It was almost unheard of a couple of decades ago, but now working from home is almost normal. Admittedly, some businesses are keener on the idea than others, but it’s a movement that is certainly gaining traction.
At the same time, working from home perhaps isn’t as “relaxing” as the term might sometimes suggest. It can be lonely and in some cases, even more, unproductive than the classic office environment. Because of this, we have put together today’s blog post. Through the rest of this page, we will mull over several suggestions that can make working from home a little easier for you to combat.
You don’t have to work from “home.”
You might phrase the term as working from home, but in reality, you are working remotely. The problem that faces you when you work from home is that you generally just have yourself for company and the same four walls for the entire day. This means that you do need to think outside the box somewhat, or outside your walls to be more specific.
Try and find different places to work – preferably where lots of people are based. Working from home in London? The world is your oyster. Head to Covent Garden and work from a coffee shop, or even work from a local park. The point we’re trying to make is that don’t tie yourself into a permanent office – as this can get lonely.
You need core hours
OK, there can be a little flexibility when it comes to home working, as this tends to be one of the benefits as well. At the same time, it can work against you. You can find that you start sneaking off to your office space to check emails at 10 pm – just because your work laptop is on hand. It can mean that you struggle to switch off – and this is a recipe for disaster. Have your hours and stick to them.
The same rules apply with breaks
We’ve spoken about your working hours, but make sure that you schedule breaks into this time. Again, with no co-workers around, it can be difficult to gauge when to take lunch or just get out and about for a stroll. Before you know it, the day has gone, and you haven’t left your computer.
The easiest way around this is to schedule specific breaks at certain times during the day.
Make sure everyone at home is on the same page
Something that a lot of people struggle with when working from home is the other people in the environment. Whether it is your partner or children, everyone needs to be aware that you are working. A common misconception is that you can help out with household chores and other small tasks – but everyone needs to be aware that this isn’t the case.
If you don’t set your boundaries, frustration can set in. You will get frustrated that your productivity is going downhill, while others in the house will get frustrated that you’re not helping them when seemingly you have the spare time to do so.
