I remember distinctly the time in 2010 when I was allowed, as Assistant Headteacher in a school locally, to work from home one day a week. It was a Thursday and it was truly liberating. I could get up, walk the kids to school, walk home and start work on the timetable all day without the interruptions that inevitably came from having an office in a building with 1200 students and 100 colleagues.
I worked hard all day, barely taking breaks as I felt a real sense of release and privilege, even though timetabling lessons in a split-site school was akin to completing a Rubik’s Cube.
Whilst blindfolded.
And wearing gloves.
In 2013 to 2015, when signed off and setting up this business, depression saw me become inertly unmotivated. I was clinically ill of course, traumatised and broken and it was only a year later that I began the slow ascent back into relative sanity.
Working from home is now second nature to me – and to many others. And I wouldn’t swap it for any other form of working. But there’s pitfalls and I’d like to highlight some of these and share tips for making WFH a joyous experience.
Create a separate space
Easier said than done, I know, if space is in short supply at home. I’ve got older children and a larger home with a bedroom that I’ve transformed over 5 years. It does allow me though to set working hours, close the door when working and open it for a break. I can also close the laptop, turn off the tethered monitor and walk away at 6pm if the day’s work is done. Some people have a garden office to create even more separation, but I don’t feel the need for that.
Make a list
I do make physical notes with a nice Wingback pen and Leuchtturm1917 or Moleskine notebook of tasks to do and enjoy ticking them off. I used to keep them on Notability on the iPad but I like the act of writing on nice paper with a quality pen so have moved to that.
Work in chunks and stay focused
I’m trapped happily in the Apple ecosystem and use the native Focus skills in there. I tap Do Not Disturb on iPhone and keyboard and emails, calls and social media pings are all ignored automatically. It means I can set a timer for 30 minutes or an hour and get substantial amounts of work done in that time. I’ve recently read of a technique too where you start work with a 5 minute burst. Then a 5 minute break before you launch into the hour long task. I do this five or six times a day and my work output is incredible because I’m not distracted by intrusions.
Take breaks
My home office has a lovely sofa where I sit or lie with iPad to relax. I do close my eyes too and often have a 10 minute “nana nap” in the afternoon. I do eat away from my desk at lunch and dinner (dinner and tea, if you’re northern and poor). I do scroll through social and news too in breaks.
Leisure is fuel for the brain
I can’t stress this enough. Making time to walk the dog, wander woods, swim in a river or lake, meet up for a coffee, amble round a city centre, play tennis are not ways of avoiding work but ways of enhancing it. I often have creative ideas when I’m doing 30 lengths in a pool. I often get struck with inspiration when snapping photos in London or in Norwich.
I have a rich life outside my beautiful home office and that influences the work I create when standing or sitting at my electric desk.
The danger of course with working from home is that you can lack discipline or motivation to either: work too much or do no work at all. I think that by working in concentrated spurts each day, I have no problem in taking time off to go to Lisbon or Madrid. Humble brag, I know.
I do hope that these tips have been useful from someone who’s worked from home and away from home for 35 years now.
Oh, and if you’re thinking about setting up as a freelancer, let me design your website and socials. I’ve made a massive success of working on this business and I can, of course, help you do the same.
Get in touch today.
