The home office is the new office, as working from home has become the new standard for the past year. Whether we enjoy working remotely or not, it is a new normality we have to adjust to.
So let’s make the most of it!
Working from home has some great benefits, such as location independence, zero commuting, and financial savings. However, there are also downsides that many people encounter in the home office. The most common ones are lack of motivation, feelings of loneliness, and the inability to separate work from personal life.
Therefore, I am going to show you 10 simple and effective tips that will help you enhance your remote working experience.
1. Stick to your schedule
Decide upon your schedule and stick to it as often as possible. Having clear guidelines for when you should relax and when you should work will make it easier for you to separate personal life from work. Otherwise, you might have the tendency to work overtime or to get distracted by personal stuff during working hours.
Furthermore, it is important to stick to your sleeping schedule. Feeling tired or having a chaotic sleeping schedule will negatively impact your health and productivity.
2. Make a dedicated workspace
While it might be tempting to work in bed, it is not a good idea. Ideally, you should have a separate room dedicated to work-related activities. But, since not everyone has a spare room, you can stick to a dedicated desk. Try to place it in a spot with natural light and find a comfortable chair to sit on.
Make sure you bring all the equipment you need before you actually start working. Also, choose a quiet place where you can avoid distractions such as television.
Making a dedicated workspace will make it easier for you to separate personal life from work. According to statistics, the biggest problem for 22% of remote workers is unplugging after work.
3. Take regular breaks
A common mistake people do when working from home is not taking enough breaks. Schedule your breaks and take some time off, regardless of how much work you have to do.
This is important for different reasons. First, it’s not healthy to spend too much time sitting. You need to get up from time to time and get your blood circulating. You might even want to do some stretching. Secondly, your brain needs time to rest too. Too much work can lead to burnout and mental health problems.
Plus, 37% of remote workers say the best way to boost productivity is to take regular breaks.
4. Create a morning routine
You know that time you used to spend commuting in the past? How about you use it for some pleasant activities now that you are working from home?
Creating a morning routine can help you start the day on a positive note and boost your productivity. Have a healthy breakfast, drink a cup of coffee, meditate, write a few journal pages, or do anything else that helps you kick start your day.
5. Set boundaries
Define clear boundaries with the other members of your household. Remind them that you are working between certain hours and they should not disturb you unless it’s an emergency.
This also goes the other way around. Once your working day is over, spend quality time with your family and don’t let work disturb you.
6. Socialize with colleagues
Working remotely can make you feel lonely and disconnected. That’s why it is essential to socialize with your colleagues, even if it is done virtually.
Schedule coffee breaks or organize weekly team meetings with the purpose of catching up. Create a chat group for casual conversations. Don’t give up on the habit of socializing with your colleagues just because you are not in the same office anymore.
7. Don’t work in your pajamas
While it might be tempting to work wearing your pajamas, it can negatively affect your productivity. You don’t have to dress formally, but it is important to change your clothes before you start working. This informs your brain that your workday has begun.
Plus, research shows that wearing nice clothes can influence how you feel about work.
8. Ask for feedback
Communication is essential when working from home. Make sure you always keep in touch with your colleagues, especially your manager and the people you work with directly. Don’t be afraid to ask for feedback regarding your work. Knowing what others expect from you will make things much easier and will prevent you from wasting hours working in the wrong direction. Working remotely should not stop you from closely collaborating with others and sharing ideas.
9. Use a planner
The key to productivity, especially when working from home, is to keep organized. A simple and effective method to do this is to use a planner or a calendar. This will help you identify your priorities and prevent you from forgetting about any tasks or appointments. Create to-do lists, organize your tasks according to their importance, write down any relevant information that you might want to remember for later. Anything that helps you stay organized will boost your productivity and will make you feel more motivated and confident. A tool that I have been loving is Any.do it collaborates both my task lists and my calendar. It has a web, desktop and app version so you can access it anywhere.
10. Exercise regularly
Last but not least, don’t forget to take care of your body. When working from home, we tend to neglect physical exercise and it can have a hugely negative impact on our health. Make sure you make time to exercise daily, even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day. You don’t have to train hard if you don’t want to. Even taking a walk or doing some stretching can work wonders for your well-being.
Plus, exercise releases chemicals called endorphins which boost your happiness.
Final thoughts
Working from home might sometimes be a challenge, but it is up to us to make this experience as pleasant and as productive as possible. Follow these tips and focus on the positive aspects of working remotely.
How do you cope with working from home? Let me know in the comments below.
