As coronavirus is affecting the lives of people all around the world, it could feel like your whole life has been turned upside down overnight. Working from home has been more common for individuals as well as employers who understand the benefits in employees living a well balanced life. The difference now is that this may be the only option for some of us in places under lockdown or semi-lockdown. Stress and anxiety over the pandemic aside - a huge challenge working all day at home is procrastination! Whether you are fortunate to be able to work from home, or looking to be more productive with a stay at home routine, our top 5 tips will definitely help you find structure in the midst of staying at home. 

1. Keep your morning routine
   How you start your day sets the tone for the rest of the day. Even if you are staying home all day every day, you should still stick to a morning routine that sets you up for the rest of the day. Wake up, freshen up, make your bed, make some breakfast and a coffee and don’t forget to wear sunscreen (the sun can damage your skin both indoors and outdoors) and set a time to “start work”.
   
   
2. Create workstations
   Designate a space for work and avoid working from the couch, or the comfort of your bed. Clean up your desk so that you have everything equipped for productivity! An organised work space made for work will keep you focused on your tasks as it mimics the office work environment that you are used to.
   
   
3. Take scheduled breaks
   Don’t forget to schedule breaks for lunch and maybe even an afternoon snack to keep your energy levels up during your wfh day. Breaks are important to keep you from feeling overwhelmed with your day. So remember to take a break to stretch, meditate, refocus, and return to your work with a clearer, more focused mind.
   
   
4. Establish a firm quitting time
   It’s easy to lose track of time/what day it is when you are working from home. Ideally, we don’t want to end up working later into the night than we would if we were at the office. We still need time for family, friends and most importantly - time for ourselves to unwind. That’s why it’s super important to set a time to wrap up and stop work for the day.
   
   
5. Make the most of Video Calls
   Now that the whole team is working from home, people may find it is easier to have voice calls without turning on the video. Is everyone just shy or are we just lazy? Get the whole team to switch on video! Apps like Zoom, Skype or Google Hangouts have been reliable services. Being able to see colleagues or clients face to face online at this time is a valuable way to enhance our daily social interactions. 

Keep it up everyone! We'll get through this. Stay safe x