As companies migrate to remote workspaces and hire more contracted and freelance employees, working from home is becoming more and more ordinary. Today, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of workers across the globe have moved from in-person to remote, home-based functions while striving to sustain the same degree of work efficiency and enthusiasm. We won't be the first to tell you that this sudden shift can be quite challenging for those of us who are new to telecommuting.
Living in 2020 has been unlike any other, and adding in working from home may or may not soften the blow life has thrown. In full truth, you probably have a lot to feel stressed out about. The good news is, with the right attitude, know-how, and equipment by your side, you can make work from home work for you.
Create a designated workspace
Creating a designated workspace can work wonders for your mind for three primary reasons:
As much as your home is a safe environment for you to decompress and relax, it is very likely stocked up with plenty of distractions. Whether it’s your living room with a TV or bedroom with a gaming console, there are plenty of distractions that may tempt you during your work from home schedule. That's precisely why it's so important to set up a dedicated home office for yourself. Equip yourself with a pair of noise-disrupting headphones, a second monitor, a standing desk, and you'll be set for reaching peak productivity.
Bear in mind that just as your personal life will divert you from work, the same thing will happen to your work life. To properly manage the inevitable pressures that come with working from home, try to keep your work affairs exclusively in your workspace during work hours, and leave those stressors there once your workday is done.
Upgrade your internet connection
A stable and speedy internet connection is a must-have for most employees working from home. Serving as the single-most important link between you, your boss, your colleagues, and your company, a reliable internet connection guarantees that you are able to stay up to date on your workload and in the know about any important meetings, changes, or deadlines.
Despite the fact that WiFi has become the standard internet type for the average home, anyone in need of genuinely secure networking would benefit from converting to Ethernet. This is particularly true of household networks that need to support several users and connected devices including computers, wireless printers, smartphones, and more.
Take regular breaks
Working at home has a wealth of advantages — you can wear your jammies all day, blast all of your favorite playlists, and give up your tiring morning commute on the road (and save money on gas while you're at it!). At first, these trappings and time-savers might seem to translate into increased productivity, but these habits go unchecked, you'll quickly find yourself spending more time away from work than you are doing it.
And that's exactly the key. Taking breaks and enjoying your work from home setup is all a part of the new normal. There's no denying that being on a relentless grind during the work day will lead to rapid burnout, which is why finding that balance is so key.
Not sure how to begin building breaks into your schedule? We’ve got you covered. Here are our favorite break ideas that’ll work in your favor:
- Go for a 10-15 minute walk or run
- Cook up a nutritious lunch
- Do one household chore
- Tidy up a space in your home
Enjoy the experience
As you navigate work from home life and learn what works for you and what doesn’t, remember not to be too hard on yourself. Everything will take a bit of trial and error before perfection. Enjoy the work from home life!
How do you make work from home work for you? Let us know in the comments below!
