The past year has brought many unexpected twists and turns to our lives, and perhaps one of the biggest changes has been in the way we work every day.
There have always been those of us who worked from home, but 2020 has introduced the term ‘home office’ to everyone. It is no longer just an unusual alternative to us, it has become a real, and in many cases, forced condition. Home office is here to stay, perhaps even after the pandemic, so we've put together a few tips to make the most of the changed situation.
1. Get up at the same time every day.
There is one big disadvantage of working from home, and that is the lack of regularity. For many of us, the structure of our weekdays has been turned upside down, no more stepping out of the door at exactly 7:30 AM, no controlled environment to clearly declare as our workplace. Our first piece of advice is to bring this order back into your life. Get up at least half an hour or an hour before work.
2. Don't forget to exercise!
Of course, we've heard this a thousand times before, but it can't be repeated enough. The importance of getting to work in the morning should not be underestimated, because even a short walk can be beneficial. Now we don't have the opportunity for that. That’s why even a few short, easy-to-do exercises, whether it's yoga or a walk before or after work, can work wonders.
3. Think about your goals for the day!
Before 2020, many of us thought it was just a matter of attitude. Some like to outline their plans for the day in advance, others prefer to go with the flow. But if you work from home, this can be a matter of life and death. Normally, there is nothing wrong with not taking the time to plan each day, but now it just makes an already erratic and unmotivated atmosphere worse. Having smaller goals to work towards each day helps to stop the hours and days from blurring together.
4. Limit online time!
This is perhaps the most difficult task. Many of our jobs require us to be up to date and always online. The problem starts when, after sitting at a computer for 8 hours, we treat ourselves with another two hours of screen time to relax. Not only can this damage our posture and eyes, but it can also take a mental toll as well. It's hard to find the perfect balance, but we should always strive to make sure we're doing enough in our real, offline lives too.