Work from home

Reducing journeys

New technology makes it easier to work from home remotely, giving you the potential to radically reduce the number of home to work journeys, which can quite often be done as single use car journeys.

Remote working and home working offers employers and employees a greater level of flexibility, and can increase levels of productivity. They also offer cost savings, reduce the impact of transport on the environment, and can deliver collective health benefits through a reduction in CO₂ emissions.

Top tips for working from home

Stay Active

A little bit of exercise will help get you going in the morning and improve your concentration levels. For some people this might be walking or cycling with their children to school or walking the dog, but even a 10-15 minute stroll around the block will get you ready for the day. At the end of the day, a short burst of exercise will help you switch off and allow you to separate work from your home life. Try to include activities that get you out of the house, so you get some sunshine and a change of environment.

Work out what suits you

Some people work very effectively sitting in their pyjamas (or so we’ve heard!). You may work best sitting at your dining room table or out in the garden on a sunny day. But for many people, you may find that putting on ‘office’ clothing and having a dedicated office space can help put you in the right frame of mind to get on with the day’s work. Try out different options and see how you work most productively.

Create a to-do list

Identify what needs doing on a daily basis and work towards completing everything on the list. Prioritising tasks and setting targets helps eliminate under working.

Make the most of technology

There are a some great communication tools to help you including: Skype for Business, Whatsapp, Basecamp, Viber and Voxer.

Business meetings outside of the house

Hosting meetings away from your home allows you to get out of the house and into a different environment. Try and find a location away from your home which is convenient for you both. Several libraries in Wiltshire have rooms that can be hired out, and there are numerous other venues throughout the county.

Take Breaks

Even though you’re at home and may feel more relaxed it’s important to take breaks, as you would in the office. Sitting in front of a computer screen for any length of time, whether at home or in the office, will start to hurt and potentially damage your eyes. Not eating properly throughout the day will lessen your concentration and affect your productivity. Simply sitting for too long is known to damage health in a number of ways.

Finally – Be social!

Working on your own can sometimes become quite isolated. Stay in contact with people in the office, and try to plan your week to include events or activities that take you out of the house. A great strategy is to alternate days in the office with days at home.