While millions of New Zealanders have been working from home these past few weeks, it’s likely some are finding it much better than others. This article gives you some handy tips to make your working from home (WFH) experience as good as it possibly can be. 

Keep a regular routine

WFH offers a lovely short commute and no time stuck in traffic. But it can make it hard to get started as you don’t have the commute to get you mentally ready for the day’s work. A simple routine and a to-do list are your friends. 

Talk to others and ask for what you need

The lockdown can be a very isolating period especially for those who find plenty of social connection at their workplace. Whether you are self-employed or work for a large firm, he waka eke noa - we’re all in this together. So reach out to a colleague, a team member or a friend to chat about how you are getting on, and to seek help if you need it. 

Over-communicate! 

Some businesses report that collaboration gets slower and teamwork gets a little worse with widespread remote working. This doesn’t need to be the case, and in fact, many businesses thrive using an “all remote” model. Make sure you are in the latter category by taking on a few extra communications as part of your day. Ring a colleague for a chat, let others know what you are up to, try a little harder to join a call you might otherwise skip - even if it’s just to “kia ora” and then get on with other activities. 

Answer the phone! 

While your office is physically closed, your landlines should be diverting to mobile. You may find the simple acts of answering the phone, returning voicemails promptly, and so forth, become absolutely necessary. Plenty of businesses can’t take orders from customers walking into the store. Make sure you’re accessible while you’re WFH to keep business turning over. 

Be flexible and kind to yourself

Unusual times call for special measures. Everyone, especially employers, needs to prioritise community safety and harm minimisation over convenience. That goes for individual remote workers too. Mark sure you are looking after yourself and your whanau through this process. 

Know when to turn off

If you haven’t been WFH regularly prior to the pandemic, you may feel your work is surrounding you 24/7 thanks to smartphones and fast broadband. It’s important that you keep your work-life balance or even improve upon it. That means making sure you mentally “log off” at the end of the day unless you’re in a role where you absolutely have to be available for work in the evening.