With many of us facing the prospect of working from home, at least for a little while; I thought now was the perfect time to introduce myself and impart some practical advice.

I'm a Senior Stylist, the Social Media Lead and content creator for all of Cooper Robinson's social media, and a seasoned homeworker.

Starting as an effort to reduce my considerable commute (from our home in the country), we embarked on the idea of me working from there, one day a week. For over a year now, it's been so far, so good!

But the transition from a formal work setting to home was a little more challenging than I'd anticipated! My first few attempts were far from smooth. I seemed to spend a lot of time making tea and organising my pantry (oddly, not one of my KPIs).

I present to you...

My TOP TIPS for getting the most out of your HOMEWORK experience…!

SET YOUR ALARM

Keep your alarm set for the same time as usual. Although you don't need to commute, you still need to caffeinate, eat, shower and dress. Here's the thing- You will almost certainly do a "quick tidy-up" before you "get started"- this WILL blow out, and incomprehensibly you'll end up late-for-work. EVERY. DAY. So, use your commute time as your "Tidy Time" guide, no longer!

STICK TO YOUR REGULAR HOURS

For some, this will be a necessity, having to work in with colleagues. For others, there may be a little wriggle room. I want my work day done and dusted by 5 pm, preferably earlier! Taking extended breaks during the day will result in you still banging away on the keys at 9 pm, while your partner or flatmates are reclining on the sofa, remote in one hand and a drink in the other.

SET-UP

My two daughters were handed an eviction notice on their messy dumping ground of a playroom (that nobody EVER played in). A bedroom is enough personal space for any child. Now, I'm the happy owner of a beautiful home office! Reevaluate your home and dedicate an area to your new working space, preferably with good natural light.

PEOPLE

This is a two-pronged situation. Firstly- I'm a creative, chatty person and my work-mates are creative, chatty people. We LOVE to chat. About everything. All. Day. Long. So, sitting in a quiet room, by myself took some getting used to. To combat "the stillness" try playing music, listen to a podcast, light a candle, open the window or ask the dog/cat to hang out with you.

Secondly, people will think you're "not really" working and will call or text you for a bit of conversation. It would be best if you nipped this in the bud! Suggest you speak or catch-up "after work" but make sure you do. It’s a challenging time and maintaining closeness with your loved ones is vital.

“Working from home doesn’t have to be ALL business as usual. Nurture yourself!”

DON'T WEAR PYJAMAS

I know this sounds like the dream, but hanging around in pyjamas all day is a sure-fire way to get nothing done. As we all know, clothing affects our mood; even more than usual, you'll need to get your mind into work mode; dress is a simple way to do so. There's no need to don a suit (unless that's your vibe!) comfortable pants, a loose dress or activewear is the perfect way to bridge the gap between personal and professional you. Now's the time to invest in some luxe loungewear, you may even be able to claim it on tax*! Note: *probably not, I wouldn't trust my financial advice...!

SELF-CARE

Working from home doesn't have to be ALL business as usual. Nurture yourself- create a peaceful place to be in, head out for a latte, sit in the sun at lunch-time, take moments to meditate, slather on a face mask, turn up the music, schedule in a dance break, sing loudly and cuddle your pets.

Linen shirt, $90 and linen pant, $90 by Assembly Label

Salt by Hendrix, Rose + Acai Clay Mask, from Adore Beauty

Above all else, if you are able to work from home; during this period, you are in a fortunate position. Be grateful! Make sure you support local small business, offer to pay friends or family (who may be on an income 'hiatus') to help manage other areas of your life.

“Every little bit helps and we hope this has helped you navigate a little better during this extraordinary period in time!
”

— Cooper Robinson

Khaseem Warren