The global pandemic has pushed many workforces without a choice but to practise a work-from-home routine. This routine may come off as a new and daunting concept to some but for others, this has been something that they have gotten used to due to their job nature.
Though working-from-home seems more flexible, it does come with its challenges as well, such as drawing a line on when to stop working. A common issue is not having the right work setup for your body’s posture.
So, how do we tackle such challenges? Here, we list 7 of the best tips on how you can tackle them and make working-from-home feel better!
1. Optimize Regular Working Hours
Organizing a schedule and setting clear guidelines between the time you arrange for work and break time, will ensure that you optimize your time well for a work-life balance.
There are various apps that you can download to help you keep track of your schedule to ensure that you follow it accordingly, such as Toggl on PlayStore and Homebase Employee Scheduling on the App Store.
2. Emphasize Ground Rules
Distractions are inevitable while working from home. Perhaps setting down some ground rules with the people in your home will be a good start.
They can be your spouse, children or housemates, but it would be good if you can clarify with them the dos and don'ts during the time that you are working so you are able to commit fully to your work.
3. Prioritize Your Break Times
Sometimes, working from home would make us commit fully to our work, thus forgetting our need for a break time.
Give yourself some time off from the computer and phone screens. Enjoy a full hour of lunch and have several breaks in between your work-time to walk around and get the blood circulating. Doing this gives your mind a break from the sedentary work routine. Just don’t get too carried away while you’re at it!
4. Design a Dedicated Office Space
Oftentimes, we will not have ideal spaces in our homes that we can call our very own personal office area.
Hence, you should dedicate a desk or a tablespace and set it up only for working purposes. Aligning the height of your computer, chair and furniture to be parallel to your body’s position is very important so as not to cause any stress on your spine or carpal tunnel.
Alternatively, having simple adjustments such as the right office chairs or a proper laptop stand will help you immensely for your body!
5. Staying Positive Goes a Long Way
Written messages always tend to pose a different tone than what it actually intends on conveying. The less time you have with facing people, the more likely it can lead to deciphering an otherwise innocent message as crude.
That being said, always be positive no matter if it even feels that you’re being incredibly hyper. Else, you would appear as someone being rather curt in your communication and does not think about others. So, knock yourself out with an array of emojis and exclamation points!
6. Embrace Your Inner Artist
Start appreciating yourself by having an artistic hobby during your off-hours. Working from home opens doors to creating new opportunities for yourself that you never thought could even happen when you’re busy working at your office!
Because the mind is so stressed already, it’s a good time to invest in a new hobby to refresh yourself. Otherwise, it’ll be a waste if you never took hold of the opportunity in harnessing your hidden skills!
7. Clocking Out with a Routine
Like how you have started your day with your work routine, practise by ending your day with a routine as well. It can be as simple as heading out for an evening walk or practising yoga. By doing these simple habits, it provides a necessity of de-stressing, which is what your mind and body need.
Working from home need not be a mundane and arduous task. Instead, why not adjust it to your liking and work in the way that’d benefit you?