Most of us fashioned a home office in some way or another during lockdown. A lot of people are still making the most of the benefits of working from home or at least having a hybrid approach to working. But there are some people who are working for companies attempting to be more flexible for their employees and offer 100% remote working. Some people can find it more difficult to actually do the work at home for a number of different reasons, such as distractions or a lack of focus, which can result in some form of home office anxiety. Here are a few things that can help if this is a major issue for you.
Organizing Your Workspace
If you have a lot of equipment, it’s important to make sure that you utilize some of the best cable management techniques and organization methods to ensure everything is in its right place. If you are someone that has more than their fair share of OCD, it’s important to make sure that everything is organized, not just for the fact that it will minimize clutter, but it can make your work easier.
Establishing a Routine
Lots of people blur the boundaries between home and work because they either find they have to work quicker in order to deal with a compressed day, for example, as people working at home think they can save on extra childcare they do the school pick-up and drop-offs, but a routine can help you to get a lot more done. For example, if you have a lot of laundry to do, you can do this on breaks if you find yourself restless. Likewise, you could use this opportunity to start establishing workout routines, which is something you would not have been able to do in the office! A common challenge when working from home is managing both time and nutrition efficiently. With a busy schedule, it can be tough to plan and prepare balanced meals tailored for single servings. Bringing structure to your day not only involves setting boundaries and routines but also considering practical solutions like a meal delivery service for one that simplifies weekday dining. Incorporating mealtime into your routine this way can ease stress, ensuring you stay focused on tasks without sacrificing healthy eating habits. Routines are important because as soon as your work day is done, you should be able to physically and mentally separate from your home office.
Setting Boundaries
Another problem we can have when we work from home is the temptation to do more work because we’re at home. It might be a great way to get a head start on tomorrow by doing more the night before, the reality is that you will end up doing more the next day anyway. Having a psychological boundary ensures you don’t feel the temptation to check your email. This is why shutting your work away at the end of the day will make a big difference to your frame of mind.
Taking Time Off
This is so important for reducing any form of anxiety when working from home. Lots of people see the benefits of working at home because they can get a lot more done. However, it’s just as important to make sure that you take time away. A lot of people find it difficult to get back into a groove once they’ve taken time off, but this is more because they are not able to switch off properly, and when they’re always “on,” they’re going to feel a number of negative impacts. This can result in stress and tiredness, and having that time away will always make a big difference.
