Although the comfort of not having to commute, skipping traffic, and waking up a bit later all seem great pros to working from home, the lack of a predefined structure may become a challenge for some. That entails not missing deadlines, not getting distracted, not overworking yourself, and simply sticking to a daily routine.
In the next few paragraphs, you will find some tips that may turn out quite useful to anyone who’s starting out a new home office job. Or maybe someone who has been doing it for a while but has lost a sense of direction in terms of managing their time. Either way, these general rules possibly apply to your specific situation.
1. Define a personal schedule
Since we are so used to prioritizing our job and often worry about not being able to fulfill our responsibilities on time, we tend to forget that taking care of ourselves is just as important; one does not happen without the other. In the long run, if you don’t schedule some free time to go outside, maybe to work out, go for a walk, or socialize with friends, you will eventually feel burnt out. That will only lead to unproductivity and will make all of those consecutive work hours completely useless because you will not have the energy, or the motivation, to follow those projects.
That is why the best thing you can do is pre-set the hours of the day in which you will work and the ones you will spend on recreational activities. It can also be useful to schedule your meals, to make sure you don’t skip any and stay energized throughout your shift.
2. Designate a workspace
If you are able to choose a space at home to only use while working, it can be incredibly helpful. Look for a place where you can have all the things you need close to you, also try to make sure it is silent and free of distraction, and most importantly leave it as soon as you start your free time. Scientific investigations show how connected mindset is to the physical space we find ourselves in. When we are used to completing certain activities at a specific desk -for example- we usually don’t even consider doing something else while sitting there. That is why it is a huge mistake to try to work from bed, or the kitchen table maybe, because we are used to spending relaxation time there.
3. Ask for feedback
A big worry that can come up when working from home, even more so if you had been working in-office up until recently, is whether you are doing things right and achieving the expected goals. That is why asking your boss or manager if you are fulfilling their expectations and contributing to the company’s performance can give you a big sense of direction and also calm your anxiety about it. Knowing how well you are doing and what specific things you can improve will let you plan out your time and effort for each task, as well as allow you to maybe ask for help or to educate yourself on the matter.
These three bullet points will probably set you on the right path to stay positive and calm when starting a new journey practicing home office. As long as you strike for balance, your productivity will probably fluctuate but not fully decay. Which is what matters alongside taking care of yourself and your mental health.