6 ways to make working from home work for you
Get it right and research tells us that people who work from home are not only happier, they get more – rather than fewer – things done, too.
That’s not surprising when you consider a significant amount of people who work in open-plan offices say they find concentrating difficult, thanks to noise.
But when it’s a new or temporary arrangement it can be a challenge to not only hit the ground running but to keep the momentum up as the days and weeks go by. The following tips and strategies can help.
1. Set up a dedicated work space
Having somewhere to ‘go’ to do your work will help you avoid the distractions and interruptions that being at home might present, particularly if you’re not living alone.
Plus, it can make it easier to keep your work and home lives as separate as possible, which is a research-approved way to
keep stress levels in check. And that matters because it’s common to feel less and less motivated as stress rises.
Still tempted to work in front of the TV or with your favourite tunes blaring just because you can? While different personalities can cope with those kinds of noise-based distractions better, behavioural scientists say it’s working in silence that delivers the best results in terms of mental performance.
2. Structure your day
As well as helping you avoid burnout from working for too many hours in a 24-hour period, establishing solid start and finish times – including ‘take a break’ ones – will also help protect against procrastination (when you find yourself cleaning out your wardrobe for two hours after breakfast rather than knuckling down to work ).
Depending on your job, one thing you may be able to do more of now that you’re working from home is structure your day in a way that suits you and how you work best.
Consider when you’re most alert and
when your energy levels tend to dip, and schedule tasks appropriately.
3. Dress the part
The temptation to stay in your pyjamas all day every day when you’re working at home and don’t have to see anyone is real. But while it might seem like too good an opportunity to pass up, research shows the clothes we wear affect how we think.
According to US scientists, compared to dressing casually, choosing more formal clothes encourages abstract thinking, the kind that helps you come up with creative solutions to challenges and problems.
So, while you might not have to stick with your usual work wardrobe, ditching your sleepwear before you begin your workday is wise.
4. Use your lunch break
While you should prioritise grabbing a bite to eat, it’s also a good idea to take 15 minutes to do a spot of physical activity or
engage in some relaxation exercises at lunchtime.
A study published in 2017 found that people who take those measures not only return to work feeling less stressed, they perform better throughout the afternoon, too.
5. Keep in touch with your workmates
This is important for a couple of reasons. For starters, staying connected to your colleagues is helpful for your mental health and wellbeing.
But research also shows that maintaining face-to-face interaction with workmates, if that’s how you’re used to working, can also help you stay focused and remain innovative and on your game.
So, in addition to picking up the phone to keep in touch, video call each other occasionally.
6. And stay connected to your job, too
A British study confirmed that when we don’t feel personally or positively connected to a task, we’re much more likely to procrastinate about doing it. And because home environments are typically full to the brim with things we’re connected to, even if you feel plugged in to your job when you’re physically ‘at work’, you might not feel that connection so strongly now that you’re at home.
The fix? Experts suggest taking the time to consciously remind yourself why your work is important and valuable to you, to increase motivation and reduce procrastination when you’re working from home.