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Working From Home
With all this rain lately (and the fact that I’m not feeling so good either), I find myself a bit down. But, luckily I’ve had lots of work to keep me busy and that definitely helps. I’m much more functional when I’ve got something to do. I don’t vacation well and I admit to checking my email on my phone while we’re out. I wouldn’t say I’m a workaholic, but I’m grateful for my job and for the sanity that staying busy brings!
I’ve gotten the occasional question over the past year about how to work from home without losing your mind and I have to tell you—sometimes it’s really, really hard. We only have one car now (why have two when I don’t need to go anywhere?), but knowing that I’m “stuck” sometimes can definitely give me cabin fever. Although the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to working from home, I still find myself resorting to a few tricks and tips to keep focused and sane. (Like having a magazine close at hand like in the above picture, ahem.)
Here are a few of my best tidbits of advice if you work from home:
- A quick walk can solve a lot of problems. The fresh air helps clear my mind and can even spark new ideas. Milo is never opposed to an extra walk or two, and if I start to get cabin fever crazy, taking him on a walk around the block is a big help.
- If you can’t get outside, opening a window helps too. Air circulation is always good, and there’s nothing better than a couple open windows on a fall day.
- Don’t let yourself get distracted by housework/chores that need to be done. If you have to, designate a certain time of day to do them instead.
- People may assume you have less work to do because you aren’t in an office or because you’re more flexible. If that’s not the case, don’t be afraid to correct them.
- On the other hand, know when it’s time to step away from the computer or phone. It can be tempting to work at all times because your work is always at home with you. Sometimes I have to close my laptop and stick it in a drawer.
- Keep to a regular schedule. I struggle with this sometimes, and I got thrown off track during the first trimester of my pregnancy because I had such a difficult time with exhaustion. My best days are always days in which I can get to the gym, have breakfast, take a shower and be dressed and at my desk before 8 or 8:30 am.
- Wear something that isn’t pajamas. If I want to go comfy, I usually try to wear leggings or yoga pants or a maxi dress, but I never, ever get out of bed in my pajamas and start working while wearing the same thing.
- Keeping yourself organized will be more important than ever. List-making will be your friend. Whether you do this in a dedicated notebook or using an application on your computer. I use Notational Velocity and can’t say enough good things about it. I use it for work, home, blog post ideas—everything you can think of goes in this the app.
- Don’t skimp on office supplies. Sometimes you can get reimbursed for supplies if you work from home, but if you don’t, try and avoid the temptation to go bare bones. A crappy printer, pens that don’t work, etc., are all things that are really going to make you irritable at some point or another.
- Keep healthy snacks on hand. With the kitchen close by, it’s easy to go snack-crazy. I try to keep some Babybel cheese, nuts, apples or other fruit on hand. If I want something more substantial, toast or cereal is always good too.
- While we’re on the topic of food: take time for lunch (if you can!). Try not to eat at your desk. Whether you meet someone for lunch to get out of the house for a bit, or eat at the dining room table with a book or while you watch the news, taking a lunch break will help keep you on track for the rest of your day.
- One of the best things about working from home is that you have complete and utter flexibility in how your work space looks (and smells). Take advantage of this and use candles, nice lighting, flowers or other things that make you happy.
- Don’t forget that if you have control over your schedule, you can also choose when you want to work. Try getting up very early and completing your work earlier in the day. Or, start later, end later. See what works for you.
- If the silence is making you crazy, using the radio or TV for background noise really helps. I have trouble staying focused with music or talk radio on, but I like the monotony of cable news TV. It adds just enough noise, but doesn’t distract me.
That’s basically all I’ve got! Working from home is incredibly rewarding, but I’ve found that these tricks really make a big difference.
Do you have any tips on how to make the most of working from home?
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