As of this writing, most of New York has been asked to stay indoors. For the first time, many people are working from home for days, potentially weeks on end. For some people, this may even be the new normal, as there are businesses discussing making “work from home” part of their long term strategy.
Working from home often sounds like a lot of fun. And it can be. But it can also be challenging – sometimes even more challenging than you expect.
If you’re one of the many millions of people working from home for the first time, and you’re finding that working from home isn’t as easy as you’d hoped, here are a few ways that you can stay positive and productive.
Tips to Adapt to Working From Home
- Give Yourself a Routine – Structure and routine is can make working from home much easier and more fulfilling. Have a set time that you wake up, give yourself activity (making coffee, eating a big breakfast, or exercise, for example), work only during pre-determined hours, and then be off for the day. Make sure that you’re completely unplugged* when you’re not working and then go to bed at a reasonable time to keep to a schedule like you’re at work.
- Have a Work Space – An office/work space makes it easier to focus. Make sure all the supplies you need are on hand, and try to be as clutter free as possible (clutter has a tendency to increase stress, especially at home).
- Goal Set – Small, manageable goals make it easier to stay motivated. By being easier to reach, the goals show you that you’ve been making real progress, and those little rewards make it easier to stay motivated and continue to reach new goals.
- Take Real Breaks – When you work from home, you tend to have less interaction, less movement, fewer meetings, etc. You stay in one place most of the day. That can be draining both physically and mentally. So make sure you take breaks, move around, get some fresh air, and more so that you’re treating it like a real schedule and giving time to yourself to re-energize.
- Manage Your Expectations – With the coronavirus outbreak, more families now have two parents working from home, along with children out of school. This does make it more difficult for both of you to be productive and efficient. That’s why you should both talk about how you’ll manage your time, know what to expect of each partner, and create a system where you both can take turns and be as productive as possible. Remember to treat both jobs, no matter the pay or status, like they’re equally as important.
*When you go “off the clock” and your work is done for the day, put it away. Close the computer, disconnect the phone/email – whatever it is. It is important to establish clear boundaries for yourself between “home” and “work” so that you can be fully present and productive – and HAPPY – in each domain.
Get Help While at Home
Whether you’re at home by choice or by necessity, working from home is now a more common part of life. But being at home all the time has its challenges. If you need to talk to someone, learn more about our New York Telehealth services by calling us today.
You can also learn more about our coronavirus care services by visiting our coronavirus care page.
