Numerous businesses have requested workers to operate from home as a precaution during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many people might be working from home for the first time in an atmosphere that might not be conducive to efficiency. Working from home, in practice, has its own set of challenges and distractions. The additional stressors brought on have been overwhelming for many people.
As the pandemic continues to unfold, it is uncertain when other people will be able to return to work healthily. As a result, we've compiled a list of ways to boost productivity and foster a relaxed, concentrated environment when working from home. Implementing these suggestions can help with the regulation of your emotions and lead to healthier lifestyles.
Create and stick to a schedule: Working and living at home would undoubtedly interrupt the current work routine, making it impossible to stick to it. Being open to creating a new pattern that accommodates the new life is one way to work around this. Set aside time each day to start and finish work so that there is a clear separation between your workday and the remainder of your time at home.
Begin your day early: Working from home can be difficult when you have other people living with you who can need or distract your attention. One way to give yourself more time to concentrate on work without interruption is to get up an hour or two earlier than your housemates—but not before enjoying a few quiet minutes with a cup of tea or coffee.
Creating an Office: Have your workspace function for you by implementing the following strategies. Working in a typically used room for relaxation and comfort can make it challenging to be efficient (i.e., your bed or couch). One way to deal with this is to design or repurpose a room that is ideal for increasing efficiency. It may be as easy as working at the dinner table or as complex as dividing a space into sections and setting up a home office with a desk, chairs, and lamps.
Don't worry if none of these solutions are feasible for you. Even if you clean up your surroundings, you can still get into a focused work attitude. Fold the covers, open the blinds, switch on the lights, and sit upright if you must operate in bed or on the sofa. Life will not always be perfect, and learning to create strategies to cope with these times will be beneficial.
Reduce online distractions: Working in an unsupervised atmosphere can lead to you straying from essential tasks; it's all too tempting to log on to social media or browse other websites to avoid finishing an assignment or unwind for a few minutes.
Downloading site blocker extensions, which allow you to use your preferred web browser to block websites that you can find annoying, is one way to minimize this. Blocker extensions (such as StayFocusd and WasteNoTime) allow you to block any websites you like for a fixed time.
*Blocker extensions are available for both Mac OS and Windows 10 devices
Dress for work: Lying in your pj’s or loungewear can make you feel too comfortable, which isn't a good feeling to have when getting ready for work. Getting prepared today will probably assist you in setting goals and preparing your mind to be at its most creative. It may also help you resist the urge to crawl back under the covers.
Log off: Setting and sticking to an end time at home can be challenging, but even this type of boundary is critical for both your productivity and your mental health. There are external prompts in your workplace work environment to help you log off for the day: friends leaving, hunger for dinner, a train to catch, and so on. Set your phone's reminders or alarms to notify you when the workday is over! Maintaining a healthy work-life balance will help you avoid burnout and give you the drive to get up and do the job again the next day.
Therapy: Finally, therapy and counseling are excellent adjuncts to all of the above tips. During this time of uncertainty, it is common to feel emotionally unstable and not know who to turn to. It may feel isolating, and you may believe you are the only one feeling a certain way. Therapy can open the door to inner exploration and help provide you with the tools to engage in a happier and healthier life.
-Brandon Lipin