Working from home

(This blog was first written in March 2020 so please excuse any outdated numbers!)

Ok, I will admit it, this is far from the first blog / article / tweet / Linkedin update / Facebook status / cave drawing on tips for working from home. However, as someone who has been working from home for nearly 10 years (you could say Somerset Estates was way ahead of the trend!) here are TTs top tips for home working:

1. Get dressed

It is very easy to be lazy and simply wear pyjamas or jogging trousers. This sounds simple, but it took me a while to figure how helpful it was to be properly dressed. I do not mean a full on suit and tie (I very rarely wear a tie for anything apart from weddings these days), but the action of getting dressed helps set me up for the day ahead and makes me feel more professional.

2. Work space

Set up a dedicated work space within your home. Ideally this would be a completely separate room, however, I realise this is not possible for everybody. When Somerset Estates REIT listed on TISE I was still working from my dining table. I must have been the only Chief Executive of a REIT working from their dining table! If at all possible carve out a space somewhere quiet and comfortable and treat it as if you were still in the office. I find it difficult to be productive with my laptop sitting on the sofa.

3. Tech!

It is important to set yourself up with reliable tech. You do not want to be halfway through a long email or project and have your computer fail on you, trust me!

4. Communication

Working from home can be lonely. Keeping in touch with work colleagues / family & friends is crucial and obviously many meetings are being carried out remotely. The company my wife is currently working for have set up a 30min daily social call with all staff members where discussions about work are forbidden. I think this is a great idea.

There are plenty of online tools that help stay in touch. However, do be careful when using a webcam, there are plenty of horror stories about when this goes wrong!

Do not forget that there is nothing wrong with the good old fashioned telephone

5. Breaks

Take breaks whenever you can. Do not feel guilty for taking some time to watch your favourite TV show etc. Working from home can be stressful so it is important to take time to relax during the day.

6. Exercise

If you normally commute into work the daily walk to the station or office is no longer happening. For many of us, this could be our only exercise during the day. Therefore, if you are now working from home try and replicate the amount of walking you normally do. Obviously in the current climate I can understand why many of you might want to stay at home all day so try to ensure that you get up and walk around the house as much as possible.

7. Furry friends

This might be unique to me, however, it is also something that I only realised was beneficial a couple of years ago when my wife and I collected our furry cat friend Malbec (yes, after the wine!) from Croydon Cats Protection. When it all gets a bit stressful, he is great at taking my mind off things. He also loves making an appearance when either of us are on an important video conference call, which does sometimes help lighten the mood.

8. Mental state

Working from home might seem like a nice change and first, but it can quickly become a drag on your mental health, especially with everything else going on at the moment. It is important to be aware of your mental state and if you feel yourself getting down do something that you know will lighten the mood. For me it is golf or watching The Arsenal (one thing I am 100% missing at the moment is football!).

Overall, I love working from home. Yes it has its challenges, but I think it allows me to be more productive and I do not have to worry about the dreaded daily commute. If you are working from home for the first time enjoy it and hopefully everything will be back to normal soon.

Stay safe and look after yourselves. I am going to try to write a few more blogs over the coming weeks so look out for them!