Tips For Working From Home

A lot of people are finding themselves working from home right now and it can be a big adjustment. I’ve only been doing it since December but since I’ve recently found myself having to adjust from office life, I wanted to share some tips that are fresh in my mind that may be useful.

Change Your Scenery

When you work in an office you have different areas you may visit. Whether it’s the break room, conference room, or simply walking down the hall to someone else’s office. At home you may find yourself stuck in one place with no where to go. Don’t forget to change your scenery and move around. Even if you have a home office, you can go sit at the kitchen table, sit on the couch, stand at the kitchen counter or sit outside if you are lucky enough to have good weather.

Take A Break

I know this can be a tough one but it’s important. Give yourself a break once in a while…every few hours. Step outside for a few minutes and get some fresh air or simply walk around the house. You can find yourself moving less than you did when you actually worked in an office so you have to make a concentrated effort to move.

Multi-task

You’re home! Take advantage of some chores that need to be done that usually get neglected or overwhelm you when you have to drive to the office. Throw in a load of laundry, fold and put it away…this also helps accomplish taking a break even if it’s not a fun one. If you typically have a long drive to work then take advantage of that time to get some cleaning or other household chores done. This will allow for more relaxing and family time on the weekends.

Maintain Your Office Hours

Working from home, the hours can all blend together. You don’t have to drive to work anymore so you may find yourself starting work earlier and ending later. Take advantage of the time you are getting back rather than just increasing your work hours. Of course you will have to be flexible and I know this is easier said than done but use that time for personal connections. Whether you have a spouse and kids at home or you are living alone, you can find time to connect with people. I hear virtual happy hours are all the rage right now.

Your employer may not like these tips but they will help to keep you balanced when everything else is so unbalanced. I’ve read people stating that you should keep your routine as similar as possible so when you return to the office you can readjust easily. I don’t disagree but I also think there are some things you can do to help ease the craziness happening around us right now. Just my two cents!