Working From Home - Tips

Get up at your usual workday time: Eat a good breakfast – Create a morning routine that ends with you starting work

Dress as you normally do for work. It's tempting to spend the day in comfy pjs but it is important to keep to your working day routines as possible

Time spent planning  a work space will pay off. Keep this area clean and uncluttered.

It can be very quiet if you are at home alone so try and replicate background ambiance by having the Radio or TV on in the background, playing music or even online videos with people talking.

Do not get distracted by social media.

Eat a healthy lunch and use the time to go for a walk or sit in the garden. If you normally eat lunch with colleagues, continue to see them on Zoom or Facetime etc

Routine is important for good sleep and mental health for both you and your kids. School starts at a set time, so make sure you are ready and stick to the timetable.  

Create spaces for different activities. You might set up a teaching room (kitchen), quiet room (spare bedroom) and a play area (living room).  

Structure your day like a school day; teaching time, activity time, play time and lunch time – just like their normal school routine.   Make a plan with your kids at the start of the day, ask them what they want to do (within reason) so they feel involved.   Set aside breaks for TV, iPads and exercise. Use these times to schedule work emails or calls.  

Finish at a set time, dinner at a set time and bed at a set time. By getting a routine drilled in early on, you can try and get the kids to sleep at a sensible time, thereby giving yourself some space to work if you need to.   

Try and keep drinking caffeine and alcohol  to a minimum.