10 simple tricks to telework

Let’s look on the bright side—there is a lot to learn. For those of us who usually work in an office and don’t stop all day, lockdown can cause a bit of anxiety, overwhelm, or a sense of wasting time. That is why, from Mikeli , we want to show you 10 simple tips to make working and staying at home these days as pleasant as possible. Our team is already putting them into practice.

10 simple tricks for teleworking

1- Allow yourself to feel anxiety, fear, or sadness; analyze it and accept it. But stay in control—don’t let those feelings control you.
2– Set your alarm and establish a routine. While working from home means you don’t have to suffer through the rush hour of a crowded subway or traffic jams, not leaving the house doesn’t mean living in a constant Sunday. Do not wake up whenever you want or lounge around with your laptop in bed. That is a NO. You must set a time to wake up and respect your eight hours of sleep.
3– Don’t stay in your pajamas. Dressing as if you were going to the office to work from home will lead to better performance in your daily activities. Certain clothing helps us adopt specific behaviors, so dress to your liking and use comfortable yet elegant garments. Do your hair. Put on makeup if you feel like it. It will help you stay active and easily separate work from your home routine.
4– Respect your schedule. It is important to schedule a series of breaks throughout the day to give 100% during your shift. There will always be days where we have to stay 5 minutes longer or organize differently (children with no school, coordinating with a partner’s job…), but the recommendation is to set a schedule and stick to it. This allows you to perfectly separate work from your personal life.
5– Maintain daily communication with your colleagues. Since we don’t see each other every day, active communication is vital. For example, the Mikeli team meets every morning via video call. Right now, we need to be more coordinated than ever, so we recommend holding these small virtual meetings daily.
6– Keep your workspace tidy. You likely had to create a specific area for your home office; if you are going to spend several hours a day working there, you must design a pleasant atmosphere that helps you concentrate. Whenever possible, choose a bright space—natural light helps you work better and is beneficial for your eye health. Use light, pleasant colors. Maintain cleanliness and order.
7– Eat healthily. Now you have the time to eat healthy and delicious dishes without rushing to prepare a “tupper” the night before. Take advantage and be flexible: set aside the plain chicken breast and salad and introduce gratifying, healthy dishes into your diet. It’s time to innovate. Plan your menu and define what you will snack on between meals. Ensure dishes aren’t too heavy so you can continue working efficiently afterward.
8– Save a little time for what you love. No more excuses; use your free time for your hobbies, such as reading, painting, or meditating. Do that thing you’ve always wanted to start, become a culinary master, or finish those pending tasks.
9– Remember to exercise. To avoid rolling out of lockdown, you can do specific exercises at home. Dedicate about 15 minutes a day, put on a “cyber gym” class, and give it your all—your body and mind will thank you.
10– Be more social than ever. Make video calls to family and friends. Get back in touch and keep them close. Finding out how they are, sharing experiences on how you are both handling this situation, playing games, and enjoying an appetizer together through a screen will make you feel better.

Think positive—we will get through this together. We hope these small tips have been useful to you. From Mikeli, we wish you as pleasant a time as possible under the circumstances and a speedy recovery. Remember: one more day in is one less day to go.