Galway

For many people, working from home has become an integral part of their 'new normal' lives over the past year.&nbsp;
it may be strange for some but thousands of people work remotely every day, we have caught up with a few to put some solid advice together for those of you about to start. 
 1. Walk to work. 
 Yes, walk to work, it sounds simple but almost every remote worker we spoke to recommends that a brisk walk in the morning will get you in a better frame of mind for the working day ahead. So, once you have had your breakfast or coffee, head out that door and take a 15 to 30-minute walk, get some fresh air and clear the mind. Be mindful of social distancing and stay at least 2m clear of anyone else you meet on the street. 

2. Set up your work area. 
 Your first day working from home may not be your most productive, but there are some things you can do day 1 to set yourself up for the coming weeks and months ahead. Create your workspace, ideally in a dedicated room. Clear it of clutter and get yourself set with your laptop, phone and any documents you may need. 

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3. Select your tools. If your employer has not already recommended tools for you to use, we recommend the following; 
a. Work Chat - Slack: 
Don’t use Whatsapp, keep that for personal conversations. See the top 5 tips for getting started on slack <a href="https://slack.com/intl/en-ie/resources/using-slack/slack-tutorials?eu_nc=1" target="_blank">HERE</a> 

b. Discord or Zoom:
Discord is mainly for gamers but it is free to use and has video and chat tools. Zoom is the biggest video conferencing tool in the world right now and will have all you need for meetings and file sharing. 


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4. Video Breaktime

Plan your break times with colleagues over video and have the chats. Social interaction will be limited over the coming months so make sure to take time to have those water-cooler moments face to face using your teams preferred video conferencing tools. 

5. Plan your day

Make yourself a little plan every morning on what you need to achieve. Break down large tasks into deliverables and work through a 'to do' list. Don't beat yourself up if you are not as productive as you would be in the office, there will be a period of adjustment and you will get there. 


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AVOID THE SOFA

6. Lunch Break

Make sure you stop for lunch, get up and get away from the screen for 30 to 60 minutes. Recharge the batteries and try to avoid the T.V., the couch is a death trap, can be difficult to get off it and it could scupper your day. Have a healthy lunch and keep your immune system on track. If possible, get out for a 10 to 15-minute walk and clear the head before getting stuck in for the afternoon. 

7. Rinse and Repeat

Get stuck back in for the afternoon, and use the last 30 minutes of your day to review what you have accomplished today and make your plan for tomorrow. If you are working as part of a team, Trello is a great tool for sharing tasks over larger projects. Again, give it time, it is a big transition and it will take a few days to get used to remote working.

Guide to Working From Home

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