A lot of people have worked exclusively in office buildings or businesses in the past, but this is no longer the case, in many areas. There are now many people that work from the privacy of their home, and if this is you, there are a few things you should be aware of. Keeping these things in mind can help you take care of your mental health while you are working from home.
Working At Your Home
To many people, working from home may sound like something that is a dream come true. You don’t have to get dressed up, drive a morning commute, and you can drink as much coffee as you want. You are also saving money in a number of different ways. However, once you experience working from home, you may have a different opinion on the matter. It can be difficult to maintain the proper work-home balance, which may be problematic for your mental health. However, there are things you can do to change this.
Mental Health Help
One thing you can do if you are experiencing anxiety or stress from working at home is to talk to someone about it. You may be able to talk to your friends or family, or you might want to talk to a qualified professional instead. The people at BetterHelp have many counselors, as well as multiple types of therapies, which may be able to help you lessen your stress as you work from your home office. You should reach out to them when you feel like you need their support.
Make Your Own Space
Making your own space in your home to work is a crucial step in being successful and focused when it comes to working at home. If you have a room where you can house your office, this is best, but if you don’t, this is okay too. As long as you have a separate space to work and take meetings from, this can offer a distinct area for you to get into the mindset that you must get work done in your special space. This can be beneficial since your home is likely the place where you feel the most comfortable and are able to relax. Cordoning off a workspace lets your brain, and everyone else know when you are in this area, you are at work.
Work The Same Hours Each Day
You may find benefit in working the same hours each day. In some cases, you might have to follow the same workplace hours that you did when you worked in a building, and in other instances, you don’t have to be concerned with the specific hours you are working. Either way, determine ahead of time what hours you will be working and stick to them. Moreover, try to get everything accomplished during those hours that you can, so you won’t have to work additional hours that would normally be spent doing things that you want to do.
If you are unsure of what you are supposed to be completing each day, try to talk to your boss about this, so you know what should be prioritized. When you are at your home and not in an office, you may not have access to all the resources that you once had. This could change expectations on the number of things that can be completed each day. Do the best you can do and make sure that you pay attention to things you are working on, so you can be sure that you are focused on the task at hand. An article published in Business Horizons suggests that this may be a key to working at home more effectively.
Expect Interruptions
It is very unlikely that you will be able to eliminate all of the distractions and interruptions that are possible when you are working from your home office. There are simply too many things that can come up that are not easy to account for. A child may need help with their homework, a cat may jump onto your keyboard, or you might have to answer the door when a package arrives. Any of these things can break your concentration and make it harder to get back to work, so you should know ahead of time that these things can happen, and this is okay. You cannot control everything, and this doesn’t have to cause problems. If you have to take a short break when you are interrupted so you can get your head back into your work, this is to be expected. You don’t need to feel bad about it.
Move Around
You should take breaks when you are working from home, just as you did when you worked in a corporate building. You can go get yourself a drink or have a quick chat with your partner. No one expects you to sit at your desk every minute during your work hours. Furthermore, this isn’t healthy for you since you need to move around occasionally. Otherwise, you may experience eye strain or muscle pains from sitting in the same spot for an extended period of time and looking at a screen.
Physical Health Is Important Too
When you aren’t working, you should take the time to improve your physical health as well. If you are exercising regularly and sleeping right, this may allow you to be able to focus and pay attention for a longer amount of time, so you can get your work accomplished. You can also do your best to eat healthy meals, so you are alert during the day. This may also improve how you work.
The Wrap Up
Overall, remember to give yourself goals that are reachable. While working from home may not be a perfect solution, it is something that you can do. As you continue to work from home, you are likely to determine what works and doesn’t work for you, so you can become more experienced with the process and be able to go with the flow. All you can do is your best and work through any issues that arise.
Marie Miguel Biography