Remote Work Tips

Times are changing quickly and we are all having to adjust to a world and environment that we are not used to, and in many cases, it’s our home. Although we eat, sleep, relax and socialise there, it now needs to evolve into a suitable place to work from.

As a team, we have always done things differently. Jessie is an advocate for remote work and intentionally designed The Grants Hub to be a business which not only allows, but also encourages our team to work remotely. So, we get it… it can be great, it can be distracting, it can mean pyjamas all day with no judgement or the slab of mud cake you’re having for lunch, and it can also be isolating. It’s a mixed bag.

Owen Anderson, Product Designer

I like to get dressed as though I was going into the office which puts me into work mode. I love my coffee, so one of the perks about working from home is I can make myself a pour over coffee when starting work. Usually when I go into the office I'm rushed and never have time for this. If you're calling your team mates, make sure you turn your camera on as it's much more personal. If you're in a large group call, muting your mic when it's not your time to speak is a nice gesture and everyone will thank you for it. Most importantly, make sure you take time off for your lunch break and you finish work when you usually would. It's all too easy to work through the day and into the night. Shut that laptop at 5pm and change something up to end the day away from the screen. This could be a change of clothes, a walk down the street or sitting on the balcony with a beer.

Justin Ballantyne, Operations Manager

I'm terrible with distraction so I need a set up which enables me to concentrate without interruption, especially noise. As much as I love my kids, my noise cancellation headphones block out their noise to the point where I can blissfully feel like I'm being a great parent! I also love my rain design mStand, a stand that allows me to use my laptop as a second screen at the same height as my monitor... it's great for the back and neck!

Neve Carolan, Customer Success

Plugging your earphones into a 'focus' playlist on Spotify helps to set the tone for work at home. Apps that utilise the Pomodoro Technique to focus are also really handy, check out 'Flora' in the App Store. We also use 'Slack' at The Grants Hub which is not only a quick and and easy way to communicate with team mates but also lends to some fun conversations with gifs and memes thrown in to lighten the workday. I find that having access to our fridge and pantry at home can lead to eating a lot of junk food throughout the day so I think prepping your lunch in the morning is also a really good way to stay healthy and keep some routine going. Lastly, dogs are great companions and there are plenty that need a temporary foster carer, so it's a prime opportunity to get that office dog you've always wanted! They will definitely encourage you to exercise in your breaks and downtime.

Jessie Ballantyne, Founder & CEO

I like a really simple setup. You don't need a lot of equipment to work from home. If you're working from home temporarily, a kitchen table, bench or existing desk in your home will work perfectly well. Working remotely permanently, I still only have a very simple desk from Ikea, and work from a laptop. The less equipment you have, the more you can maximise the perks of remote work, like working from a park or beach. A handy tip is learn to Hotspot from your phone! Then if Wifi is down, you can make a quick switch and keep working. I also agree with Neve: having junk food in the house is dangerous! I make sure I prep some healthy snack options and also have vegetables ready to snack on.

Nathan McCallum, Developer

Try and move a bit! Take a moment to walk around the room and stretch every few hours. I find that my shoulders and neck get stiff from working, so it's important to take care of them. Working from home can sometimes feel isolating and cause me to feel a bit stuck. I like to counter this by moving around the house throughout the day or by going out for a walk. Finally, try and find a routine that works and then stick to it. I'm generally less productive in the mornings so I find it more effective to be up, dressed, and showered an hour before I start work so I can have some time to "warm up" to the day. For others, it's harder in the evening, so perhaps take a longer lunch break and do something exciting with that time. Hope this helps!

Matthew Clayton, Grants Researcher

I have always found having something that you can concentrate on like an image of something that inspires you or relaxes you, that is different than the task you are on, enables you to step away, refresh the brain and most importantly gives your eyes a rest when working on 1, 2 or even 3 screens. Part of the down side of working remotely is that we don't always have perfect lighting, so the need to rest your eyes (and brain) a little more regularly is really vital.

Isobel Lindley, Partnerships and Communications

When I first started to work from home, I found that I had a tendency to start making beds, washing dishes, doing laundry -- because that's what I was used to doing at home. So I instituted a 50 minute rule: focused work for 50 minutes and then 10 minutes to do whatever I want around the house. It turns out that this makes me far more productive because I'm giving myself a 10 minute break. My smart watch is telling me that I'm standing and moving more during the day than I ever did working in an office, and my house is really clean! Spotify has a great playlist for focus. It seems to work for me and can help block out noise in noisy locations.