The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has resulted in significant life adjustments, including learning new working methods. While some of us are back at work, many continue to do remote work. Many companies believe that remote working is something that is better to continue because it helps cut significantly on office costs that companies used to have to bear. Given that remote working is inherently productive, many businesses are beginning to adopt it as a corporate strategy.
Some of us embrace the benefits of working from home, but this may not be the same for others. Many think that working from home has resulted in their lacking of energy, anxiety, and uncertainty. Along with this, they are also concerned about how to balance work with their personal and family obligations.
To help ease your concern, you can follow these suggestions so that they can help you feel more motivated and productive even when you have to work from home.
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Establish and maintain a routine
Without set routines, it can be difficult to maintain clear boundaries between work and personal time. Though you work from home, make sure to always stick to your regular working schedule.
Get out of bed at the same time every morning, have breakfast, and get dressed. Schedule your “commute time” so that you can use it for activities like exercise, reading, or listening to music before logging in.
Most importantly, quit working when your workday is over. Stop working, don’t check your email, and concentrate on your family. You do not have to work extra hours because you think you are working at home anyway.
Establish a specific work area
Find a quiet area away from people and other distractions. Before you begin working, gather all of the things you might need in one location, such as chargers, pens, paper, and anything else you might need. But do not forget to always clean your work area afterward. Remember you do not have your own office tea lady services that usually help to clean your workspace after office hours. You are on your own now. So, you need to make sure to clean your work area every day after clocking off. You do not want to start working the next morning with a cluttered desk.
When it is time, take a break
It’s crucial to schedule breaks in order to handle stress or tiredness. To be able to work with full concentration, you need to take regular breaks from your laptop screen. When it is time to have a lunch break, you need to stop working immediately.
When you feel the tension start to build in during working hours, take 5-10 minutes to rest. Your productivity can benefit greatly from taking brief breaks every hour, even if they only last 5 to 10 minutes.
Socializing with others
Working from home could make you feel more alone, because unlike usual –you won’t have other employees to talk to or communicate with during the day. To prevent you from feeling lonely, there are many ways to stay in contact with the people who matter.
Human interaction is important both at work and outside of it, so set up video calls and pick up the phone instead of emailing. Keep in mind that your coworkers will almost certainly share your feelings. You can call them and ask how they are doing, so you two can help each other out.
Set boundaries
Setting boundaries with family members is essential for maintaining your mental health while working from home. When you work from home, you have greater flexibility, which will probably make it easier for you to be around and help your family when they need you. However, it can be challenging if there are distractions you can’t manage. Such as your kids who suddenly need something from you and keep asking you to be there for them, even though you are actually working on a deadline project.
Discuss this with your family, share your schedule with them, and let them know that you will have to work during certain hours and are thus in need of some quiet time to do it.
Set boundaries not only with your family but also with your employer. When your house serves as your workplace, it’s simpler to stay online all the time. But remember that you have to log out when your work is done for the day so you can spend time with your family.
Take care of yourself
Don’t push yourself too hard to be productive in your work, and at the same time be there for your family. Understand that there will be times that you might not be as productive as you usually are, or that there are times when you know your family needs you -but you have to work on your deadline.
Whatever the case is, be gentle with yourself. From time to time, always do a self-care routine, or do anything that you know you want to. This is a way for you to show yourself some appreciation.
