The novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, may have
placed you in your home office for the time being. While working from home might sound
easy off the bat, you may quickly realize you miss your desk space, routine and
friends.
We’re here to provide a few tips for working from home if you aren’t used to it,
and how to make the most of your time while doing so.
Set up the ultimate home office space.
If you work from home every now and then, you
might enjoy the luxury of working from your couch. This can be a comfortable
way to work short term, but for long term at-home productivity, setting up a
designated home office
space is key.
It can be as simple as designating your dining
room table as your new work desk. Clear it from your home items and replace
those with sticky notes and pens for easy note taking. Position a fun picture
frame and a lamp for added “office” decor. Make your space as work-like as
possible to keep you focused during the day.
If you’re accustomed to an office chair or
standing desk, improvise! Bring your laptop to your kitchen
counter for a few hours to stretch out. Put some pillows on your dining chair
to make it more comfortable. Maybe most importantly, settle into your new
office space where you have as little distraction as possible to keep you
focused during the day. For more tips on how to create the perfect home office,
click here!
Speaking of staying focused...
Is your work space in the middle of your laundry
folding area? Do you have a direct line of sight to your sink full of dishes? Do your
best to keep your workspace as neat and distraction-free as possible . While
working from home may have you catching up on household chores, instead of
chatting with co-workers or commuting to the office, make sure they don’t
interfere with your workday.
Are your kids home, too?
Most likely if you have kids, they’re home for a
while, too. Depending on their age, they might be able to fend for themselves
with little oversight, or maybe they’re still in diapers. Either way, you have
to go with the flow and build them into your work day. For babies,
your work area might have to be an enclosed space with plenty of toys for your
little crawler to play with throughout the day. For adolescents,
make sure there are lots of healthy snacks, movies, books and activities to
keep them occupied. Try sticking to a routine as much as possible. Make the
most of this time by having lunch together and take breaks to do a craft with them when your
schedule allows. Interested in ways to stay busy with your kids while social distancing?
Click here!
Build movement into your day.
Working from home probably means fewer daily
steps; small things like missing the walk from your car to your desk or to
lunch and back can impact your activity. It’s also especially easy to sit down
in the morning only
to look up and see that it’s suddenly well into the afternoon. Activity is
important to maintain, especially during a pandemic. Schedule time during your
lunch to go for a walk around your neighborhood, or download a fitness app and
do a 30 minute workout in your living room. Do five-minute laps around your
home throughout the day when you can. Staying active is
imperative to both your physical and mental health.
Stay in touch.
Working from home can have its advantages, but
can also be quiet if you're a social
person. Online collaboration tools make it easier than ever to stay personally
connected while working. If you find yourself missing daily face to face chats
with coworkers, set aside some time to catch up on a video conference or send
an instant message to a friend
during the day. Even if you aren’t feeling any adverse side
effects from social distancing, you may have a coworker who is. Check in with
each other, talk often and seek help if you are feeling out of the loop.
Working from home can be both comfortable and
convenient. While we all hope to return back to normal as soon as possible, make
the most of your experience and enjoy your extra time at home.
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