How to get used to a home office and stay cool

• workplace preparation
• choosing the right hardware (monitor, docking station)
• remote communication tools
• project management tools
• time tracking tools
• video conferencing tools
• more home office tips
• free time tips
• What to avoid in a home office

How to prepare for home office mode

The biggest pressure on your work will come in the first weeks of quarantine. - companies are currently trying to adapt to a total change in the environment, quick decisions are being made and you will have to to learn not only to not think about the situation outside the windows of your home , but to be productive and even take care of yourself .

Establish a fixed daily routine

A solid schedule is the foundation of success . Not only will it help you transition smoothly to working from home, but it will also encourage you to maintain the same routines as if you were going to a real office. So remember:

• to get up and start working at the same time
• to have lunch at the same time
• and especially to finish work at the same time

The only thing most people will have to change is the way they handle food and drink. Coffee and tea breaks will probably be a bit longer, and you will have to cook your own lunches in advance (unless you have someone at home to take care of it for you, or you use a delivery service). So far, cooking in the evenings while watching interesting videos or listening to podcasts has worked well for us.

Create a space for a home office at home

Set aside one or two places in your apartment where you will stay while working. The first should replace your office or open space. Ideally, it should include:

• table (ideally with a larger area and a height from the ground of approx. 75 cm)
• a chair (ideal for an office chair, but a kitchen chair can also work)
• PC or laptop
• monitor
• writing utensils and note paper
• and all the other things you're used to from work

Our tip: if you have the opportunity, equip your desk with speakers , at least one lamp and insert at least one into the nearest electrical outlet power strip/plug in the extension cord . It is suitable for powering not only a computer or monitor, but also a phone charger, lamps, and speakers.

If you have a laptop, you can also set aside another spot for relaxing or conference calls, which you will surely have in abundance. This spot could easily be a comfortable chair in the living room.

Home office hardware

Did you know that An external monitor can increase your productivity by 20-30% ? It's not something to throw away and most people are already used to it from the office. At ITzoo you can choose different sizes, but also quality and Monitor prices start from 29 Euros . You can read about the advantages of an external monitor in a separate article .

Another advantageous investment at a great price can be docking station , which It will expand the number of different ports , make it as easy as possible to plug your laptop into the power outlet when moving it around your apartment or house, and improve the tilt of your laptop keyboard.

Tools for communicating with colleagues

Employees in many companies still communicate most often in person, or by phone and email. These companies need to implement as soon as possible internal communication tool for instant messaging . The most common solutions used in Slovakia and the Czech Republic:

• Slack
• Microsoft Teams

Project management and assignment and tracking tools

If you haven't used a similar tool yet, now is the time. While working from home, you can prepare for a lot of tasks that you will either record on paper or online . The second option is clearly more practical, especially if you work on some tasks with other people. If you were to use only the company chat, you could very quickly get lost in the flood of messages. We recommend at least one of these tools:

• Trello
• Asana
• Teamwork

Time tracking tools

If you're obsessed with productivity, or you need to track the time spent on individual tasks, definitely consider a tool for tracking time on individual projects or clients. Toggl is our choice - this time without an alternative :) The basic and completely sufficient version is also free.

Video conferencing tools

Personal You will have to replace meetings with group calls during home office. - ideally with the possibility of seeing each other. We recommend the following:

• Google Hangouts
• Zoom meeting
• Skype

Other practical tips for working from home

If you've already equipped yourself properly in terms of hardware and software, it wouldn't hurt to review a few tips on how to get the most out of a home office in your company for your career future:

• try to remind the company or boss - in a shared hut react , add reactions or ask relevant questions ; the more people see your activity, the more they will remember you after (and during) the crisis; this can help you significantly in future salary or position negotiations
• try to support your superior and show initiative and interest
• communicate clearly and structuredly - avoid grammatical errors and unclear text so that you don't make life difficult for your colleagues instead of smooth communication

How to manage home office, social isolation and not go crazy about it

Humans are social creatures, and although we recommend distancing ourselves from family, partners, or roommates during work, most people certainly welcome the company of another being during their downtime or on the weekend.

Strengthen family relationships

The current situation provides a unique opportunity to strengthen connections with family and friends, even when you are apart. By showing interest in their situation and checking in on them, you can to foster a sense of belonging in the family , which is rarely seen in today's fast-paced world.

Reach out to friends you don't often see.

Over time, friendships fade, and that's normal. But wouldn't it be worth writing a few of them down and seeing how they're doing? You never know. What interesting things can you learn and how can it help you in the future ?

Ask older people in your area if they need help with shopping.

Volunteering is currently in vogue and seniors, as the most vulnerable group, need our help. Print out on a printer, for example a flyer with your phone number and stick it in the elevator with a message that you would be happy to help with the shopping . Maybe someone will be very grateful and you will have one more reason to go outside after work or on the weekend for a little air.

Strengthen your immunity and exercise

Staying indoors for a long time and not exercising can cause your immunity to suffer in the long term. For example, why not order juicer and try juices from different fruits ? You can also start each day with a little warm-up, which can help, for example: A hanging exercise system that you can easily attach to the door.

Do the things you never have time for.

We constantly put off many things because we don't have time for them. And yet they are important! When was the last time you backed up data to an external drive, finally read one of the many downloaded e-books, tidied up the messy desk, or cleaned out and threw out old things from the closet? Now is the right time to do all of that :)

What you shouldn't do at home office

The main benefit of working from home is freedom. However, as is usually the case - too much of anything is bad, and in this case especially. Humans are naturally comfortable creatures and unless the situation, willpower or colleagues explicitly pressure you, Productivity will be rather average . In the current situation, specific activities will definitely not help her - for example, monitoring infection statistics several times a day, the need to cook, phone calls with family, etc. You have to tell yourself. and perform these activities only after work, or during your lunch break.

Definitely avoid the following activities:

• news coverage (even if only in the background)
• after-hours phone calls with family and friends at any time of the day
• instant messaging (turn off notifications while working, turn your phone screen down and mute it)
• interviews during working hours with family, partner or roommates (if you can, lock yourself in your office)
• don't panic just because you hear a siren on the street
• don't invite your friends over (ideally even after work)
• don't drink alcohol during work
• and overall, avoid distractions as much as possible

After following at least half of these tips, you will We guarantee that you will be able to get most of the work done on time. and in the long run, you eliminate another potential source of stress.

In conclusion

Surviving the home office in mental health and returning to the public after a long time is not only a great challenge, but it is also an opportunity to get to know yourself from a different perspective. We wish you to manage the current situation well and make the most of the opportunities it offers.