Working from home can be a dream come true, as it offers flexibility and comfort that is often missing in a traditional office setting.
However, the reality of working from home is not always as much fun as you imagine.
So many distractions, needing to get motivated each day, and the temptation of other things like Netflix, your dog, the washing, the fridge…
With COVID-19 forcing many of us to work remotely, and as many of us continue to work from home at least some of the time, some simple improvements can make all the difference and improve the working-from-home experience.
Here are my top 6 tips for making the most out of working from home.
1. Set up your workspace
When working from home, you want to feel inspired, motivated and focused.
So put some thought into designing a workspace that is right for you.
Here are some things to consider:
- Make sure the workspace you choose is comfortable.
- Keep your workspace clean and clutter-free – it will make work so much more pleasurable, keep your mind clutter-free, and help to minimise distractions.
- If you don’t have a spare room available, allocate a space in your house that is dedicated to work, and only work.
- Surround yourself with things that inspire you to work – vision boards are a great way to do that! Ensure it’s within eyeshot so you can be inspired throughout the day!
- Mix it up! Since my ADHD diagnosis, I’ve realised I need novelty in my work-life, and so some days I might work from the dining table, others in my office, sometimes from the couch, or on the sunny days from the back patio.
Additionally, respect your body by investing in some good office furniture, including an ergonomic office chair or stand-up desk (the ones that allow you to move between sitting and standing are all the rage at the moment).
You don’t want to suffer from backache, neck pain and migraines because you have a poorly set up workstation at home.
2. Take regular breaks
If the furthest you have to travel is from bed to the desk to the kitchen and to the couch, it’s easy to forget to take your breaks when you don’t have to go to work.
And with the mobility of laptops and other devices, you can fall into the habit of carrying your work with you to the couch after you should have wrapped up for the evening.
Here are a few things to try:
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- Just like you would in an office, take regular breaks. If you find it hard to remember to take breaks or to log off for the day, schedule your breaks and finishing times into your calendar.
- So set a cut-off point for work each day and stick to it. It may be hard to shut off, especially if you don’t have an office separate from your living space, but it’s crucial for your mental health and work-life balance.
- If you are in the habit of eating at your desk whilst working, STOP doing it. Instead, eat your lunch at the kitchen table or have a picnic in your backyard. You could even leave the house and go for a little walk around the block on your lunch break. You will feel so much better about it!
- Make sure to use your vacation days and take breaks throughout the day to avoid overworking yourself.
3. Get out and about
Why not allocate a few hours a week to work from a cafe, library, or even the beach?
Even if it’s only for a few hours, this will help to break the social isolation before it sets in, get you dressed (out of those tracksuit pants) and out of the house, and help clear the brain fog.
You may even meet some new, like-minded people!
4. Set clear boundaries
Working from home makes it easy for your personal boundaries to blur.
So setting clear boundaries with family members or roommates is important to minimise interruptions and distractions and to keep your relationships healthy.
Communication is key, and it takes work.
Let the people you live with know your work schedule and vice versa, and when interrupting you is appropriate. This includes communicating when you have Zoom meetings scheduled or other important things where you especially need things to be quiet.
5. Minimise distractions
It’s REALLY easy to get distracted by dirty dishes, piles of clothes, TV, the dog…
Minimise distractions by ensuring that your allocated workspace is away from the general household chaos. If you can’t do this, you need to do your best to ignore it or make sure it doesn’t exist. That might mean cleaning the kitchen before going to bed in the evening!
Other tips to help you minimise distractions are:
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- Keep the TV turned off,
- Make the bed when you get up,
- Play music to help get you in – and keep you in – the work mood. If music is too distracting, find some good Podcasts to listen to – they might also inspire you!
6. Dress Up
Living in your PJs all day may seem like a good idea initially.
And even though I relished it initially, I felt stale, unkempt and lazy after a few months. I also found nothing to differentiate my days as they all blended together. I slept in my PJs, ate breakfast, worked in my PJs, sometimes did yoga, and ended the day in my PJs.
Not getting showered and dressed for the day sends your body and mind a subliminal message not to wake up properly, making it harder to concentrate and be productive during the day.
Instead, get showered and dressed for the day at a regular time.
This will help you differentiate between work and personal time and take yourself, your work or your business seriously.
I hope these tips help you survive working from home. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you, or perhaps you have another tip I can try!
