Make agile working work for you and your team

The pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to many more of us working from home for at least a few days most weeks and learning to collaborate via Zoom, Teams and other digital tools.

Rather than travelling physically between meetings, we change from one Zoom screen to another. And instead of commuting at rush hour, we claim a space in the home.

There are plenty of ways to minimise the downsides and accentuate the upsides of agile working while protecting our mental and physical health.

Create your home office

Have a dedicated workspace in the home, even if that’s just a corner of your living room. Ideally, this should be a room with a door that you can close, away from noisy spaces. Some people recommend having a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign you stick on the door!

Find the most comfortable chairs in your home with back support and alternate between these, if that’s practical, to prevent too much pressure on any part of your spine. If you don’t have a desk to work at, investing in laptop tray, riser or support will keep both the machine and you from overheating as well as lifting it to a more ergonomic level.

Form good habits

Get into a routine, settling down to work at the same time each morning. You may find it helps to begin by working out your priorities for the day and noting what you want to complete or make progress on by the close of play. Make sure you retain some flexibility for those tasks that come in without notice – that way you won’t be unnecessarily stressed.

Stay connected

Make regular contact with your team. Some find it helpful to begin with a Zoom or Teams call at 9am, supplemented by WhatsApp for chat or general work queries and answers throughout the day. Prioritise regular one-to-ones, even if the only option is via video call. And find creative ways to keep the casual-side of workplace chat going, with ‘cuppa and chat’ opportunities with a ban on work conversations. Schedule in time to discuss weekend plans and talk about the weather!

Be active

When you finish a meeting or a lengthy piece of work, stand up. Give your body a good stretch and shake. Perhaps do some simple yoga stretches or jog on the spot for a minute or two.

During your lunch break, aim to take at least a 30-minute walk. This helps to regulate blood sugar, reawaken sluggish circulations and boosts your immune system as well as being beneficial to mental health.

Take a break

Talking of breaks, schedule regular screen breaks and take a stroll around your room, to the kettle or outside for a few minutes. Deliberately focus on something distant, even if that’s a roof or treetop to refresh your eyes too.

If this doesn’t come naturally, set an alarm to remind yourself to take a two-minute break at least once an hour. Because this acts as a rest and reset, you should find you return to your work with renewed vigour and productivity.

Sign off on time

It is common for work and leisure time to blur when working at home, and many of us find ourselves working longer than our contracted hours. Moving to a different area of your home or changing mindset by doing an online exercise class or something else you enjoy will help you to separate work and home life and enable you to switch off.