The COVID-19 pandemic has many people working from home these days. It can be a challenge navigating this new normal while balancing work responsibilities and home life. Trying to manage a healthy balance can trigger work-related anxiety for some people. Here are some tips to help you stay productive, reduce stress, and limit distractions while working from home.
Make an Office Space
When working from home, the lines of work life and home life easily get blurred. It may be tempting to work from bed or the couch, but setting up a more official workspace can increase productivity and limit distractions. Keep it organized with all the supplies you will need to stay on top of your work. If you live with others, let them know this is your home office and when you’re there, it’s work time. If possible, use a room you are able to close a door as a workspace. It’s important to create a separate workspace so you can keep a healthy work life balance.
Make Office Hours
When you’re working from home and you don’t have a specific time to be anywhere anymore, it can be easy to fall into the habit of sleeping in and working when you want. This can really reduce productivity and you may find yourself working a lot but not really being productive. Making specific office hours can really help you stay on track. It’s important to get your work done, but it’s also important to have time to wind down from our workday and relax with our loved ones. Wake up early and keep a schedule. If you’re living with other people, keep them informed of your work schedule so they don’t distract you during office hours.
Don’t Forget About Breaks
Making office hours are important, but don’t forget to schedule in some breaks. Regular breaks can keep you more focused and energized when you are actually working. It will also give you a peaceful state of mind, helping you feel more relaxed. When working from home, there may be many days it seems as though you never go outside. Take some time out of the day for a little exercise or meditation. If possible, go outside for a walk during a break for fresh air. Working from home can be isolating, especially if you live alone. Make time to connect with a family member or loved one during a break.
Meal Prepping
Mealtime responsibilities can become overwhelming, especially if you have a full household at home you need to feed. Preparing meals throughout the day be incredibly time consuming and take away from your workflow. Meal prepping ahead of time is a great way to keep cooking from interfering with your workday. On the weekend, cook meals in bulk and portion them off for easy reheating throughout the week. This way, you’re not spending time during the day preparing meals and other family members are free to help themselves when they are hungry.
Eliminate Digital Distractions
It’s easy to get distracted by our phones or the TV while we are working from home. To stay productive, keep the TV off and put your phone on silent or do not disturb while you’re working. A quick check of your social media can easily turn into an hour. Set aside break times to check your messages at specific times to keep you from getting regularly distracted and wasting time throughout the day.
Set Daily Goals
Staying organized and setting daily goals is key to staying productive while working from home. Keeping a to-do list of things you’d like to get done every day is a great way to manage your time and keep you on track.
Bottom Line
It may be challenging to adapt to this new way of life working from home. It’s important to stay organized and create a healthy work life balance so you can stay productive and minimize stress and distractions. If you are having difficulties juggling work and home life, you are not alone. It’s important to prioritize your mental well-being to keep you working efficiently and feeling your best.
[This post is published by Marie Miguel. Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with MyTherapist.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.]