Many people now work from home a few days a week, or even full time. This can bring flexibility and the freedom from a tiring commute, and some people thrive and are able to perform at their best. However, for others, working from home can present challenges, from time-management to social isolation.
The traditional boundaries between work and home life are being increasingly blurred, and this can mean that work can eat into your personal time, or the distractions of home disrupt your productivity. Here are some useful tips to help you stay motivated and in charge of your work-life balance.Â
Create a dedicated workspace
Working in bed or while reclining on the patio may seem to be the ultimate life goal, but in reality this is unlikely to put you in the right frame of mind for work, not to mention bad for your posture. If you do not have a spare room that you can use as an office, find a quiet area where you can be free from interruptions.Â
Ideally, there should be a physical barrier such as a screen or piece of furniture to mark the psychological separation between your work and home life. Invest in noise-cancelling headphones if you find noise from traffic or neighbours distracting. Â
Keep in touch
One of the biggest challenges many people face when they WFH is the lack of everyday social interaction. It’s important for even the least extroverted of people to share experiences and to maintain a sense of community and connection with others.Â
Make an effort to stay in touch with your work colleagues with regular virtual or in-person catch ups, and organise a weekly social activity that gets you out of the house. This could be joining a sports team or a book club, or just meeting up with friends and family.Â
Use time-management techniques
If you are managing a heavy workload, set yourself self-imposed deadlines and targets to stay on track. Plan out each day in advance and block in a fixed amount of time for each task to avoid drifting and keep you working towards a goal.Â
Prioritise the tasks in order of importance, or schedule work that demands the most concentration for times of the day when you feel most alert and energised, such as first thing in the morning.Â
Dress for success
Our clothes can impact our state of mind, so resist the temptation to wear pyjamas and ensure that you are dressed in a presentable way and ready for any unscheduled video meetings.Â
Remember to include rests and rewards
It may be tempting to work solidly through the day in an attempt to get on top of your workload, but this can actually lower your motivation and mean that you simply take longer to get the same amount of work done. Treat yourself with respect and take regular breaks to eat well and stretch your muscles, and reward yourself with the occasional treat.Â
If you are concerned that working from home is seriously affecting your mental health, it may be worth exploring professional help such as hypnotherapy or counselling.Â
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