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1. Keep to your usual routine
This applies not only to the time of your first cup of coffee or the to-do list you might create each morning, but also to the time you start work and the outfit you choose. Pretend you're going to the office, dress as usual, and prepare for your workday the same way you always would—including the coffee, of course!
2. Plan your breaks
Take a break every now and then, because you won't have any interruptions from colleagues, you might find yourself working more intensively on one session than usual - so plan regular breaks and then not only go to the kitchen for your next coffee, but also go for a short walk to clear your mind and be fresh for the next task.
3. Set limits
Not only spatially, by working only in a specific spot in your home, but also temporally, by setting a start and end time for your tasks. Be consistent and stick to them, just as you'd have to leave at some point to catch your train at the office.
4. Learn to deal with a little loneliness
For those of you who are home alone: Working from home can be very pleasant, as you avoid the sometimes nerve-wracking commute and are usually faced with fewer interruptions. However, it can also be very quiet and even lonely, as you can't just chat with a colleague. So, be prepared for this and make a conscious effort to call one or more colleagues from time to time, even if just to find out how they're feeling in their mobile office.
5. Making phone calls in the home office
Haven't been speaking properly all day and now suddenly you have an important conference call? Here's what you can do to make your voice sound soft and mellow:
- talk to yourself or sing something (no one can hear it in the home office)
- do good to your voice (and not just you) – drink regularly and in sufficient quantities
- choose the right posture: sitting straight on a chair or standing (but then stop in one place)
- smile while talking on the phone (no joke, because you notice it at the other end). For example, stick a smiley (drawn on a Post-It) to your screen so you don't forget
- Try to find out the conversation type of your counterpart – which senses does he use more often, does he speak more about “I hear", "I see" or "I feelUse knowledge and similar terms to better engage with your counterpart and thus build a positive relationship despite a lack of presence
- and even if the voice is now oiled, as with any good communication: Listen first, then speak yourself
6. Last but not least
When you've reached the limit you set for the day, close your laptop and turn off your work phone. Put away all work documents and make your home your home again. Do something completely different, perhaps take another short walk to clear your mind, just as you normally use the commute home to reflect on the day and prepare for the end of the day.
You can find all the tips here again for download as PDF
We wish you all a good and hopefully not too long time in the home office, continued good contact with colleagues and customers and – stay healthy![:]
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