HOW TO MASTER WORKING FROM HOME IN 2021

Ever since the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has caused big changes in all of our lives. In 2021, many of these changes are ongoing. With more and more lockdowns happening every day, many of us find ourselves working from home for the foreseeable future.

When you’ve grown used to working in a traditional office, working from home can feel like a prolonged snow day or summer holiday; it can be difficult to navigate what efficiency looks like in this new environment. Finding productivity, work-life balance, and joy while working from home can be a struggle for some families.

However, with the right strategies, you can stay on-task, sane, and fulfilled while continuing to work from home; just make sure to remember these tips:

 

GET ACTIVE EARLY

 

Start your day with a short walk or workout to get your heartrate up, stimulate the flow of blood to your brain, and release endorphins. This will help keep you productive and positive throughout the workday. 

 

SELF-CARE IS ESSENTIAL

 

Even though you aren’t going into the office, it’s still important to make “Getting ready for work” a part of your self-care routine. This will re-set your focus into productivity mode, and also boost your self-confidence in your work. Make sure to take a shower, get dressed in some designated “work clothes” (even if they’re a little on the comfier side) and take time for any other self care processes you enjoy like hair, makeup, and skincare treatments. When you look and feel your best, you are able to produce your best work.

 

ROUTINE IS EVERYTHING

 

One of the most difficult adjustments many people have to make when working from home is getting accustomed to the lack of a pre-set routine that they associate with working a traditional job. That’s why sticking to a work-from-home routine is so important. Make sure to build breaks and meal-times into your schedule to create well-rounded balance in your work schedule to maximize productivity while still leaving you with plenty of time to spend with family.

 

DON’T BE AFRAID TO SET BOUNDARIES

 

Make Your Space Your Own:

It can be tremendously joyful to have the opportunity to spend more time with your family while working from home. However, being so physically close to your family can pose plenty of challenges as well. In a traditional office, you are more or less isolated from distractions.

But when you work from home, family members might not see you as “at work” and distract you with questions, requests, or conversations. Remember, your time for work is your time. Make sure your family understands the boundaries of your time and not to interrupt you during work hours.

Having your own personalized work-space can do wonders for your productivity and mood while working from home. In a perfect world, this would mean a full home-office. However, for many of us, this just isn’t a possibility. But even if you can’t set up an “office,” you can find some space in your house to dedicate to your work.

Make sure this space is personalized for your productivity and comfort; make it a place you actually enjoy working! When you have the freedom to design your workspace, working from home can actually unlock new potentials for creativity and innovation in your career. Change is often confusing, but this confusion doesn’t have to be negative.

Don’t look at working from home as a limitation, but an opportunity: an opportunity for more creativity, more connection, and more joy in the new year. Have faith in your ability to adapt and find the sweet spot in your work-life balance. Remember, it’s not forever and we’re all in this together.