4 Tips to Avoid Getting Into a Funk When You Work from Home
Working from home has many advantages. You can create a schedule that best accommodates your lifestyle and specific needs. You can wear your coziest work from home outfits. You can go for walks when time allows and enjoy the fresh air. You have the benefits of both comfort and flexibility.
On the flip side, that comfort can actually have a detrimental effect if you aren’t accustomed to the work-from-home life — or if you’ve done it for so long that you suddenly find yourself in a little bit of a funk. The first point to remember is that this is completely normal. Change usually necessitates a little bit of an adjustment period. The good news is that there are key steps you can take to resolve those feelings and feel better about your situation. Here are some tips to help you lose the work-from-home blues.
Nix the Distractions
Sometimes it’s the distractions that take you away from where you need to be mentally. If you find that you’re always behind or notice that you don’t have a knack for detail, then you need to consider whether you’re going about it the right way. Working from home requires a specific amount of focus and dedication, largely because you’re the only person who can hold yourself accountable for getting your work done.
When you’re distracted by the news, your social media feeds, phone calls, and just about everything but your job, then it’s time to reevaluate how you handle your responsibilities. One way to clear your mind and focus is to set aside a space that’s devoted solely to your work. Ideally, it’s a home office or some sort of study area where the only distraction is a window that allows you to get some fresh air and sunshine. Decide in advance on other things that might take away from your duties; for example, choose your women’s loungewear of choice the night before and prepare your breakfast in advance. Then jump in and get started.
Prioritize Getting Ready
Don’t underestimate the importance of getting ready for the day just as you would if you were choosing a knit dress and a pair of pumps for the office. While part of the appeal of working from home is giving in to the temptation of wearing pajamas all day, it’s enormously helpful to treat your workday with the same degree of importance as you do a job that you’d perform at an office.
This is a way to prioritize not only your focus, but also your success. It’s tough to get things done with authority and confidence in the pajamas you’ve been wearing for hours. Getting dressed in something comfortable will help you feel more pulled together and ready for the day. And you’ll also be ready in a pinch should you need to hop on a video call.
Declutter Your Space
The sheer volume of “stuff” in your workspace can make it difficult to keep your attention where it needs to be. The more distracted you are — however unwillingly — by all of the knickknacks and possessions taking up space around you, the more likely you are to feel a sense of gloominess wash over you while you’re trying to get your work done. This is far from unusual; studies have shown that clutter can bring you down.
The solution is, of course, to declutter as best as you can. You don’t have to perform a deep clean that wipes you out, but you’ll feel a lot better once you’ve filled the kids’ toy storages and put the dirty clothes in the hamper. Do a once-over of areas that are easy to clean. Sort out your mail and toss what you don’t need, put dirty dishes away, and vacuum the floor. Little tasks like these can help you feel a little more refined and ready for work.
Create Some Ambiance
A home office or workspace with a window is ideal. Allowing natural light to flow through the space continuously will help you stay focused, so long as the sunshine isn’t causing a blinding glare on your screen! If that’s the case, just adjust the blinds or the window shade to your comfort. If your room doesn’t have windows, add sufficient lighting to your workspace. Creating a plan that includes both ambient, task, and accent lighting will make life much simpler for you.
Then add some extra ambiance to your office. Place a comfortable throw pillow on your chair as both an accent and a functional element. Add an area rug to brighten things up. Bring a plant or two into the room to introduce some beneficial greenery to your surroundings. These little changes can keep your spirits up!