How to Survive Working From Home During Quarantine
For some people working from home is natural, as they have been doing it for a while and have likely learned ways to cope with this. For someone who is newly having to work from home because they are stuck inside, it can be a bit of a challenge. Even for those who ordinarily work from home there are ways to escape feeling that cabin fever, as they can escape and go socialize after work is over. It can be hard to adjust to these changes, and so it is important to learn different ways to better cope with the situation. Without having these different tools and ways of managing the isolation, working from home can actually become both draining and stressful.
While during such a difficult time being able to work from home is something we should feel lucky to have, that doesn’t make the process suddenly simple. You might be immensely grateful for the ability to maintain your job, but the pressure can also be hard to cope with as things change and you must adapt to this new situation. Focusing is often easier for some people when they are in a work environment, as they don’t have the many at home distractions to keep their minds pulled away from what they should be doing. There are certain ways to make this an easier transition, you just have to implement certain tools and helpful little tricks in order to keep yourself sane as you adjust to working from home.
Create a Real Work space
Working from home does mean certain comforts and even the occasional lazy days of not tending to your appearance. You might feel inclined to work from your bed if that is possible, but it isn’t the best way to maintain focus and remove distractions. Creating an actual work space is really important when you are transitioning to working from home. Creating a work space which is organized and free from clutter, can give you this separation and help you to feel less distracted by your environment.
Take a Breather
It is important to find a balance between taking breaks, and taking too many breaks. You need to be willing to take time to relax, instead of working straight through your normal break times. This is why setting a clear schedule is so important when you are working from home. You need to be sure to plan out times for taking breaks and learning how to transition back into work mode without putting too much pressure on yourself. At the same time, it can be easy to take so many small breaks throughout the day in order to get stuff done around the house. For some this is something they can manage, for others it makes it impossible to motivate when they are actually trying to focus on the work in front of them. Finding the healthy balance of break time and work time is important, and so knowing how to manage that can be challenging for someone who is newly working from home and dictating their own time in that way.
Be Patient with Yourself
While it is important to set your schedule and focus on work, it is also important to cut yourself some slack. Try and remember that these are challenging times, and this transition is not going to just come naturally. If you have days when you are struggling, give yourself a breather and try not to feel guilty about this. Take things one step at a time, and set more manageable goals throughout the day. Working from home isn’t an easy thing to adjust to, but it is something you can learn to do with time. Having days where you feel less productive is bound to happen, and having those days when you are a bit stir crazy is just about guaranteed.
Look at the Positives
Looking at the positives of the situation isn’t always something which feels helpful at first, but it can be in the long-term. It can be easy to complain about the situation, but not everyone is able to work from home during such times. Being someone who can remain safely in your house while still maintaining that paycheck, is certainly something to be thankful for. Appreciating small things and taking time to practice self-care, are necessary means of getting through these big changes in your life.
Remove Distractions and Create a Schedule
It is vital that you find a way to remove the most distracting things from your work space. If you are someone who consistently finds outside noise or things distracting, then getting headphones can be useful. Without some sort of clear schedule it can be easy to allow yourself to become distracted by something more interesting than what is in front of you. Setting goals for your day before you begin work, can be a useful way to figure out what you can manage and get done. For some people starting with smaller things and working towards the more challenging tasks can be the best way to approach this. While it is impossible to remove all distractions, it is important to try and manage them as best you can. It can also be useful to set clear boundaries for your family and those in the home with you, especially during times when you know you will need to focus on the work in front of you. People can forget that just because you are working from home, doesn’t mean you are available to them in the same way.
Don’t Forget to Socialize (At a Distance)
Video chatting, phone calls, video meetings- these are great ways to maintain a connection and feel less like they are slipping into some sort of permanent isolation. Even if you cannot actually interact with people, take time to connect with them when you can. Of course, you don’t want to use this as another distraction from getting work done during the day, but taking time to interact really is important in keeping you sane. Even the smallest moments of socializing or hearing someone else’s voice, can really help you feel like you are still part of the world around you.
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