Thousands of people have experienced working from home for the first time this week due to the Coronavirus outbreak. To help companies and workers adjust to their new set up, we have rounded up some useful tools, including the ones we use at DIARY directory to keep us in touch and working together whilst apart!  

As a company:

• Slack: we have used Slack at Dd for some time now, and have just upgraded from the free level. Slack is essentially a chat room for the whole company, where you can communicate, share files and images. Its workspace allows you to organise communications by channels for group discussions and allows for private messages to share information, files and more all in one place. It also allows you to call and video call individuals and the whole team.
• Zoom: Zoom is a web-based video conferencing tool with a local, desktop client and a mobile app that allows users to meet online, with or without video. Zoom users can choose to record sessions, collaborate on projects, and share or annotate on one another's screens, all with one easy-to-use platform.
• Google Hangouts: This is a communications app to let you connect with one or more of your friends/colleagues for text and video chat. Smaller teams can use the app to easily stay in touch and conduct conference calls. 
• Asana: We also use Asana at Dd. It is a software-as-a-service, designed to improve team collaboration and work management. It helps teams manage projects and tasks in one tool. Teams can create projects, assign work to teammates, specify deadlines and communicate tasks directly in Asana.
• Dropbox: Businesses can invest in Dropbox Business so that team members can have both a personal and work Dropbox on any computer, mobile device and on dropbox.com. This allows the team to keep files separate and accessible from anywhere. It also allows more than one member to edit and save documents, making WFH a collaborative experience.
• getplan.co: This is a collaboration software that intelligently organises projects, tasks and meetings from all the tools that you and your team use. 
• Drawpile Whiteboard: This is a free software collaborative drawing programme, which would suit a smaller team. It allows multiple users to sketch on the same image simultaneously.

For fun:

• Virtual press days and showrooms: A number of brands and PRs are starting to adopt virtual press days, via Instagram live videos, stories and YouTube. With many events being canceled or postponed brands can use social media to connect with audiences by taking them on a virtual tour of showrooms. 
• Social campaigns: The Perfume Society, for example, is pushing ahead with its #smelfie day campaign for National Fragrance Day on 21 March. Everyone is encouraged to take a photo with their favourite fragrance, upload it, use the #smelfie and tag @theperfumesociety.
• New Instagram accounts: The new Instagram account @wfhits is dedicated to the looks of people working from home. Followers can submit their photos via the DM. This is a spin-off of 'street style' and is dedicated to keeping fashion innovative and fun. 
• Fitness: Fitness studios F45 and Barry's are now doing Insta lives on their Instagram accounts. You can also download Fitt for fitness classes. Fitness influencers are taking to Instagram and YouTube to offer free workout sessions. Influencers such as @laurabiceps, @melissawoodhealth, @ciaralondon and @zannavandijk are amongst some of those that are uploading live workouts. The Body Coach Joe Wicks has promised to hold daily PE lessons for children on his YouTube channel after the UK announced schools would be closing.

Mental Health:

Loneliness during the Covid-19 outbreak has become a major concern as more and more people are hunkering down in their homes in isolation. Mental health experts say it’s important for people to stay connected during a quarantine, as well as talk to others who are in similar situations.

• Quarantine Chat: This is a new app, created as a response to the coronavirus outbreak, connects users so that they can experience the spontaneity of speaking to strangers like they normally would outside. 
• FaceTime: It is important to stay connected with friends and family. FaceTime allows friends to have virtual coffee dates, lunches and ensures virtual interaction. 
• Headspace: Is a healthcare company specialising in meditation. The app tracks its users' mindfulness sessions and offers sleep meditations. 

Click here for more mental health app suggestions. 

Top tips:

• Get dressed
• Set boundaries
• Get outside, if not self-isolating
• Get on the phone
• Take regular breaks

Please get in touch here and let us know how you and your company are working from home. We would love to hear about your experiences and ideas.