10 Tips for Working from Home
When we think of working from home, we envision a cozy set up in the living room with a cup of our favourite coffee, enjoying a good movie while we type away on our laptops. We think throwing on a fresh dress shirt with our pyjama bottoms will help us feel put together enough for the video meeting we’re scrambling to get ready for. Although this sounds like the perfect, relaxing work day, these at-home tendencies can actually decrease our productivity, efficiency, and quality of work, as well as negatively impact our mental health.
Earlier this year, Forbes released an article discussing the mental health risks associated with remote work: isolation and burnout. They emphasized the importance of maintaining healthy relationships with co-workers and managers, which has been directly related to work performance and emotional well-being. These relationships become difficult to maintain with proper communication when working remotely and can contribute to feelings of loneliness (Staglin, 2020). In terms of burnout, they found that individuals were working longer hours than they typically would at the office to prove they could be productive from home.
After self-reflecting on our own at-home behaviours in relation to our normal work ethic, we adjusted our work days and have noticed significant improvements in our own productivity, quality of work, and mental health. We’ve created a list to help you get back on track to make the most of your at-home work day:
1. Establish a Morning Routine
Keep your usual ‘go-to-work’ morning routine! This means getting up at the same time you normally would, shower, and dress as though you’re headed to the office.
2. Communicate
If you have a baby or toddler at home, ensure your partner understands your schedule and that although you are at home, you have work to do. If help is needed, try planning it around your breaks. Adapting to this new normal is difficult for everyone, find what works for you. Reminder: these boundaries are HEALTHY and it’s okay to have them.
3. Limit Distractions
Ensure you have your own space to work to limit distractions. Do not set up your workstation in the living room or kitchen - trust us, we’ve tried it.
4. Optimize your Workstation
Make sure you have the proper set-up you need at your workstation so you are not running around the house trying to find things. Seems obvious, but it happens and this will make your life easier.
5. Utilize your Breaks
Take breaks as you normally would at the office. Allow yourself 15-minute coffee breaks, your full lunch time, and occasional screen breaks to give your eyes a rest.
6. Take Lunchtime Seriously
Lunchtime! Do not eat and work. Take your allotted time and enjoy your meal. Breaks are in place for a reason - use them.
7. Practice Good Kitchen Etiquette
Treat your kitchen as though it was your shared kitchen at work. You will thank yourself at the end of your workday when you do not have to clean up a huge mess of dirty dishes - trust us, it’s not fun.
8. Walk it Off
If you’re feeling stumped, have brain fog, or unable to focus, take a walk outside and get some fresh air. It’s a simple solution, yet we find it very effective.
9. Make Phone Calls
With the increase in emails and virtual meetings, it’s just as easy to pick up the phone and have a conversation with a colleague/coworker. You get answers faster and you’re able to maintain those healthy relationships to reduce feelings of isolation.
10. Disconnect
Be sure to disconnect at the end of your work day. Leave non-urgent emails and phone calls for the following day to avoid overworking yourself. The work-life balance equation has two sides, make sure it’s balanced!
We hope these simple, yet effective tips will help you make the most of your at-home work experience. We’d also love to have you share your tips with us! Get in touch by commenting below or messaging us on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter!
Source: Staglin, G. (2020, March 17). When Home Becomes the Workplace: Mental Health and Remote Work. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/onemind/2020/03/17/when-home-becomes-the-workplace-mental-health-and-remote-work/#f4a197e1760b