Working from home has become the new norm for millions of people around the world - including us. And while there are definitely perks, there’s also the question of how to manage your own time - and today, many of us are meeting new challenges, like how to homeschool your children between meetings.
To help make remote working productive, healthy, motivating and collaborative, the distillery team is sharing our top working from home tips and insights with you. Here’s what’s been working for us so far:
“Being left to your own devices when it comes to time management can be a real productivity killer,” says Martin, based in Paris. “I need that little external pressure to keep me focused, so I stick to a system of work time, downtime, focus, and reward.”
What else can you do with your break times? These distillers tell us how they’re mixing it up: “Check out https://bachtrack.com,” says Peter, our senior strategist. “There are lots of free concerts and live performances in there to keep you company - and it’s great thinking music.” Our group account director in Singapore, Simon, adds that breaks are a good time to get the blood circulating. “I do 5 laps of the apartment, 10 push-ups, and 45 second planks every hour,” he says. Nicely done, Simon!
Still in Singapore, Monica, who writes in English and Chinese, is a fan of keeping a schedule: “Try to stick to a timetable, with breaks in between to rest your eyes,” she says, adding that it helps to keep her WiFi off whenever possible so she isn’t tempted to browse social media.
We have lots of parents juggling the new norm as well, so we asked mum and writer Alycia to share some tips: “With a toddler at home, my work hours are usually in the evening, when I get some peace and quiet,” she says. “To stay focused during these precious hours, I remove any distractions – no social media and no family members allowed in, especially toddlers!”
Liza, another busy mum, and a tri-lingual writer, agrees and reminds us all how important it is to create a dedicated workspace (even if it’s just your bedroom). “Set up a desk, chair, calendar, and stationery,” she says from her workspace in West Yorkshire. “Then identify your most productive times in the day and create a routine around it to sit there and get work done.
Apart from figuring out what works best for them, our team agrees that something positive about this challenging time, is that it’s a unique opportunity to ‘rediscover’ yourself. “I like wearing noise-cancelling headphones, counting my coffees so that I’m not bouncing off the walls by 4pm, and having lunch at the exact same time every day,” shares Jonah, based in Paris. Back in England, Heman adds: “I’ve definitely found out a lot about myself - for example, it turns out that walking around my living room in circles is often the quickest way to solve a problem.” (If you try this one, let us know!)
It’s clear that most people find their own way to make things work. For our writer in Japan, Joji, it’s about maintaining structure while taking advantage of your newfound freedom: “Some things can boost your productivity but would be awkward in an office: now’s the time to take naps or practice yoga between meetings.”
Paula, who previously worked from our Covent Garden HQ, says that overall it’s helpful to keep the day’s structure pretty much the same as if you were going to the office: “I don’t take it as literally as this guy,” she jokes, “but I do recommend waking up early, having a shower, making yourself a good breakfast, and being ready to get cracking by 9AM.”
Your turn: How are you staying productive and positive at home?
Tweet us if you’ve tried any of our tips and share what’s working for you.