Alex's tips for working from home

23 March 2020

I'm Alex, Principal Human Factors Consultant at Atkins, a member of the AtkinsRéalis group. As a number of people over the coming weeks are likely to either need to self-isolate or will by choice reduce their time in the office, I thought it might be worth sharing a few tips which I’ve come to since switching to a largely home-working role last autumn.

This is an image of Alex on the beach with his family

These may not work for everyone, but I’ve found they help me to structure my day and ensure I’m as productive as possible while maintaining my mental health:

Choose a start and end time to your day – it’s easy to end up just switching on the laptop and starting work when you get up, then your day drifting on and you not having a defined end, so setting a start and end helps define your work day and own time.

Have a morning routine – you wouldn’t walk into the office in your pyjamas, having not showered etc. so it makes little sense to do so when working from home. Again, maintaining this routine helps define the point at which your work day has started.

Set up a working space as well as you can – If you have a desk you can work from, this is obviously ideal, but if not make sure you’re setting up your work space to fit as closely to recommendations for a DSE environment as possible. An external keyboard and mouse, plus simple laptop stand can help turn your laptop into a much more suitable workstation.

Separate your working space from your kitchen – Whilst there are the obvious advantages of keeping yourself away from the snacks drawer, it also helps if you can separate your working space from where you go to make a cup of tea, your lunch etc. as it provides more definition to your working and break times.

Start your day with a huddle – If you were in the office, you would doubtless spend some time at the start of your day catching up with colleagues, team-mates or just those sat next to you in the office. This small human contact is important so make some time to drop a message, call or video-call to someone to see how they are, have a chat about non-work items etc.

Take breaks – When working from home, it’s even easier to get absorbed by a task as you don’t have as many people disturbing you, distracting by walking past etc. As such, it can also be easy to forget to take a break, so maybe set a timer on your phone or similar.

Move – Just as important in the office as it is at home; it’s essential to move around during your day as much as you can. Change your working position, go for a walk (if this is possible), stretch etc. at your working space. Whatever it is, just keep yourself active as much as possible.

Get outside – if it’s at all possible, getting out in the daylight is important, either before, during or after your working day. The fresh air, Vitamin D etc. are all shown to significantly affect not only your physical but mental health. My early morning or evening walks are a big highlight of my day and can be done with minimal human contact, if you're trying to keep distance to avoid transmission.

Stay in touch – At Atkins, we have Skype, Teams, Yammer, WhatsApp and loads of other means of being in touch with one another. I imagine most companies now have the same, so make sure you’re using them to be in touch with your team-mates, whether on work-related or just general discussion – human contact makes a huge difference to maintaining positive mental health.

Do as I say, not necessarily as I do – Whilst I try to follow all of the above, my approach is definitely still a work in progress!

I hope that this helps a little over the coming weeks, but do share if you have any of your own thoughts and tips using the #insideAtkins tag

List #1

Our articles

Unlock NEOM careers with AtkinsRéalis

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/18/2024

Summary

In the vast expanse of the Saudi Arabian landscape, you’ll find a beacon of innovation, a vision for a better, greener tomorrow. NEOM sits in the heart of the Tabuk province and isn’t just anothe

Preview

NEOM sits in the heart of the Tabuk province and isn’t just another city.

Young male engineer working on construction site wearing ear protectors

What does it take to be an effective civil engineer in Hong Kong?

Preview

Asia

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/18/2024

Summary

As a global metropolis, Hong Kong has long been a fantastic place to be a civil engineer. With world-class infrastructure all around, effective civil engineers have many opportunities to be a

Preview

Here are a few strategies that professionals new to the industry can deploy to be effective civil engineers in Hong Kong.

Pinkish colourful sunrise over Sydney city CBD on waterfront of Harbour around Circular quay with major architectural landmarks and symbols of Australia.

