Tips for Working From Home

As the Coronavirus continues to disrupt our regular day-to-day schedule, millions of people in the world are working from home indefinitely and might be feeling a little lost when it comes to staying focused. While working from home has many advantages, there are also numerous distractions that might prevent you from doing your best work. From spouses/significant others, to kids, to pets, to a bed calling your name, the messy house, laundry, etc. it can be hard to stay focused. However, you can make your home office a positive and motivating space by making a few small changes to your daily routine. We compiled a few applicable tips that can help you succeed while working from home.

The first thing that our team deems vital to staying focused is your wardrobe. It can be so easy to fall into the trap of sweatpants and slippers every day, so we encourage you to make an effort each morning as you would normally. Wake up, take a shower, and get dressed as if you are going into work. This will help you draw your mind into the right space for a successful work day and can help you feel more motivated. 

Another helpful tip (if you have the space) is to dedicate one specific area of your home as your "makeshift office." You want to recreate the separation from work and home as much as possible. We understand not everyone has a spare bedroom, but try and recreate a space that feels as separate from the rest of your home as possible. Find a comfortable chair you can sit in for the day. Also, an area with good natural lighting will help you stay alert and focused. Entering your designated workspace daily will help you to turn work mode "on," and once you leave your workspace at the end of the day, it will help you turn "off" and fully disengage.

In addition to staying consistent with where you are working, you should also aim to work the same hours each weekday. If you normally work 9-5, then stay focused for those hours and relax once the workday hours have passed. This will help bring a sense of normalcy to the situation and help you get the most out of the time you spend working.

Another challenging factor for many people that comes with working from home lies in the dynamic between couples. Many couples have never worked in the same building, let alone room, for 8 hours; working in a small space together might allow tension to rise to the surface and threaten the peace of your new workspace. To mitigate conflict, individuals could designate different areas of the house or apartment to work in and share lunch hours together. This will help you feel as if you're both in separate offices, free from distractions.

By changing a few small aspects of your daily work-from-home routine, you can stay motivated and on-track for work related deadlines. These tips might even spark some creativity in creating your perfect home office, which can provide much-needed relief from the stress that we are all feeling currently. 

At Express Employment Professionals, we want to be there for you during this challenging time. Call your local Express Pros office to speak with a member of our team if you are seeking assistance and career-related information.