terms with what’s now normal is key and will help you to stay focused and motivated.

Minimise distractions

It is understandable that there will be more distractions during this time than there would be in the office environment. Plan your day so you can focus when you really need to.

Set expectations while at home

Be clear around expectations with those that you share the space with and agree how you’ll structure your day. You may also want to agree how you’re happy to interact with others in your household and what support you need from them so you can do your job.

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Keep motivated

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Keep motivated

Plan and structure your day

Doing this where you can will keep you focused. Try and keep to the same hours you would work in the office. We all work extra hours from time to time but be mindful of when you do this. Why not try a to-do list at the start of the day?

Switch it up

Be open to changing where you are working from at home if possible. Subtly different environments can have a different effect on you - and can help with creativity and productivity.

Communicate more and talk to people more

Reach out and don’t wait to ask a question or for a meeting to raise a point.

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Keep motivated

Commit to deadlines

Be clear on deadlines and what’s expected of you. If you can’t deliver in those timelines, or if you encounter problems work with your colleagues to agree any changes.

Find a comfortable space

Find a space at home that is comfortable, practical and distraction free where possible for working. We recognise that everyone's living situation is different but find what works for you.

Create boundaries for your working space

Consider what spaces you work from at home and set some boundaries. For example if you frequently work from your lounge, you may find it more difficult to switch off and rest. It may be better to work from the kitchen table or a different room.

Keep your focus

Commit to and follow through on your work responsibilities regardless of location.

Helping people achieve a lifetime of financial security

Keep developing

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Keep developing

Offer to take on something new in your own team

Volunteer to find better ways of doing things, or to take on new tasks to help out your colleagues.

Offer to help out a different team

There are already great examples of teams helping each other out – as workload increases in some areas and slows down a bit in others, there are opportunities to learn new skills and share experience from your own role.

Manage your time

For the most of us we’re working in a new way and many of us will have to balance our work with other pressures at home. So try to stay focused on the things that are right for you and your business.

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Keep developing

Share your experience with others

Everyone adapts at a different pace. Offer your support to others in the team who might be finding things difficult or even become a virtual coach for new processes.

Review your development goals

Chances are you’ll have agreed development goals at the start of the year. You may want to review these, check they’re still appropriate and agree some different or additional ones where necessary.

Learn something new

There's lots of online resources for learning something new, and much of it’s free. Continued learning helps us to stay positive, so why not have a look and challenge yourself to learn something new.

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Useful links

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Useful links

• Mental Health Foundation - Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak

• Mind – Coronavirus and your wellbeing

• BBC Health article - Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health

• UK Government – Guidance for looking after your mental health and wellbeing

• UK Government – Looking after your wellbeing while staying at home

• Countryliving - 12 self-care rules to live by if you work from home

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