Embracing motherhood and career: Srijana's journey with AtkinsRéalis

Preview

Australia

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/18/2024

Summary

In January 2024, Srijana embarked on a new chapter in her engineering career, joining AtkinsRealis as a Chartered Structural Engineer. With six years of experience on a wide variety of projects, Sr

Preview

Learn about our commitment to flexibility with Srijana's career story.

A lit up Saudi Arabian castle in the evening, with the night sky in the background and palm trees at the front

What is the New Murabba project in Saudi Arabia?

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/16/2024

Summary

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), you’ll find an awe-inspiring and profoundly transformative endeavor that encapsulates innovation, sustainability, and the unparalleled proficiency of AtkinsRéa

Preview

Learn about the innovative New Murabba project in Saudi Arabia.

7 reasons mechanical engineers won't leave AtkinsRéalis

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/11/2024

Summary

Hello, I'm Ben, Mechanical Team Lead in the Decommissioning & Waste Services team. My journey at AtkinsRéalis, from a graduate to a team lead, has been inspired by my belief that we can "engin

Preview

#MakeItBrilliant: Exciting opportunities in mechanical engineering and nuclear power careers

Shailaja Mantha

Nuclear

Nuclear professional in modern factory using laptop controlling program to automatic machinery.

How to land a nuclear engineering job without nuclear experience

Preview

Europe

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/04/2024

Summary

Welcome to the dynamic world of nuclear engineering – where innovation meets sustainability. We unveil the pathway to landing a nuclear engineering job, even without prior experience in the nuclea

Preview

Explore exciting opportunities in nuclear with AtkinsRéalis.

Nuclear

Building the Future Together: The DEWA Headquarters Project

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Projects

Publish date

04/04/2024

Summary

The AtkinsRéalis team, in a commendable collaboration with the site team, United Engineering Construction (UNEC), and its subcontractors, has exhibited exceptional dedication and expertise, making

Preview

Discover how the AtkinsRéalis team is spearheading the evolution of net-zero energy buildings.

Breaking New Ground: Celebrating the Exceptional Women of AtkinsRéalis

Preview

Middle East

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/04/2024

Summary

In the world of construction and development, where innovation meets hard work under the towering silhouettes of our projects, the role of women has been historically underrepresented. However, the

Preview

The inspiring story of Farida Farag, a beacon of leadership and innovation at AtkinsRéalis.

Electrical engineer and foreman checking plans in a tablet at at construction site

Soft skills you need to succeed as a senior electrical engineer

Preview

Canada

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/03/2024

Summary

In any career, it’s easy to get tunnel-vision and apply more weight to the development of technical skills. What many fail to recognize is the importance of fostering your soft skills; that is,

Preview

Unlock the soft skills that elevate your career beyond technical expertise

Innovation

panorama of beautiful countryside of romania. sunny afternoon. wonderful springtime landscape in mountains. grassy field and rolling hills. rural scenery

Join Our Landscape & Public Realm team in India & unlock your future

Preview

India

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

04/02/2024

Summary

Are you passionate to shape the future of cities and public realm ? At AtkinsRealis, our GTC Landscape & Public Realm team isn't just a service—it's a gateway to boundless opportunities, innovation

Preview

Are you passionate about shaping the future of cities and public realm?

Building and places

How to choose the right engineering firm for you

Preview

India

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

03/27/2024

Summary

The engineering firm you choose will significantly impact your career. Select the right one, and you'll find your career goals supported, a healthy work-life balance and the team dynamic that you

Preview

Unlock your potential in engineering with AtkinsRéalis.

IMechE - technical paper writing competition winners

AtkinsRéalis Triumphs in IMechE Technical Paper Competition 2023

Preview

India

Content type

Blogs

Publish date

03/27/2024

Summary

Our Global Technology Centre’s recent triumph in securing the 1st prize at the prestigious Institute of Mechanical Engineers’ (IMechE) Technical Paper Competition 2023 under the working young membe

Preview

Learn about our recent GTC success.

View all

Insights Alex's tips for working from home

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Insights Alex's tips for working from home

Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Interested? Find out more about life at AtkinsRéalis

Sign up to receive the latest content tailored to your interests