Taking stress out of working from home in 2021 new normal
One of the leading global providers of digital coaching Ezra has revealed some of their top tips on maintaining and maximising professional and personal wellbeing as “new normal” 2021 sees many of us continuing to work from home.
Working from home can be great but it can also blur the lines between personal and professional life which can impact both negatively.
Normality is the key despite the far from normal circumstances.
These are steps you can take ...
Define your time
It’s as important when working from home to define what part of your day is work and what isn’t. Stick to your regimented work hours where possible.
Defining parts of your day as work can help with both productivity and motivation and it also helps to keep you in the rhythm of your usual workday.
By doing so, you also have clearly defined times to relax or spend with your family which is essential for positive personal wellbeing.
Maintain a strict schedule in terms of when you start work, when you take a break, when you have lunch and when you finish.
Set clear goals for the day and for the week ahead. Having these goals can help visualise what you need to do, prevent you from getting distracted and also bring a well-needed boost at the end of a long week.
Make sure you include personal goals. Aim to take a walk or exercise at the same time every day so that you have something else to work towards and maintain outside of your job.
Define yourself and your space
Even when you’re working from home try and dress for the occasion. Avoid pyjamas, tracksuits and other loungewear. This will help kick your brain into work mode.
Having a dedicated workspace is important to not only boost productivity but to help switch off when the day ends. If you only have the kitchen table to work with, make a point of clearing it of any other clutter for the day ahead and when work is done, pack away your laptop and any other work materials so that the space returns to its original function.
When you are working, let others in the house know that you don’t want to be disturbed and try to minimise any potential distractions as much as possible.
Always try and avoid working from the sofa and from in front of the TV as these will cause productivity to drop.
If possible, position yourself facing a door or window and work in a room with as much natural light as possible.
Focus on feeling good
Maintain social communication, even if it means an impromptu Zoom call with a colleague to catch up.
Don’t try to overwork, it can be tempting while working from home to let work spill over and take up more of your mornings or evenings. But too much work will cause you to burn out and become less productive.
Learn to disconnect from the digital world. It’s important to give your body and brain a break from the digital world completely.