Let’s face it, many of us are feeling stuck in limbo lately. Our daily routines have been flipped on their heads and none of us know what tomorrow may bring. It’s more important than ever to focus on what we can control. There are some major pros to working from home such as limitless snuggles with your pets! Here are some tips to keep yourself engaged through this new at-home lifestyle.
Create a Routine for Yourself
If you’ve never worked from home before, this can be quite the adjustment. As human beings, we tend to crave normalcy and structure. It can require a lot of motivation to hold yourself accountable but having a routine in place can help us stay on top of our tasks. Keep yourself in check by maintaining the habits you had prior to quarantining. Doing things like making your bed every morning, getting dressed as you would for work (and making sure you’re looking your best for those back-to-back Zoom calls), and eating a good breakfast will help set the tone for your day and get you on the right track.
Keep a Dedicated Office Space
It’s important to set up your workspace in an area with minimal distractions. Much like your desk at the office, you want to set up an area where you can come to and prepare to focus. It’s important to establish an area that is comfortable and has enough space for everything you need to get your work done. Some people find being close to the window where they can keep an eye on their pets or kids is helpful, plus being close to a window can help boost your mood.
Create a To-Do List
At the end of each day, you will have a good idea of what needs to be completed the following day. Create a to-do list and put them in the order that things should be completed. Prioritize what is most time-sensitive and work on those projects first. It can be hard to stay on schedule without the normal structure you would find in an office, having a to-do list can help you allot time for certain projects. It’s also important to consider what calls you will have that day and make sure you plan your work around those calls and plan to ask appropriate questions during the calls in order to make working on each project easier.
Take Care of Yourself
These are uncertain times for all of us. It’s important to check in with yourself and make sure you’re taking good care of things mentally. Take advantage of the opportunity to work in your home by doing things like taking time to occasionally stretch. Between phone calls, stand up and walk around for a bit, do some light meditation. It’s important to keep your mind at ease throughout what can be a stressful time for many. If you’re fortunate enough to have an animal to love on, take a few minutes to have some cuddles or take your pet outside to get some fresh air.
No matter what your situation is, if you have some extra time on your hands this could be the perfect opportunity for you to recharge, reset, and realign. Many of us are going through this adjustment together but it’s important that we keep pressing forward and know that we will all walk away from this stronger!