One of the biggest learning curves for me when I started to work from home was knowing when to switch off and take a break.

Its one of the hardest disciplines to master and its taken me years to believe its okay to say sorry I’m finished now got to go and then switch off the PC or phone.

I don’t know if its because I felt guilty for being at home as I knew my colleagues still had to get in a car or run for the train before they could relax, or I felt I needed to show I was at work regardless of where I was.

Needless to say, it doesn’t make you more productive, happier or healthy it’s a bad attitude to have and with more people than ever now forced to work from home in environments that are unusual, not everyone will be happy and know how to manage that situation.

The Institute for  Employment Studies, “Working at home well being” survey at the beginning of lockdown showed that there had been a significant increase in muscular complaints, sore neck 58% and back 55%

Half of the respondents report not being happy with their work-life balance, longer irregular hours can exacerbate the situation.

• What can you do?
• Set a working day timetable,
•  Have a start and a finish time agree
  

  Take a break when working at home

  these with your managers,

•  Let colleagues know your hours of work,
• Put an out of hours message on your phone and email advising callers when you will be back
• Stick to the rules you make and don’t be tempted to go and check your emails.

Take regular breaks throughout the day to eat, exercise, stretch, pat the dog, stroke the cat, go for a walk

I know this isn’t easy as I’m having to retrain my husband on the same thing, but believe me, it makes a huge difference to family life.

Also, check out desk yogi at www.onsiteplus.com/desk – yogi if you want to build reminders to take breaks and refocus during the day.