Gloucestershire &amp; Worcestershire


<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/pretty-desk-unsplash--720x480.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-103984" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find your space</h2>



<p>Creating a specific (ideally well-lit) space to work from home is spot-on for your sanity. If you have to work in a communal space like the kitchen or living room, tidy it away at the end of the day to signify that you’re off the clock, and&nbsp;<em>never</em>&nbsp;work in the bedroom – it’ll interfere with your sleep (as well as any other nighttime activities *cough*).</p>



<p>Top tips:</p>



<ul><li>Dig out your noise-cancelling headphones to avoid distractions – and so the rest of the household doesn’t have to hear your conference call.</li><li>Watch your back. Chances are your new workspace won’t be nearly as ergonomic as your old one.</li><li>If you need to make important on-camera calls, make sure you have somewhere where you can shut the door (and remind the others in your space not to come in – we’ve all seen the clip of the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh4f9AYRCZY" target="_blank">BBC interview</a>&nbsp;which went, shall we say, a little off-piste. Hilarious for the ones watching, mind you).</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Get set, get dressed, go!</h2>



<p>You might fancy working in your PJs, but getting ready every morning will put you in the right headspace to be productive (plus avoid any impromptu video call embarrassment).</p>



<p>Top tips:</p>



<ul><li>If you’re dialling in for calls but can’t bear to sit in your work wardrobe in your own living room, at least look presentable from the waist up – ruffled shirt and PJ bottom combo, here we come.</li><li>We’re big fans of a fluffy slipper here at Muddy, but others suggest that wearing shoes puts you in the right frame of mind for working.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/woman-at-desk-720x480.jpg" alt="Woman working from home in heels" class="wp-image-103903" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Stay motivated</h2>



<p>Being at home can mess with your mind when it comes to work, whether it’s being tempted to try and fit in too much housework (I&nbsp;<em>could</em>&nbsp;write that difficult email, but then who would re-grout the bathroom?) or finding your schedule totally thrown off kilter. Give yourself regular breaks to avoid the temptation to procrastinate, and set yourself achievable to-do lists every day to keep on track. Yes, putting ‘make to-do list’ on the list totally counts.</p>



<p>Top tips:</p>



<ul><li>Create a schedule of household chores and limit them to specific times of the day. E.g. put a wash on in the morning, hang it out when you break mid-morning, clear the kitchen up when you prepare lunch etc.</li><li>Food calls louder at home, so if you don’t trust yourself not to give into temptation, keep treats/biscuits/Easter eggs on a high shelf or stowed away in a cupboard. When the cries of anguish get too loud from the sprogs, buy kid-pleasers you won’t be tempted to nibble on (Dairylea Lunchables, anyone?).</li><li>If you’re struggling with focus, the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomodoro_Technique" target="_blank">Pomodoro Technique</a>&nbsp;can be a great way to stay motivated. You work for 25 mins, then break for 5 mins, repeat x 4 cycles then have a longer break – use a timer to track, or download an app like&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/focus-keeper-time-management/id867374917" target="_blank">Focus Keeper.</a></li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Working with your partner</h2>



<p>It’s no coincidence that divorce rates are spiking in China right now! If you’re both working from home at once, throwing quarantine lockdown and childcare into the mix may start WW3 brewing in your living room. If you have enough space to designate separate working zones, then&nbsp;<em>do it</em>, and bear in mind that you may have to work in shifts to juggle the kids.</p>



<p>Top tips:</p>



<ul><li>Schedule separate working hours for each of you. If you have kids, regular office hours may have to go out the window to make childcare possible.</li><li>Work out who can do tasks early in the morning or late into the evening. You’ll probably need a shared diary/whiteboard and make sure there is time for both of your non-negotiable workday calls/deadlines.</li><li>Be considerate. Phone calls and chatter is less noticeable in an office but somehow one person on the phone at home is a total ear-magnet.&nbsp;Use your call as a chance to get up and move out of a shared room or go outside and give bored, self-isolating neighbours something to ear-wag.&nbsp;</li></ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Working with kids</h2>



<p>There is NO stress like the stress of trying to work with a small person, and the electronic babysitter can only do so much before mum guilt sets in. In these more unprecedented times, you’re going to have to work out a way of keeping everyone occupied.</p>



<p>Top tips:</p>



<ul><li>If you really have to get something done, like a call or meeting, try setting the kids small projects with achievable outcomes (“See if you can build this Lego/draw this flower in 10 minutes!”) to give you at least some small chunks of time. Bribes, threats, and a promise of wine later (for you, obvs) helps too.</li><li>Schedule working time and kid time and try and keep the two separate (so if it’s your turn to spend an hour doing a kid-focused activity, try and put down your emails).&nbsp;</li><li>We’ll be giving you plenty of ideas on Muddy for keeping kids occupied – try these&nbsp;<a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/kids/kids-activities/kids-online-classes/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">creative classes for starters</a>.</li></ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/03/coombe-hill-720x389.jpg" alt="Coombe Hill countryside walk" class="wp-image-103800" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Work out your non-negotiables</h2>



<p>We might all be in our own spaces for a long time, so think strategically from the off to create a good family rhythm (and avoid major tantrums/meltdowns). Make sure everyone has some input and decide what things you’re going to commit to doing.</p>



<p>Top tips:</p>



<ul><li>If you can, getting some fresh air every day is going to help prevent the stir-crazy from setting in. That’s not going to be possible for everyone, particularly if people are ill, but in the social distancing phase a daily walk might work, particularly if you’ve a pooch who won’t understand lack of walkies. Take a look at some of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/family-days-out/6-circular-family-walks-we-love/" target="_blank">our local favourites here</a>.</li><li>Keep fit. We’ll do a round-up of local fitness bods with online classes soon, but in the meantime, dig out that ancient exercise DVD, get the Wii hooked up or use whatever resources you have to hand to help. Involve the kids to burn off some of that excess energy too (you can call it homeschool P.E.).</li><li>Think about how you will cook (apparently we’re all living off pasta, according to supermarket shelves) and prioritise eating meals together. If you have teens this is a great time to get back into a habit, as they’ve literally nowhere else to be!</li><li>Face-to-face contact may be limited, but writing letters and making FaceTime/Skype calls isn’t. Try a daily family call, or ‘meet’ with your girlfriends over video once a week for drinks from afar.</li></ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Apps &amp; tech</h2>



<p>No better time than to try and make yourself more tech-savvy! Embrace some of the apps that can make your working day easier or more social – these are great starting points.</p>



<ul><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://zoom.us/" target="_blank">Zoom</a>&nbsp;– we use this for our daily team meetings. You can share your screen, send files and chat face-to-face – it’s almost as if you’re in the same room (just remember to mute your mic when you’re not talking!).</li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://trello.com/" target="_blank">Trello</a>&nbsp;– this is for planning, big or small. Keep to-do-lists, workflows etc that sync with your computer and your phone, and share with other team members.</li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.google.com/drive/" target="_blank">Google Drive</a>&nbsp;– the big daddy when it comes to shared files and information.&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.dropbox.com/" target="_blank">Dropbox</a>&nbsp;is handy too.</li><li><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://toggl.com/" target="_blank">Toggl</a>&nbsp;– this is great for recording time spent on multiple clients or projects.</li></ul>



<p>Any other top tips? Let us know in the comments!</p>


How to WFH (getting it right this time round)

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