Current circumstances have prompted organisations worldwide to quickly move to remote work and work-from-home structures. While some organisations already offering some form of remote work had all the necessary infrastructure in place, many have had to scramble to pull off this new approach. GP practices, of course, tend to fall into the latter category.

The shift to remote working – whether by choice or necessity – can be a significant one for any individual or practice. Fear is the primary human emotion, and the fear of change is one of the biggest. Even a small disruption, like a new work environment or new software, can be unsettling, impacting an employee’s confidence, productivity and motivation.

If remote working is new for your practice and you require some guidance,  there are great resources available in the form of Home working policy and procedures here [PLUS] and Remote access to IT systems policy [PLUS].

So, here are 20 top tips gathered from practice managers, workplace motivational experts and personal experience in the Practice Index office to help you succeed remotely.

Create a morning routine

Your morning commute to your practice, whatever shape it takes, helps to set you up for the day. At home, however, the journey from pillow to computer can’t do that! That’s where a morning routine is important. What in your morning routine delineates the start of work? It might be making a cup of coffee. It might be getting dressed (wearing pyjamas to work is a perk for some, but a bad strategy for others). Whatever it takes, create a morning routine that ends with you starting work.

Structure your day like you would in the office

The mental association you make between work and being in your practice can make you more productive. So, when working from home, do all the things you’d do to prepare for a day in the office: set your alarm, make coffee, follow the same work patterns…again it comes down to routine.

Choose a dedicated workspace

Just because you’re not working at an office doesn’t mean you can’t have an office. Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the sofa, have a place you go specifically to work. It could be a certain table, chair, outside, in the garage… wherever works for you.

Declutter

Whether you work in a home office, kitchen or living room, if there’s ‘stuff’ around that reminds you of your household chores, your eyes will go there and you’ll get distracted. Whenever you work from home, claim a clutter-free zone. This will help you stay focused on your workload and remain more aligned with an in-office experience.

Carefully manage your time

It can be easy to lose focus or burn out when you’re working from home. To avoid either of these scenarios, experts recommend segmenting what you’ll do when – based on your personality. If you have more focus in the morning, use that time for tasks that require concentration etc. Motivation will naturally ebb and flow throughout the day. When you’re working from home, however, it’s all the more important to know when those ebbs and flows will take place and plan your schedule around it. Following your usual workday schedule can help you adjust.

Plan ahead

Spending time figuring out what you’ll do today can take away from actually doing those things. And, you’ll have planned your task list so recently that you can be tempted to change your schedule on the fly. It’s important to let your agenda change if you need it to, but it’s equally as important to commit to an agenda. Ideally, plan out your week in advance.

Put the washing machine on!

It can be beneficial to put your washing on, according to home working motivation experts.

Doing your laundry acts as a timer, so use the time to start and finish something while it’s on. Committing to one assignment during the wash cycle and another during the dry cycle can train you to work smarter on tasks that you might technically have all day to tinker with. It doesn’t have to be the washing machine but having mini deadlines can help to retain focus.

Protect your space and time

If anyone else is going to be at home when you’re working, they just have to be clear that when you’re in your ‘office’ you’re working. Don’t let them distract you!

Take clear breaks

Breaks are necessities. Making and eating lunch can recharge you to do better work, as can getting up to stretch your legs, make a drink, play with children or pets and so on. Don’t assume you need to be working 100% of the time while you’re home to be more productive. Above all else, don’t get so distracted by work that you skip breaks altogether.

Sweet motivational music

Beyond providing background noise, music has been shown to improve both productivity and cognitive performance, especially in adults. Listening to music can help people manage anxiety, become motivated and stay productive. You just need to know how to make the right playlist. This excellent article from the Guardian discusses this idea in more detail.

Keep the TV on in the background

Background noise can help you focus. Some experts recommend keeping the TV on in the background – most notably on a channel that doesn’t really interest you (snooker is good, apparently!?). Avoid picking your favourite shows and just keep it running in the background.

Be realistic about what you can achieve

A wide, open day working from home can feel full of possibilities. 145 things on the to do list? No problem! Don’t fall into the trap of being over-ambitious.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

You sit down to do some work, get distracted by making a snack for a toddler, go back to work, check the online shopping slots, go back to work, get a call from a GP partner, sit down to work, answer the door… This is hard. You probably aren’t going to concentrate without distraction, so don’t worry. It’s OK. These are extraordinary circumstances we are facing, and right now we all deserve a little grace, starting with ourselves.

Prioritise your to-do list

Figure out what needs to be completed by the end of the day and when the best time to get those items checked off the list really is.

Pair activities wisely

You can fold laundry while participating on a conference call. But you can’t be on a call while helping children with homework.

Realistic goals are better

Be realistic about what you can do at home. Achieving more than you set out to; and feeling satisfied, rather than feeling disappointed you didn’t do everything, is a much better position to be in.

Socialise with colleagues

Loneliness, disconnect, and isolation are common problems in remote work life, especially for extroverts. Companies with a successful remote work culture usually offer ways to socialise. For example, they might have chat channels where remote employees can talk about common interests. If you’re not at a company with a strong remote culture – as was the case with the majority of practices before coronavirus arrived, you may need to be more proactive about nurturing relationships. Finding the right tools to keep you and your team connected is important for staying productive at home. Microsoft Teams anyone?

Take advantage

If you’re struggling to be positive about remote working, deliberately take time to do something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time for. Replace your commute time with a hobby of your choice.

End your day with a routine

Just as you should start your day with a routine, create a habit that signals the close of the workday. It might be a sign off on a business messaging apps, an evening dog walk, or a 6pm yoga class (online, of course!). Whatever you choose, do it consistently to mark the end of working hours.

Smile, keep a sense of humour and focus on the good points

And finally, there are benefits! According to a thread on the Practice Index Forum asking what you’ve learned since the coronavirus arrived in the UK, it appears there is some positivity: you can get more done when working from home, patients can self-manage their issues when they have to, even the biggest technophobes can learn new technology, staff will pull together as a team, change can happen quickly, and we can get along with PCN colleagues!

Topics trending in the forum

Workload on practices
Pay rise time
When a GP partner dies
Sick notes during pandemic (not related to covid)