Working From Home - 7 Steps For a Better Work Day

As a large percentage of the population are working from home and adapting their working lives around recent rulings to stop the spread of Covid-19, we’ll be sharing suggestions to keep you mentally and physically healthy over the coming weeks

Team Happiful are now working remotely in line with the measures to slow the spread of coronavirus and we're chalking up some learnings in the process (as well as cooing over each other’s pets during online conferencing!).

Here’s our seven tips for creating a positive daily routine, if you find yourself working remotely.

1. Keep your alarm set!

Sticking to a familiar routine helps - it’s still a work day. Keep your alarm set to its usual time and get showered and dressed by the time you’d usually be leaving the house to commute to work.

2. Continue your commute

As you’re not heading out of the house to get to your workplace anymore, introduce a local walk before you start work, into your routine. This has a number of benefits - fresh air, connection with nature and it punctuates your day. You won’t move seamlessly from bed to desk, which would be no good for your brain or body.

3. Check-in with your colleagues

Connect with colleagues over online calls at the beginning of the day. It provides an opportunity to share concerns, workloads or how you might be able to help each other. It’s easier to hide issues behind emails and the written word, but seeing and speaking to other people regularly helps to open up a dialogue and keep communication positive.

4. Upgrade your lunches

No soggy sandwiches for you anymore! Stepping away from the computer and making lunch from scratch, reading a book for half an hour or sitting outside if you have an enclosed garden space or balcony, will give you a break from screens and continual updates on the virus.

5. Mark the end of the day

Like your new morning ‘commute’, develop a ritual to end the working day. If you can, put your computer away, tidy your working area, go out into the garden if you have one, or try an indoor workout. We enjoy a HIIT with Joe Wicks, love the work Movement for Mums is doing and there’s loads of other free workouts online too.

Try podcast pot luck - listen to the first thing you spot on iTunes

6. Try something new

Use extended time at home to try new things - listen to a different type of podcast (try podcast pot luck - listen to the first thing you spot on iTunes), watch a programme you wouldn’t have thought to before, or read that book from you keep meaning to start.

Keeping your brain active, as well as your body, is just as important.

7. Prioritise sleep

We all know that stress and uncertainty can change our sleeping patterns, so try to be mindful of this. Just like waking, keep to your regular bedtime and add in some relaxation before you hit the hay. Try Annie Clarke's Yoga For Sleep and check her out on instagram

Finally, keep phones and scrolling far away from the bedroom!

We recognise that not everyone has the ability to work from home and that this is a difficult time for people struggling with employment and cash flow. We’ll be bringing more information about how you can look after yourself in these uncertain times in the coming days and weeks.

Getting help and support

With Coronavirus dominating headlines, an abundance of news can be overwhelming in search of factual information. We’ve created a guide on what you need to know about Coronavirus, and how to keep yourself - and others - safe.

If you’re struggling with money worries in relation to COVID-19, Martin Lewis from Money Saving Expert answers your questions in relation to travel insurance, holiday cancellation, sick pay rights and more.

Stress can sometimes manifest itself and become all-consuming, particularly when situations become out of your control, such as the COVID-19 health concern. To combat the feeling of overwhelm, here are five simple steps to de-stress.

Particularly if you struggle with anxiety or another mental health condition, media coverage of a global virus outbreak can be deeply concerning. But there are measures you can take to help protect your mental health, and help yourself and others, in the wake of a global health concern.

You can also visit Counselling Directory to find a local mental health professional who can offer telephone support and/or online therapy.

To find an experienced, qualified therapist near you, enter your postcode below.