Working from home is fast becoming a common feature of the working week for many of us, and in the legal sector, hybrid and remote working bring many benefits for both individuals and law firms.
For a Legal Secretary, increased productivity, enhanced focus and a better work-life balance are just a few of the ways in which home working can help you manage your workload better. However, it can sometimes be difficult to separate work duties from home responsibilities, and you may need to create some structure to help yourself avoid blurring the lines between work mode and relaxation.
Here are some of the best ways to manage your time when working from home.
Create a schedule
Having a dedicated schedule which is tailored to your working day will go a long way to boosting your levels of efficiency. While you don’t have to rigidly stick to this on a day-to-day basis, having a basic structure can help keep you on track and focused.
When designing your own schedule, think about the tasks that are of high priority, and work back from there, making sure to factor in regular meetings. It’s important for your eye health as well as your productivity to regularly look away from the screen. A good rule to follow is the 20/20/20 rule: every 20 minutes you look away for 20 seconds and stare at something about 20 feet away – which helps to prevent eye strain.
Allow for breaks
Without office conversation, water cooler chatter and co-workers to distract you, it can be easy to overwork yourself and develop symptoms of burnout. A part of every effective routine is regular breaks, where you give yourself the chance to take a mental and physical pause from the rigours that come with working in the legal sector.
Exercise is a particularly good way to achieve this. Everyone knows the physical health benefits of getting out and keeping in shape, but fresh air and exercise are also fantastic protection for your mental health whilst working from home.
Whilst there is no getting around the fact that a computer screen is key to helping you complete your job, avoiding mobiles or television when possible during your breaks can help to reduce your screen time.
Be clear with your manager
As a Legal Secretary, you will find it’s a good idea to share your schedule with your fee earners, so it’s clear when you’re available for meetings and when you aren’t at your desk. Taking proactive steps to manage your time will help you to be more productive and less stressed whilst working from home.
Author: Roger Grace
Since graduating from a leading London university, Roger has pursued a career as a digital consultant and has gained vast experience working with companies in all different industries across the globe. In his articles, he aims to give his readers useful insights they can take into their own work.