Four Ways to Minimize Stress When Working from Home
By Beau Peters
Working from home can feel like a luxury. However, it also takes a lot of time, dedication, and effort to stay focused, motivated, balance your professional and personal life. About 43% of Americans work from home occasionally. Beyond that, 50% of all small businesses within the U.S. are home-based which means those business owners are working from within their houses much of the time.
With the current pandemic, the majority of people are now working remotely.
If there is not a plan in place when working from home, work can spill into all hours of the day. With your phone or tablet within reach, it’s all too easy to stay busy and distracted–which means that you’re not taking time for yourself or spending it with your family.
So how to live your best life and make the most of the work-at-home experience?
Let’s look at a few ways to do that.
Have a Designated Work Space
Having a separate space for work is a great way to make sure you don’t bring work into your bedroom or end up working on your computer in front of the television in the living room. Having designated zones will help with organization, keeping things in one space instead of scattered throughout the house.
Make your home office or workspace more visually-appealing and productive by changing the way it looks to make it look and feel different from the rest of your home. Painting is a great way to do that. Certain colors– like shades of green, for instance– can actually inspire you to stay motivated, energized, and focused.
You’ll also need the right equipment to work from home. Chances are, much of your work will be done online in order to communicate with clients, other people in your business, and perhaps even job prospects.
Minimize Distractions
It’s easy to get distracted at home. Read more on ways to increase productivity by being present.
Having your own space and setting specific work hours can limit work spilling into your home life.
Find Support
Whether you have your own home-based business or you’re employed by a company that lets you work from home, it’s important to have support. Weekly video conferences as well as in-person sessions (when able) can be great to go over goals and achievements as well as promote bonding and positive relationships. Having strong team solidarity and support can help you to feel like you’re a part of things even when you’re at home.
Speaking of support, don’t be afraid to ask for help at home. Delegate what you can. Really, you don’t need to do it all.
Practice Self Care and Set Boundaries
Burnout can happen anywhere–and it’s just as easy to burn out when you’re working from home. That’s why self-care and setting boundaries is so important especially to those working remotely.
Even just a few minutes of practicing mindfulness each day can help you to remove the pressure to be perfect, allow for personal growth, and remove some of the distractions from your daily life. Find ways to add fitness to your day. Make self care a part of your daily routine and you’ll start to feel less stressed.
Read more on ways to energize yourself and increase happiness.
Working From Home Summary
Take care of yourself, prioritize your space and time, and be as present as possible. Incorporating some of these ideas into your routine can help to find a healthy, productive rhythm that allows you to live your life while enjoying the benefits of working from home.
About the Author:
Beau Peters is a creative professional with a lifetime of experience in service and care. As a manager, he’s learned a slew of tricks of the trade that he enjoys sharing with others who have the same passion and dedication that he brings to his work.
Connect with Beau on Twitter.
The Mindful MD Mom asks:
What are your tips for working from home?
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