Top Tips: Working productively at home

Flexible working has changed, virtually overnight, from being perceived by businesses as a supportive tool, to a business essential. Many firms are already responding to the spread of COVID-19 by requesting employees work from home, with more likely to follow as the global situation worsens. For both employers and employees, rapid adjustment to a new way of working will be needed to ensure business continuity; so if you're used to being based in an office, read on for our top tips on how to be productive when working remotely.

Prioritise. Begin each morning by making a list of what you want to achieve that day and roughly when.
Communicate. Great communication is key, so tell your team what you’re working on – don’t assume they’ll figure it out for themselves. Share your task list each morning and send a closing update at the end of the day.
Keep it face-to-face. Where possible use video calls with colleagues and clients, rather than email, to maintain personal interaction and visibility.
If your day is crammed, don’t be afraid to be assertive and highlight your workload. If you need to, engage your boss and colleagues to ensure the right work is prioritised.
Take control of email. Give yourself allotted time to manage your inbox, and don’t fear working ‘offline’ to avoid interruption and distraction, downloading emails when you’re ready to read them.
Get tech ready. There’s nothing worse than logging into your video phone system 1 minute before a call is due to start, only to find it needs a software update, your laptop won't start or your wifi needs a reboot. So prepare for conference calls by getting the technology ready, setup and working in good time before an important call.
Dress smart. Wearing pyjamas may feel tempting but it doesn’t help your brain into work mode – and won’t look great on a video call.
Get some fresh air. A short break and walk around the garden can clear your head and have a real impact on productivity.
Maintain boundaries; if you’re asked to respond to a task after-hours, avoid the temptation to ‘just quickly log on’, and clarify whether it can wait until morning. If you find email encroaching into your evenings, set yourself a defined window to check what’s going on at work, and stick to it.
Avoid working in your bedroom. You need to create mental distance between your home life and home-based work, so keep work where possible to living areas and, ideally, to a separate space with a door that you can close and leave behind at the end of your working day.

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