The COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of work for many people this week. At Ignite Research, we’ve been working from a home office for the past 6 years and have a few tips for people for whom this might be a new experience:

Get ready for work in the morning - Each day, get up and get ready as if you’re headed out to work. For different people that means different things, but for us, it’s going to the gym, having breakfast, taking a shower, and getting dressed. This helps us to shift our mindset to work.
Take frequent breaks - When we started working from home, we noticed that the lack of in person colleagues meant that we didn’t get up nearly as much to ask a question, say hello, or even go to the printer down the hall. It’s vitally important to make frequent breaks during the day. For us, we make sure every hour to go up and down the stairs in the house. It sounds simple, but the movement is refreshing. We also always eat lunch in the kitchen, not at our desk.
Have set hours - At first, it was difficult not to work all the time. We didn’t set office hours because, well, our office was always available and honestly there was always work to do. But setting an end to the day was particularly helpful, and making sure to leave the office - that means no laptop - and go be with family and friends, make dinner, play a game, go for a walk was crucial in developing our happiness in a work from home office.
Find a distraction - When we worked in a traditional office, there are always distractions if you need them. I think of these distractions as palette cleansers - brief ‘things to do’ to help shift from one activity to another or to just have a way to stop thinking. For me, watching portions of 30-minute sitcom television is a great way to take a break - The Office, Parks and Rec, 30 Rock are all quick, easy, and funny distractions.

I found an interesting visualization of the history of pandemics that helps put into context our current situation. It also highlights the level of infectiousness of different diseases. My biggest takeaway was how dramatically infectious measles are compared with other diseases. I had no idea.

Stay safe and be well.