For the last two years, many employees across the country have been working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. And for some, they now find themselves working from home permanently.
After initially enjoying the benefits of remote work, such as no commute and the option to work in sweatpants, it is normal over time to start feeling like you are stuck in a rut.
To help you stay productive as well as healthy, try to make a few of the following changes to your daily work from home routine.
Designating a space for work
Setting up an at-home workspace is important for your mental health as well as your daily productivity levels. Find a room in your house that fits your work from home needs. You might be lucky enough to have a private room for your home office. Just make sure you have proper lighting by choosing a space near a window or purchasing a floor or table lamp.
Don’t have an enclosed space in your home or apartment to work from? No worries! There are many ways to make a semi-private work zone that suits your purposes. Choose a space that is out of the way, such as a corner or a nook. To block off a workspace from other parts of a room, use room dividers, bookcases or curtains.
Setting up your desk for work
To create the best home office setup, start with the right desk and chair. For the proper height, sit at your desk and check your elbows. They should be resting at a 90-degree angle when your palms are flat. If your budget allows, choose a desk that alternates from sitting to standing position. This is the best setup for your health and to avoid back pain.
To make your workspace comfortable, try more home office upgrades like:
- A monitor with plug-and-play connections for other devices
- A widescreen computer monitor or two computer monitors
- An office chair that supports your spine
- Lamps with ambient lighting
To create a more pleasing space to work from, add a few pops of personality.
Ideas for decorations include:
- A colorful painting
- A leafy houseplant
- A wall hanging
- Scented candles
Tips for staying productive when working from home
Working from home requires discipline, patience and a sense of humor. Here are a few tips that will help keep you on track and save your sanity while you’re working remotely.
Create a schedule and stick to it. It’s important to plan your workday just like you would in your office across town. Set aside work time in the morning, take an hour off for lunch and enjoy a small break in mid-afternoon. Or, if you’re more productive in the evening, set your schedule around those hours. Just make sure that you follow it.
Set boundaries for housemates or family members. Have a conversation with all the people you live with about your work schedule. Explain to them that during your work time, you shouldn’t be interrupted except for an emergency. You may have to clarify more than once what constitutes an emergency.
Continue to practice self-care. Just because you’re working remotely doesn’t mean you should skip brushing your teeth or taking a shower. Make sure to practice all the types of self-care that you did when you were working away from home.
Wrap up your day with a ritual. You may like to finish your day by checking your emails one last time or by tidying up your desk. Either way, it’s a good idea to wrap up your work the same way every day. A ritual tells your mind that it’s time to be done with work for the day.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, it’s important to keep up with the latest details about the virus. We are here to help. Check out the Bon Secours website for more information.
