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12 Tips To Help You Not Go Crazy While Working From Home . Some people choose to work from home. Bless their hearts, but you’re not one of them, which is why you’re here. Your couch, with its comfy pillows, is beckoning. With its stock of tortilla chips and salsa, your fridge is beckoning. That YouTube tab is beckoning.
And meanwhile, your neighbors have decided it’s the perfect time to start weed whacking, your cat thinks it’s a good idea to scratch a hole through the rug, and your phones are ringing off the hook… both of them at once. It’s Mom on the home phone and your boss on your cell. Who gets precedence?
If you’re used to working in an office setting, stick to the schedule you use there when working from home! If you get to work at nine in the morning, start work at home at nine. If you’re off at five, let yourself off at five. Don’t underdo it… or overdo it. This will keep you getting work done while avoiding burnout in the process.
If you already have a beautiful office tucked away in the corner of the house, wonderful! If not, carve out a little space in a spare room or a corner. When you step into your workspace, it’s time to work. And put up a big DO NOT DISTURB sign so that no one trespasses on your mind while it’s hard at work.
This might sound silly since, of course, no one’s watching you when you’re working remotely. But putting on proper work attire — whatever you’d wear if you had to go into the office — can sometimes do a lot, mentally and psychologically, to set you up for a long day of work. Use it as a mental tick to clue your mind into being productive.
Even if you’re not a planner, you’ll find it useful to have a list of tasks you hope to accomplish for the day. If your day goes off the ropes, it’s okay — add the tasks to tomorrow. This will still help you add structure, as well as keep you more productive. Breaking the day into tasks can also help ease the dread of all the work that has to get done.
Would you work through lunch at the office? Probably not. So make sure you eat a nutritious midday lunch, nothing too unhealthy but too extravagant. A turkey sandwich or grilled cheese would be perfect. If you’re a snacker, plan a couple of snacks throughout your workday to help you get through. Eating will keep you and your mind alert and ready for work.
Even a short 5-10 minute break will do wonders for your productivity. Build breaks into your workday so that you won’t be working nonstop, especially if you’re the type of person who works nonstop when there’s no one — and nothing — to interrupt your flow. You’ll find that you’re better off taking a breather once in a while. Nothing hurts productivity like burnout.
Water is essential to life — and working remotely. Never forget it, even when you’re ramming your way through briefs like nobody’s business. Keep a bottle or glass of water on hand at all times, and keep sipping throughout the day. This will keep you focused and productive.
If you’re working in a noisy environment (with the buzz of your neighbor’s weed whacker or around children), consider investing in a pair of noise-canceling headphones, or at least some commonplace earplugs. These handy tools may up your productivity — and sanity — considerably.
Even if it’s a long, hard day, don’t give up. Don’t give in to the temptation of TV and a bowl of popcorn. You’ve got work to do, and people depend on you — whether you’re in the office or not. Keep yourself accountable, and keep at it until it’s time to punch out.
Take at least one break to have playtime with your pet, your kids, or whoever else you have in your life. They’ll be grateful, and so will you. Even if it’s rewarding yourself during lunch break with a couple of minutes on an online game or a gossip website you love, the little things go a long way.
If you’re musical, try whipping out that guitar in the back of your closet and strumming along to a few songs. Just don’t get carried away. If you’re not musical but love music (who doesn’t?), then put on your favorite hits. Again, don’t get carried away. Use listening to a couple of songs as a reward for some hard work, and your productivity will thank you.
It could be worse. You could be stuck in a cubicle and a very particular cage made just for humans like you. Instead, you’re at home, roaming free in your domain. So take advantage of the freedom, be happy, and do your most challenging work.
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