How to make the most of working from Home
Management and Teams
It may have started as a bit of a novelty but working from home for long periods of time can start to affect our mental health. Just as it is important to look after physical health during the outbreak of Coronavirus, it's also important to keep on top of how you are feeling.
According to 2019 research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research on remote workers:
Employees are embracing it: of those who have the option of working from anywhere choose to do so. (86%)
That flexible working improves the personal well-being and the ability to balance work with outside activities. (73%)
That remote work improves their job satisfaction level. (69%)
That it allows them to boost their professional development. (60%)
The day is spent switching between apps and actual work, and it's killing productivity. (40%)
Problems - some common feelings you might be experiencing are:
Feeling isolated, lonely, or disconnected from other people – socially and professionally.
Being unable to 'switch off from work'.
Having difficulty staying motivated.
Having difficulty prioritising your workload.
Feeling uncertain about your progress, and whether you're performing ok.
Insomnia and sleep problems.
Solutions:
To help combat this, here are some tips to protect your mental health when working from home:
Pretend like you are going into the office.
Structure your day like you would in the office.
To counteract your social media use, log out of each account. (log out of every account.)
Work when you're at your most productive.
Save calls for the afternoon.
Use laundry as a work timer.
Communicate expectations with anyone who will be home with you.
Take clear breaks.
Pick a definitive finishing time each day.
Keep the TV on in the background. (This really works)
Also, consider:
Get started early.
Set a routine as if you are going into the office, with a regular start time, and finish time, and a structure for your day, with breaks and exercise scheduled in. This will help you maintain a strong boundary between work and home life, minimise the possibility of work intruding into your family time, and help you switch off from work at the end of the day. Creating cues, such as getting changed into your work clothes at the start of the day, and out at the end, can help with this
Create a specific place in your home where you work (avoid your bedroom).
Studies show that working from home can interfere with sleep, especially for people who find it difficult to switch off from work. Avoid working in your bedroom if possible. It will then become associated with being alert, awake and switched on.
Stay connected with co-workers and your manager by scheduling regular virtual or phone meetings.
Because everyday encounters with colleagues don't spontaneously happen when we're working from home, we need to be proactive in organising meetings and social connection to maintain positive relationships. Staying connected with others will help to reduce stress levels, help you feel less isolated, and stay productive. It also helps you communicate with your manager or employees to keep them informed of what you're working on.
Try and get outside at least once a day.
Technology makes it easier to stay connected 24-7, but the downside is that it can make it difficult to switch off, and separate work and home life If you're not stuck in self-isolation, try to get outside at least once a day. Go for a walk, get some fresh air, and sunshine. If you are in isolation, go out to your garden or walk up and down your driveway or go out onto your balcony and enjoy the fresh air.
Get the internet speed you need.
If you have kids, their FaceTiming and Xbox habits may slow your connection and download speeds. Moving as close as you can to your Wi-Fi router can help (devices that are distant tend to draw on bandwidth), or you can consider switching to Ethernet.
Beware of workaholic tendencies.
Efficiency and flexibility are two of the top 10 reasons that people want to work from home, along with shorter hours (what might you accomplish with eight straight hours of keyboard-pounding, uninterrupted by emails or daily staff meetings). But sometimes flexibility is too much of a good thing. When your office is always there, waiting, with that deadline looming over your head, it's pretty hard to just close the door and pretend you've left for the day. Many home-based workers find themselves working more hours, not fewer, logging in work time on nights and weekends, just because it's there and they can't ignore it.
Don't bet on saving money.
Without a daily commute, mandatory lunches and the cost of office-appropriate attire, it may seem that working from home will peel some costs off your budget. But additional outlays can crop up. The expense to set up an office may include laptops, printers, internet service, cell phones, business cards, web hosting, business services, and software.
The Bottom Line.
Working from home can be exciting, empowering and even profitable, provided you are realistic about the pros and cons. Whether you are a freelancer, a company part-timer, or a full-time employee who just doesn't hit the office on certain days, it's a way to escape the daily grind. But there are added responsibilities that come with freedom, not to mention planning, foresight, self-discipline, and focus. Oh, yes, and hours of uninterrupted hard work. As many home-based employees will tell you, it's not easier to work from home—it's just a different location.