Spring updates for your work-from-home space
Spring upgrade for your Work-From-Home Space
Warmer days are here! The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and we can start seeing clients again!
Up until last spring, I was the envy of most of my office working family and friends. Why? Because I’ve been working from home, maintaining a dual office…for over five years! Most of them proclaimed that if only they were allowed to work from home, they could be more productive and have a better work-life balance.
Well, thanks (or no thanks) to the coronavirus pandemic, many of them entered the world of remote working practically overnight.
Needless to say, after six months of remote working, many of my friends and family have changed their tune. Instead of hearing, “Wow! It’s so amazing that you can work from home,” I hear more along the lines of, “How did you work from home that long and stay sane?” Here’s the thing—I am no master of productivity, Some days working from home is extremely hard for me. However, I also had more than five years to figure it out, and was not forced into remote working due to a pandemic!
With experts warning that working from home will be around until well into 2021, finding a way to make working from home better for you is extremely important. From my own experience and tips from work-from-home (WFH) masters, here are a few ideas for fixing what is commonly wrong about WFH areas and routines, and creating ones that will make working from home a pleasant and sustaining experience.
THESE TIPS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN PRODUCTIVITY
CONSIDER WORKING OUTSIDE AND ‘REPURPOSING’ A GARAGE, SHED OR INVESTING IN A GAZEBO OR PERGOLA.
If this isn’t feasible, then hopes for privacy aren’t lost. Use outdoor privacy screens, curtains, or planters to create an enclosure to make your workspace more private while also drowning out noise
2. STOP WORKING FROM YOUR BED OR YOUR COUCH, AND START DESIGNATING A WORK AREA
In a perfect world, you’d have a separate home office with a door. Unfortunately, most do not have a dedicated workspace. No matter where you set up your workspace, it must be comfortable, or you will not be doing your body and mind any good. Make sure your chair and table are ergonomically adapted to keep you comfortable while sitting or standing. A workspace that is not comfortable will put stress on your body, making it difficult to concentrate on your work.
If you are short on space, create different work zones in the house for specific types of work requirements. For privacy, go to a bedroom, close the door, and create a work environment for heads-down work, or combine your phone calls into a dedicated time to walk and talk.
3. STOP OVERDECORATING AND START DECLUTTERING
Keep your workstation clutter in check. In any workspace, distractions like pictures and big décor can affect productivity. You can make your space pretty, but keep it at a minimum. In lieu of many plants, l add small potted plants or one medium picture frame.
In order to increase productivity, remove physical distractions as well as visual ones. If the space has less stuff and accessories to look at, it's a lot easier to stay productive.
4. STOP WORKING IN YOUR PAJAMAS AND START GETTING DRESSED EACH DAY
One of the many perks of working from home is that you really don’t have to wake up extra early to get dressed. Although it may be tempting to work in your pajamas all day, you could be limiting your productivity.
Prior to COVID-19, getting dressed up for work helped prepare you for the day ahead. Once you started working out of your home, that routine was probably the first thing to go.
While some employers do not care what you wear while working from home, getting dressed allows you to establish a work routine that can inspire productivity. Studies published suggests that clothing affects performance. So, stop working in your pajamas all day! You don’t have to dress business formal, but getting dressed will help you set the day in motion and emergency video calls won’t catch you by surprise!
5. STOP WORKING LONGER HOURS AND START ESTABLISHING A SCHEDULE
Without a commute, many new work-at-home employees found they now have more time during the day. However, don’t fill up that “extra” time with more work.
I've found myself logging more hours during the pandemic and having to create new boundaries to ensure that I still feel like I have time at home. Create a schedule that works for you. Wake up, start work, eat lunch, and finish work around the same time daily. Scheduling helps create structure in your day which can help with expectations management and goal setting.
If you share your home workspace with another or you have kids at home for remote learning, scheduling can get tricky. Begin establishing schedules and ground rules to reflect daily activities, responsibilities, and where to do these tasks.
Consider ‘work shifts’ with your spouse/partner alternating time with work and family. If a single parent, make clear with work that you will need flexibility to look after the needs of your kids.
6. STOP SITTING AT YOUR COMPUTER ALL DAY AND START TAKING BREAKS
Breaks help you increase productivity and creativity. Working for long stretches without breaks leads to stress and exhaustion. However, many people feel that because they are home, breaks are not necessary.
Breaks when at home, can release tension from sitting in a chair not built for it and help you break away from the monotony just as you would at work. Although you may not have coworkers to visit or a break room to chill out in a few times a day, it’s important to make the time. Working all hours of the day will not make you any more productive. In reality, this mindset may be costing you more than productivity. So taking breaks isn't a waste of time—it's absolutely necessary for your career and well-being.
Taking breaks refreshes the mind, replenishes your mental resources, and helps you become more creative. Luckily, working from home makes it even easier to take breaks throughout the day, so you should absolutely take them.
Remote working is the norm for the next few months. However, there is no reason you need to sacrifice your physical and mental health or time with your family in order to make it work.