Doorbells ringing, dogs barking, kids needing you for homework help and you’ve got back to back Zoom meetings! We can all relate. But fear not, you can still be successful while working from home by learning some tips and tricks to help you navigate these and other new distractions. There are great ways to make your home office more environmentally friendly in the process and involve your family in the effort.
Based on our own experiences and help from the experts, we’ve put together a Work From Home Guide on ways you can successfully navigate the blurred lines of home and work life during the time of COVID.
In 2017, only 3% of people reportedly worked from home full time (Bloomberg). So it’s no wonder we may feel we are unprepared for this new shift and with so many of us suddenly working from home to minimize the spread, we can see as we try to solve one problem, others are arising. We are all faced with the challenge of finding a “new normal.” With kids home from school, pets that crave attention without regard for work hours, doorbells ringing in the middle of zoom meetings, a house that feels like it is falling apart no matter how much we clean and less social interaction outside of our homes, and whatever else it might be, we are facing added stressors and difficulties while trying to meet the expectations of our work lives.
With so many of us working from home right now, it is more important than ever to establish a routine to help us achieve success. Our own team has put these to the test:
- Building a work space. It doesn’t matter if your office is your kitchen, your bedroom, or even an area you might have previously used for storage. Creativity is your friend when it comes to this, as most of us weren’t prepared to have to leave our traditional offices behind. Focus on keeping as many things consistent as you can. This means that if you’re used to working in a quiet space, try to find a place where you can shut out the distractions of home life. If you’re used to working in a bustling office and thrive from the background noise, try working in your living room. There’s no harm in testing out different work spaces until you find what works for you, or even changing it up every once in a while.
- Structure matters. Consistency is key to feeling as close to normal as possible. Commit to real work hours that work for you and stick to them. A bright side to working from home is having the ability to choose your own schedule and maximize your own productivity (Nextiva Blog). Just be sure you maintain balance between work time and off time, as it is very easy to become overworked when there are less opportunities to get out. Equally as important is making a schedule for your kids, to keep them healthy and happy while allowing you the time to focus.
- Self care. Sleep habits play a crucial role in health and wellness. To get better sleep, try sticking to relaxing pre-bedtime activities, getting enough exercise even if that means simply walking your dog, and turning off electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Additionally, it is more important than ever to make an effort to improve mental wellness. Do this by focusing on the things you can control, not those you can’t. A big part of this is learning to limit news consumption. Find ways to relieve stress that work for you which could be anything from simply getting out in nature to exercising, yoga and meditation or creative pursuits like painting, journaling or picking up a musical instrument you haven’t played in years. Don’t hesitate to seek help when you need it, and recognize that no matter what is going on around you, your struggles are still valid.
- Humans need social interaction. With Summer finally approaching, we can spend more time outside, social distancing from friends and family. This is a major boost as we are able to spend time with those who boost our mood. Even on rainy days, there are ways to connect. Technology has made it easy for us to stay in touch from the comfort of our own homes, so reach out to people you care about, but be mindful not to over do it on the screen-time.
You can make your home office environmentally responsible. To learn about environmentally responsible solutions and insights for setting up a home office check out Evolution Marketing’s Remote Business and Wellness Guide. And don’t forget to make the switch to carbon neutral, tree free paper towels and toilet paper made from bamboo. You can cut your carbon footprint of your home and office at the same time.