6 Work from home hacks to improve your mental wellbeing
Working from home can be challenging, especially for people who aren’t used to working remotely. But with the right work from home tips, tools and mindset you can make it work. We’ve put together a list of tips to make your working-at-home experience more manageable and productive. Having greater independence and a flexible schedule can be wonderful, but distractions and less supervision can zap your productivity if you’re not careful. Sitting at home alone all day can also have negative effects on your physical and mental health. So, no matter what your occupation, we’ve put together some simple ideas to create a productive working environment. These hacks, tips and strategies can help to keep you on track and healthy while working remotely.
ALLOCATE A WORKSPACE
A key component of successfully working at home is having a dedicated workspace. You need to create an environment for yourself that creates the sense that you’re leaving personal time and entering work time. Even if you have a small bedroom, it’s important to carve out a space from which to work. If you can, find a space next to a window. Sunlight can help with productivity and lighten the mood, brighten the place up with houseplants they are great whatever you do, try not to work from your bed, those spaces should be reserved for relaxation. Your mind associates different environments with different things and if they get muddled it can mess with your sleep during the night and productivity during the day.
BOOST YOUR WORKSPACE
Keep your workspace clean and clutter-free. Clutter bombards the mind with excessive stimuli, which forces the brain to work overtime. Secondly, physical clutter signals to the brain that there’s always something else that needs to be done, which is mentally exhausting. As you declutter your physical space you’ll discover that your mind is also decluttered, and let’s be honest we could all do with that. There as some fantastic desk tidy organisers that you can pick up from Amazon for less than £15 that can really help you with this.
IT’S ALL ABOUT ROUTINE
Now your workspace is ready, you should establish a routine. Ok sure, one of the benefits of working from home is being able to work whenever you want, but that does not mean you should. Having structure helps boost productivity. It’s also the best way to keep your work and personal time separate. To start off your work routine, it’s a good idea to get ready as if you were to head to the office. A professional dress code encourages a professional mindset. So get out of your PJs, brush your teeth, shower and get dressed.
TAKE BREAKS AND GET ACTIVE!
Studies have shown that stopping every 90 minutes renews your energy level and gets you ready for the next task with revived energy. In fact, studies have shown that people who take a break every 90 minutes report a 30% increase in focus vs those who just take one break a day. Those people also experience almost a 50% greater capacity to think creatively and a 45% higher level of well-being, so take a break! Use these breaks wisely, get up and stretch, do light exercise for 5 minutes, refill your bottle of water, go outside the house for some fresh air, eat a healthy snack and come back refreshed… you’ll thank us for it later.
BOUNDARIES, DISTRACTIONS & PROCRASTINATION
Especially when you’re working from home with housemates around, it’s crucial to set boundaries and for everyone to respect them. Let everyone know what times you’re planning to work and when you can or can’t be disturbed. Keep your bedroom door closed to signal when you don’t want to be disturbed, or even make a “do not disturb” sign to hang on your door handle. Remember, boundaries are important in digital spaces too. The distraction of Facebook and Instagram can often reap havoc with your productivity. Put your mobile away and turn off your notifications. If the temptation is too high on your laptop, use an app like FREEDOM to block them. Boundaries should also apply to your free time. Don’t get sucked back into answering work questions outside of your set working hours. Turn off all notifications and shut down messaging and email programs at the end of your workday, so you can stick work to working hours.
STAY SOCIAL
When you work from home, you meet and interact with fewer people on a daily basis. This causes many remote workers to feel isolated, which can cause anxiety and even depression. Once you find your groove and you have established a routine and good working habits you are happy with, don’t forget to keep in touch with your friends and colleagues. You have to make time for personal interactions by scheduling phone calls or video chats. Make time for conversations to keep you sane and feel connected to people and the outside world.
