Due to COVID-19 precautions and/or government orders, your place of work may be suggesting or requiring you to work from home. While this is an option to be grateful for, with so many jobs negatively impacted by the virus, it can be a difficult adjustment. Here are seven ways you can increase your work from home productivity and prevent stress and burnout.
1. Stick to a Routine: Whether you keep to your usual schedule or create a new one that works better for being at home, mapping out your day and sticking to a routine will help you stay on track. Without a schedule, it can be very easy to put off your work until later in the day or “after one more episode of [insert your favorite Netflix show].” 2. Know Yourself: When and how do you perform best? Are you a morning person? Do you work better taking multiple breaks or do they make it harder to get back on track? If you are a morning person, plan to take advantage of those quiet hours in the house before anyone else is awake. If the night is better for you, plan to get things done around the house in the morning and start working later in the day instead. It’s okay to embrace the flexibility of your new schedule and it may result in greater productivity, too.
3. Get Ready for the Day: Though it may be tempting to stay in pajamas all day, it may also bring down your productivity level. Whether you are getting into fitness attire, jeans or business-casual wear, by getting out of your sleepwear you are setting the tone for the day and maintaining some normalcy during these uncertain times. 4. Separate Work and Living Space: Getting out of pajamas is step one; staying out of bed is step two! Find a quiet, well-lit place in your home where you can focus. According to Laura Mae Martin, Google’s productivity expert, working in the same space each day gets your brain to start associating that space with getting work done. Additionally, it helps keep relaxing places (like your bed) associated with relaxing. 5. Stay Away From the Kitchen: Boredom, stress, and procrastination can all be reasons we snack. Try to differentiate between these and real hunger when you’re thinking of grabbing something to eat. When you are hungry, take the time to prepare something healthy that will nourish and refuel you for getting back to work. 6. Stay Connected: Working from home can deprive us of those “water-cooler” conversations we have at work. To prevent feeling isolated, plan to check-in with your co-workers during the week and perhaps even schedule time for a video chat catch-up session. 7. Take a Break! Whether it is sitting in the sun on your front step, doing an at-home workout or eating lunch with your family (those at home or via video chat), plan to take time to step away from your work space and gain some mental clarity during the day. Also, give yourself time to unwind at the end of your workday and decompress before bed. (Now THIS would be a good time for that favorite Netflix show!) Learn more about productivity tips and other wellness programs offered by Wellness Workdays.
Sources:
1. NPR
2. Forbes