Working from home in Coronavirus times: tips for foreign friends by an Italian veteran.

In Rome we have been in self-isolation for over two weeks. A few days ago I wrote a post for Italians that has had a great diffusion online. 

I have been working at home for over ten years. Before, I was a company manager, with a large office, a round meeting table and a nice picture behind me. I enjoyed breaks at the coffee machine and dozens of mostly nice colleagues.

Then I chose the freelance consultancy also to enjoy the children. So I chose it. 

Millions of people around the world discover it these days as a consequence of the coronavirus. It is not an easy situation, there is tension and concern.

I assure you that in the end it's not bad: with a few tricks your productivity and quality of life will skyrocket.

Since I have got a few years of advantage, I hope to do something useful in making suggestions on how to deal with this unusual situation:

1. Never in pajamas. You are working and therefore use clothing to mentally separate the moment from the flannel and slipper activities. Dress comfortable and dignified. Also because you must always be ready for a videoconference that must see you prepared at least from the waist up.
2. Physical movement. Before you start working, do some physical movement: you have spared the journey by car or public transport but something must tell your body that it must change gear. The walk with the dog is ok, shopping in the shops near the house also, excellent pilates in front of the brightest window.
3. Use a work place. Decisive to have a dedicated space, a little thought you can create one. Your position can NEVER be the bed or sofa: the body goes haywire and does not understand what to do. There are those who can afford a room; I have a small table in the room; excellent also the living room. The important thing that you have a space of your own.
4. Do not bring food to the desk. The house knows you and tempts you: food reserves abound, often better than in the company's canteen. Keep away, especially if you do not want repercussions on fat, blood sugar, cholesterol and stains on folders.
5. The family. All those who live with you, family, roommates, pets, must stay clear when you are working. Say it without misunderstanding, maybe put a signpost outside the door. You are not there for them. Be categorical.
6. Don't care about the house. There are those who do not start working before the bed is not made, the dishes washed, the plants watered. That's enough! You are there because you have commitments: set yourself a timetable and totally ignore the context that - I assure you - can do without you.
7. Have breaks: Take at least a ten minute break every two hours. It serves to remain human. And then there is pee, coffee and snacks to pay homage to. And maybe a chat with the other bipedal or animal housemates. It is also useful to widen your gaze by focusing on something far away like clouds, passersby, the tree in front, the policeman who fines the car in double row.
8. Use of social media: At home you have no filter or obstacle and therefore social media risk making you waste a lot of time in unbridled messing aroung. It is also clear that in this moment of emotional stress and organizational solitude you want to feel part of a community. Then use it sparingly by giving yourself rules.
9. Isolation: you are isolated, you are not alone, always remember it. Take care of human relationships, call someone, write to each other.
10. E-Commerce. Worse than social media because it empties your account. Keep away from Amazon and other compulsive buying platforms. Trust me: you don't need a drill or a moccasin. At least not during working hours.
11. Technologies. For normal office activities, in addition to a PC and a reasonable bandwidth, an effective backup system (in the cloud or on an external hard disk),and a b/w laser printer are recommended. A pair of headsets is also useful to better manage video calls without echoes and distortions
12. Video calls. If your company does not have its own platform, Skype, webex, Microsoft Team, Zoom or - on the ground - Whatsapp or Facetime can do the job.
13. Mobile Phone. The mobile phone greatly distracts those who work. Use it as strictly as necessary. I advise not to keep it handy. And if it rings, getting up to respond is already physical movement. If you use a lot of whatsapp for work, install the pc version, otherwise forget it.

If you usually stay 7-8 hours in the office, you will soon discover that at home the same tasks are done in 4-5 hours. So all these tips become easier to manage. 

You then saved at least an hour of travel. It is important that part of the freed time is focused to learn, to discover the web, to use distance learning modules, to update you, to build communities. For the rest, many cuddles and kindnesses to those who share the apartment with you.

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If you think these tips can be useful to someone, share them on your channels.

If you have comments, points to add or your experiences to describe, leave me a comment below.