Tips for Working From Home
Looking back a year ago, who would have thought most of us would still be working from home? Since this has been the reality for a lot of us this year, it is important to weigh the pros and cons of working from the comfort of your own home. One positive is just that- the comfort! It is nice to wear comfortable clothes, work from anywhere in your home, and grab a snack or a cup of coffee whenever you need to. But, with all this comfort, it is easy to fall into a pattern that doesn’t always support the most productive of habits.
When we work from home every day, the lines between work responsibilities and personal freedoms become blurred. It is easy to become unmotivated, bored, and even sluggish. This is a natural occurrence that comes with not having a change of scenery for a long time, but it is important to practice healthy habits throughout the workday to ensure that you keep your peace of mind and also get your blood flowing. Follow along for some tips we’ve put together to help you stay physically and mentally healthy during this time at home:
1.) Don’t Work On Your Bed - While working from your bed might seem comfortable, this is actually a bad idea. Your brain already associates your bed with sleep, so this can hinder productivity if you start to work from your bed. It is easier to lose focus and become tired more easily, especially when your subconscious is used to that space as a place of comfort and rest. Sitting or laying in your bed with your work computer is also unhealthy, as you may become used to unhealthy sitting positions that can cause back problems, muscle aches, and cramps.
2.) Move Your Body- Whether you are working in an office or from home, it is important to block out times throughout the day to get up and move your body. Even if you just allow yourself 10-15 minutes a few times throughout your workday to get up and stretch and move around, this will make a huge difference for your mind and body, health-wise. Any kind of stretching or brief exercise will get your blood flowing, which will help you concentrate better once you get back to work. Getting up to move around will also help prevent strain on your back and neck, which can happen from sitting down and working at a computer for long periods of time. Moving around will also help lower your risk for potential blood clots that can occur from sitting down for long periods of time as well. Don’t forget to give yourself a break to move your body!
3.) Healthy Sleep Habits- While it is important to try to get enough sleep throughout the week (typical recommendation is 8 hours), it is just as important to practice healthy sleep habits. A lot of times, we find it hard to fall asleep at night after a long, stressful day because our minds feel like they are going at one hundred miles per hour. Healthy bedtime habits such as drinking herbal tea, reading a book, and staying away from your phone or computer screens will promote healthier, longer sleep. Nowadays it is hard to stay off your phone right before bed, but it is important to note that staring at a phone screen before you sleep is not healthy for your eyes or your brain as you are about to shut down for the night. Try reading or even meditation to help yourself relax at night- you will feel much better in the morning!
4.) Set Goals- It is important to set goals for yourself throughout the day, as working from home can sometimes get very distracting. It is easy to become less productive when you are working from the comfort of your own home, so it is important to set weekly or daily goals. Writing them down or typing them out in a to-do list can help you feel more organized, and there is no better feeling than crossing something off of your to-do list! Organizing and prioritizing your tasks for the day will help your mind feel less jumbled, which will reduce stress and anxiety in the long-run.
5.) Reward Yourself! - Last but not least, make sure you treat yourself! Working from home can be a positive thing, but it can also be very distracting and difficult for some people. Whether you are one of those people or not, it is important to treat yourself at the end of every day. Set goals at the beginning of the day or week, and promise yourself a reward at the end of the day/week for accomplishing these goals! This will boost your motivation and productivity throughout each day, and it will give you something to look forward to. It can be hard to be stuck inside your house every day and the days and weeks can feel very long. Make sure you make time for yourself and reward yourself for staying on top of your work. You deserve it!
Working from home looks different for everyone. Some find it convenient and comforting, while others find it lonely, isolating, and overall challenging. No matter what, it is important to practice these 5 healthy habits to ensure that you are putting your mental and physical health first while stuck at home. You got this!
If you have more questions about working from home, contact us today! We have all of the tips for you!