It may seem like you can’t remember a time without COVID-19. Trust me, that’s completely understandable because I feel that way too. People have been working from home for a while now, but that doesn’t actually make it any easier to deal with. At Driven Media Solutions, we’ve always worked from home as part of a virtual team. This is why we’re going to impart some of our advice to some of you who may not have worked from home before. It can be great freedom to work from home, but it can also be very difficult to deal with in the long term.
All of the advice that we’re going to look at will make sure that you’re both happy and healthy when you work from home. If you ever feel like you’re being overwhelmed, then you should talk to someone. Don’t suffer in silence. This could be your boss, fellow colleagues, family and friends. If you don’t feel comfortable talking with those people, you can call Samaritans on 116 123 and an impartial person will answer the call and talk to you. They won’t judge you and they’re there to listen to you. Now settle in, as we go through our tips to help you work from home.
Try To Find a Quiet Workspace When You Work From Home
This isn’t something that everyone can do, that’s true. Despite this, if you can find a quiet workspace to get on with your work then you should do that. Distractions will have a severe impact on your ability to work and it could lead to you getting even more stressed out. The ideal place to work would be within a well-lit room away from children, of course, you can let the dog in for some companionship if you’re finding it difficult to be solitary. You should also think about moving everything that you’ll need, like pens, notepads and work phones into your workspace before your shift starts.
Then, you want to make sure that your workspace is comfortable. Come on, you’re sitting there for hours on end every day, you don’t want to get a numb bum do you? Even though it may be really comfy in your bed or on the sofa, you’ll find that this will damage your posture in the long term. You should ideally be sitting on a chair at a table if you can. If you don’t have an office chair, then you can still do things to make you more comfort like putting down some cushions on your chair to make it comfier.
Turn Off Your Devices At The End Of The Day
It can be tempting to stay connected with your work-life by keeping your work phone on and checking your LinkedIn. You shouldn’t do that though, otherwise, you’re not going to be able to separate your work life from your home life. Your home life should be separate from your work life and keeping connected will stress you out a lot more in the long-term than switching off will. Your work can wait, your family and your happiness can’t. If you think it might help you, you should consider getting outside at the end of your workday, especially now that it’s getting warmer.
I know this one personally as I used to have a serious problem with staying connected to work. As a worker I used to always have my LinkedIn open, scrolling endlessly. I would even work on things for my employer and my own clients in my off time. Sometimes when you’re running your own business, you may have to work later than normal. That still shouldn’t become the routine though. Even if you have your work things on your own devices, try to keep them closed and mute notifications on apps that are going to throw you back into the work mindset.
When You Work From Home, Keep a Routine
When you work from home, you may feel that you have to constantly be available. Despite this, just because you’re present at your job (from home), doesn’t mean you’re working well. If you’re struggling mentally then your work is going to suffer either way. You should try to take regular breaks to help you decompress. This could even be something as small as taking a five-minute break every hour. It’s not recommended that you constantly stare at a screen anyway, so a break will be good for your eyes. This will ultimately help you to be more productive and less stressed at home.
When you work from home, you may find that you’re not very active. If you’re finding that you’re feeling like your joints are stiff, or you feel like you want to stay active at home, you should. You can do this simply by doing a ten-minute exercise at some point in your day. Of course, before doing a little more in your own time. On your lunch break, unless you want to stay inside then it may be worth considering going for a run, bike ride or walk. This will get you out into the fresh air and will help you mentally and physically.
Keep In Touch With Colleagues and Friends
This one is something that I can’t stress enough for new home workers. Your family and friends should be your rock whilst working from home and your colleagues are also a part of your support network. This is because whilst working from home may make you feel free, it can also be very lonely and isolating, take it from me. If you can, rather than emailing people, try to get on the phone or have a video call. Get that social interaction that is important to us as a species. If you’re struggling, you should be able to turn to these people for support.
You should also remember that if you’re struggling, it’s very possible that someone else is too. This is why you should also make time to check in with your colleagues, family and friends. If they’re struggling, it will be a great help to them if they know they’re not alone. That way, you can figure out ways to support each other in work too. You should try to arrange virtual socials for your team to keep contact up. Don’t make them mandatory though as people won’t like not being given a choice.
Conclusion
In closing, we’ve gone over how difficult working from home can be. Not just in terms of your physical health, but also the toll that it can have on your mental health. It’s important to make sure that you have a workspace that is free from distractions. This way you’ll be able to put your best foot forward and you won’t be stressing about constant distractions. Additionally, when you finish your workday, you should try to turn off your apps and devices. This way, you’re not going to be constantly thinking about work when you should be resting.
Furthermore, it is critical to keep a routine when you’re working from home. This will help you to better manage both your workload and your mental health in general. If you feel like you’ve not moved enough, then try to take regular breaks and move around during them. Finally, you should keep in touch with your colleagues, friends and family. Talking to someone can be a great help when you’re feeling low. You should also try and be there for other people, reach out if you suspect they may be struggling and make people aware that you’re there for them.