“Work from home” is a term we’d never known to be part of majority’s lifestyle.
It’s been existent in this digital world but was always an option for most of us. 2020 entered the scene, and it suddenly has become the new normal.
If one can’t work from home, the survival at school, work, training, or passion is at risk. While it sounds heavenly to be at home working with your loved ones, it’s not as EASY as one may imagine.
WHY? Few weeks ago, I’ve been seeing various posts from my friends stating the following:
Any work from home tips? I feel like I’m working longer when I’m at home.
What happened to my 2-hour drive to my office? It has become an extension of work duties for me?
I don’t know why but I’ve never been so burnout before. I can’t distinguish my life starting work from home. Tips?
I’m quite sure that MOST of us have seen the same posts online. The truth is, it’s so alarming that these emotions are experienced in the middle of a pandemic, big changes, and uncertainty.
But, we’ve been there. All home-based workers have experienced these, and they’re sharing their own work from home tips.
As a freelancer for more than 5 years, I’d like to share the work from home tips I’ve collected in juggling this kind of lifestyle.
Develop the Right Mindset
This should be the TOP of one’s checklist. I couldn’t emphasize enough how one should focus on developing the right mindset. There’s a huge difference when you take pride in what you do, be grateful of what you have, and realize how you can control your own schedule.
Not because you’re home, you’re not working. Productivity is more important, and being somewhere else doesn’t guarantee efficiency and productivity.
Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.
Tired of hearing it? Don’t! Physical, mental and spiritual exercises are all forms that help us stay alive. This work from home tip nourishes one’s soul by allowing us to breathe and hone other aspects in life.
Whenever I do it, I get pumped up knowing work is not the only element that makes up my life. There’s more to life and we should protect ourselves from reality to consume us.
Favorite Exercises: 30-minute stretching, 10-min journal writing, random pauses for reflection
Set up your Work Station
Now I finally understood dedicated tables, space or room for professionals. There’s a need to get all the essentials in your work station.
Efficient laptop, speakers, stable internet, inspiring merch, isolated space (far from kids if you have), notes and other essentials should exist. Social media applications (Facebook, YouTube, Tiktok) deserve a short break from your eyes!
Separate Work from Home
How ironic this could be? Aren’t you working from home? This simply means differentiating activities done at home and work. When it’s time to work, then do your tasks efficiently. But when it’s time to be home, stop opening your email, laptop, or anything that will remind you to work.
Schedule is a must, and one must follow this!
When you decide to only work for 8 hours, it needs to be non-negotiable.
Remember when you prepare 1 hour before you leave your house? Do the same. Take a shower an hour before your shift. Be mindful when it’s TIME to sign out. After that, you can do whatever you’re doing.
There will always be exemption such as the need to go overtime for urgent matters. Excellence is priority but when you work 15 hours daily for a supposed 8-hour shift, it might be time for you to reevaluate your life.
Explore Passion Project: Side Hustle
The best gift of work from home is the idea of passion project. When you’re home, you’re able to remove unnecessary activities such as being stuck in traffic, attending too many parties, and others. You could possibly save 1 hour of your day, or 30 hours in one month.
Always wanted to become an artist? Video creator? Writer? Educator? Seller? Use these free hours to start working on what you love.
Time has always been the problem but work from home is a perfect opportunity to convert these precious hours to your passion project.
Work From Home Takeaway
We can read tons of articles regarding tips on how to work from home, or how to avoid burnout. But, the main goal in whatever we do remains the same: our wellness.
Since it looks like this is our new normal for years, there’s no harm in accepting this change. Hopefully, the daily practice of these tips or checklist help us all to be sane.
Daily Checklist
Ο Develop the right mindset.
Ο Exercise. Exercise. Exercise.
Ο Set up your workstation.
Ο Separate work from home through your schedule.
Ο Explore passion project or side hustle.
