Make Remote Work Work For You
Part 3: Take Care of Yourself
Take care of yourself: It’s all too easy to create an unproductive work environment while working from the comfort of your own home. A little self-care and a workspace free from distractions will boost productivity and enhance your remote work experience.
It’s all too easy to create an unproductive work environment while working from the comfort of your own home. A little self-care and a workspace free from distractions will boost productivity and enhance your remote work experience.
Minimize Distractions
A cozy bed, Netflix, and background chatter can contribute to a distracting and unproductive environment.
The first but often most challenging step towards minimizing distractions involves creating a designated workspace. The temptation to play Netflix on the TV next to you, curl up in bed, or engage with whomever you share your home can be substantial, especially on slower days. If you can help it, try to separate your workspace from where you sleep, relax, and eat.
If you cannot separate from others in your home, programs such as Rainy Mood or white noise videos from YouTube will minimize distracting background noise.
The Power of Self-Care
Are you a victim of the mid-afternoon slump? There’s just something about 3-4 pm that sucks the productivity right out of us. But, when there’s work to do, we have no choice but to perk up and power through the afternoon.
When the energizing effects of morning coffee have worn off, combat the afternoon blues by staying hydrated and getting your blood pumping. Keep water by your side and hydrate consistently throughout the day. You’ll find that you feel less tired throughout the day and that your usual afternoon headache is a thing of the past.
If you’re still in need of a boost, consider getting your body moving. In the before times, our commutes consisted of walking to and from transportation and buildings, conference rooms, and cafeterias. When an entire office building compacts into a single computer within the confines of your home, it’s no wonder our activity levels decrease.
Whether a stroll around the block, fetch with your newly adopted quarantine puppy, or a stretch break, any movement will help restore blood flow and wake up sedentary muscles.
Dress to Impress
When virtual meetings are only from the chest up, the urge to stay in pajamas all day is intense. There is nothing wrong with staying in loungewear all day. But, if you have difficulty getting going in the morning or struggle with tiredness, make a habit of changing out of your pajamas into comfortable daytime clothes. This simple act of putting on a new outfit can help you prepare for the workday ahead and differentiate work time from relaxation time.