Working from home is something that some people admit they could “never do.” Truth be told, it both presents certain challenges and offers certain opportunities. If you’re someone reading this from a home office, ask yourself if there are ways your routine could improve. Maybe you’ve fallen into a rut or are just starting out as a remote worker and need some guidance to avoid burnout. Consider these tips to make the process more productive and comforting.
1) Keep your space fresh
Repetition breeds comfort, but it can also make your routine stale over time. If you sit in the same spot on your couch day in and day out to do your work, try mixing it up a bit and see if you feel more inspired. Move your desk to a different corner of the room, invest in a chair with more lumbar support, or plug in a space heater under your desk to breathe new life (and comfort) into your space.
Over time, we naturally become accustomed to our surroundings—even if they’re already super-comfy. By switching up wall art, lighting a new scented candle, or creating a new playlist of tunes, our space can be completely transformed. Keeping your space fresh and inviting will make sure you enjoy showing up for work every day.
2) Tweak your schedule
Even though the 9-5 grind is one of the most commonly accepted work schedules, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s what works best for you. If you have flexibility in determining when it’s time to get to work, consider what stretches of time are more productive for you. Track your energy and focus throughout the day for a few weeks and follow those trends. Not only will your work quality be better, but you could shave off a few hours of screen-staring per week by being real about when you need to take a break.
3) Practice that gratitude
“Wow, you work from home? You’re so lucky.” Some days it might not feel like it, though… perhaps the last time you had face-to-face human interaction was the delivery guy last week (or was it 2 weeks ago…) and your electricity bill has gone up now that you’re home more hours of the day. These concerns are valid, but it’s also worth reminding ourselves of what’s awesome about working from home. No hairstyling or make-up necessary? Pro! No commute in crappy weather? Pro! Getting to snuggle with your pet on your lunch break? Pro! Gratitude can go a long way when we feel lost in frustration.
4) Prioritize interpersonal connections
Working from home can easily lead to isolation. It’s essential to keep connected to the people who are important in our lives, to continue making new connections, and to just be around other humans. For you, maybe this means attending a regular exercise class, participating in an online writers group, making weekly dates with your bestie, or chilling in a cafe for an afternoon just for the human exposure. We are social creatures—make it a priority.
5) Experiment with organizational tools
One of the toughest things about working from home is finding what methods work best for structuring the days and weeks. Being an employee at a brick and mortar usually has organization built into the job: there are meetings and performance reviews scheduled, certain programs used for daily tasks (and accompanying trainings on how to use them), and a checklist of duties to take care of each day. Being in charge of tackling all that organizational stuff yourself can be daunting.
Luckily, there are countless apps and programs to make that part easier. Trello is a wonderful tool to help organize everything from returning emails to finishing major projects. Asana is also helpful for staying on task and allows you to connect with others working on the same project. There are tons of tools to assist with time management, as well, so you know exactly how much time is wasted throughout the day and where to better apply it.
6) Be honest about your needs
Do you ever feel guilty about taking a long break from your work? Not finishing everything on your to-do list? Procrastinating on a big project so you can go have a drink with a friend? Listen: it’s important to be in tune with what we need so we can be successful workers. The moment we blindly push through the signals our minds and bodies are trying to give us is the moment we risk burnout.
Take that nap. Hit the pause button. Walk away from a project for 15 minutes if you’ve spaced out. Start working an hour earlier if it means you’ll have more enjoyable evening time with your family. Eat that extra snack if your stomach is grumbling. Tune into what you truly need to be happy and productive.
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