"Make a cat-proof barrier around your keyboard."
As efforts to contain the coronavirus escalate, it's likely that more and more of us will be required to start working from home.
While working from home might be a doddle for some, others are new to it.
Thus planetary scientist Emily Lakdawalla asked those with WFH experience to share tips on Twitter.
For some it's all about setting a routine and setting yourself a number of rules and bvoundaries.
More tips (especially if you live with someone else):
•wear headphones and listen to music to block out external noise
•if music doesn't work for you, get earplugs! They're extremely useful
•schedule work time! Set up times with your roommate for using the living room for work— Sophia Gad-Nasr (@Astropartigirl) March 8, 2020
Pick a healthy reset & refocus task to get back on track.
It can be a stretch break, walking around the block, sweeping the floors, having a mini dance party, showering, whatever as long as it’s short & defined. Otherwise you’ll idle by snacking & browsing social media.— Mika McKinnon (@mikamckinnon) March 8, 2020
Other emphasised not being too strict on yourself as it can be a tough adjustment.
Accept that there will be distractions and don't best yourself up or consider a whole afternoon wasted.
You wouldn't be so hard on yourself if you were in the office and someone brought in a dog or there was unexpected cake or a dress on the internet of disputable colour.— Charlie (@CharlieEdmunds) March 8, 2020
Lots of replies focus on productivity and how to switch into work mode. Very few on the end of the day.
Make sure you have a routine that marks the end of the working day to replace your commute. You need and deserve to 'switch off' again.— Dreadnought Holiday (@TheDreadShips) March 8, 2020
Still others who have cats in their houses have felt the pressures of working from homes as their feline friends see it as an opportunity to get some love and attention.
This is the one piece of practical advice I’ve read so far.
— The Thane of Lochaber's Ghost (@andy_tweetz) March 8, 2020
Strong yes from me (and my cat) pic.twitter.com/i75HcIl8kl
— Rebecca Rykalski (@SGL26) March 8, 2020
Perhaps build a wall with all the toilet paper 🧻 you’ve hoarded?
🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻🧻— The Thane of Lochaber's Ghost (@andy_tweetz) March 8, 2020
That will only delay them, but it will not stop them.
Resistance is futile. Prepare to be catsimilated. I leave a little space between the keyboard and the screen to allow my cats to be comfortable there without being over the keys.— Emilio Molina (@ej_molina_c) March 8, 2020
I read one guy's suggestion that you put out a broken keyboard so the cat can have it's own. Turns out it doesn't work if you have two cats. pic.twitter.com/lvqgRetNkX
— Gail Edington (@GailEdington) March 8, 2020
Speaking of, your clothing is important as it ensures you enter "work mode."
This is huge for me, even if I'm just changing from night pajamas to "day pajamas" (leggings, comfy top) - it's still a shift into a different mode.
— not that karen (@full_escape) March 9, 2020
1 o’clock pants rule - you have to be wearing pants by midday and it can’t be sweatpants or any other kind of drawstring pants.
I’m not even joking. You don’t have to dress formally, but get out of your pajamas. It makes a huge difference in your mental state.— Aharon Rabinowitz (@ABAOProductions) March 8, 2020
1. Put on real workplace appropriate clothes.
2. Take amount of a.m. commute time to read, have coffee, listen to podcast, etc.
3. Have a distinct working area. Bonus if closeable door.
4. Avoid household chores on 'break'
5. Keep normal lunch time and duration
6. Headphones— Dustin Hughes (@dustin_hughes) March 8, 2020
Set boundaries with those your living with is another helpful piece of advice.
Make sure your friends/family/roommates understand that just because you’re home doesn’t mean you can talk or hang out during work hours. Talk to them BEFORE this becomes an issue.
— Rebecca Eisenberg 🥯 (@ryeisenberg) March 8, 2020
Last but not least, get outside and breathe the fresh air. Don't get cooped up if you're working from home.
Go for a 1/2 mile walk before you sit down to start, and if possible, come in by the backdoor. That way it feels like you're going to work, not your house (pattern behavior, a trick I used to use when I freelanced). Also turn social media off for 2 hours at a time.
— Paul Guinnessy (@PaulGuinnessy) March 8, 2020
Leave the house in the morning to go to work, walk round the block and then come back into your house and settle down to work. Helps make the mental transition.
— Henry Dimbleby (@HenryDimbleby) March 8, 2020
1) Leave the house every day, even if just to walk around the block. 2) Set yourself a deadline - all work for the day must be done by X o’clock. Schedule something non-work at that time. (Ideally have very loud kids arrive home! 3) Reward yourself at X o’clock with something.
— Anna Hazel Crotty (@AnnaCrotty2) March 8, 2020