Healthy Work From Home Habits for the New Year
Try These Five Work From Home Tips for a Healthier, Happier You!
According to a recent study, 18% of the current workforce telecommutes entirely with those numbers expected to continue to increase into the future. Many people who work remotely in some capacity prefer to do so and would do it more if given the opportunity. So figuring out a good work from home routine is more important than ever! Try these five healthy habits this New Year to enhance your work from home situation.
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Create Boundaries
When your work physically comes into your personal space, it can be hard to differentiate between the two. Whenever works collide it is important to create some sort of separation to ensure you are giving both areas of your life the attention they need. In other words, try to avoid situations where you have something in the oven, you’re at an important work meeting, you’re answering emails, all while folding laundry. Plan out your day and prioritize the important things first, giving them your full attention in the moment.
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Have a Designated Work Space
As much as we would all love to have a dream office space in our homes, for most that is not the case. Some people share an office with a roommate or significant other, while others work from their couch, kitchen table, or even beds. Whatever your home situation allows, it’s best to create a permanent and dedicated workspace that you can return to day-to-day. It doesn’t have to be formal, and it can be something you clean up at the end of the day to make room for other uses of the space. Having that consistent work setup will allow you to get into work mode and eliminate distractions.
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Take Breaks
When you no longer have to worry about choosing the perfect outfit for your day, or beating the traffic into the office, it frees up valuable time to spend actually getting things done. Many people have found that their productivity increased when they began working from home due to the decrease in other things taking up their time. However, too much of a good thing can be detrimental. Be sure to take breaks and participate in the same self-care activities that you used to. Simply taking an hour to shower and dress in normal clothes can change your whole demeanor and energy levels for the rest of your day.
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Move Around
With less need to physically get up and go from one part of your day to another, it is easy to become sedentary throughout your day. Try to incorporate movement into your breaks, or invest in office accessories such as standing desks or stability balls to prevent yourself from sitting for long periods of time. If you can take a call while walking around even better. The more movement you can work into your day the better!
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Be Social
Just because we aren’t face-to-face with our coworkers anymore, doesn’t mean we should avoid human contact. In fact, it’s more important than ever to ensure we are getting interactions with others throughout our day. Find opportunities to pick up the phone or schedule a video conference instead of sending an email. Human connection is healthy and important so find ways to work it into your day.
Creating an Ergonomic Work Space
Ergonomic workspaces are increasing in popularity because, as a society, we have worked through the initial shock of the work from home adjustment, and now are trying to optimize the experience as it is here to stay. At E3 Consulting, we provide training services and other programs to help employers and employees create healthy workspaces that will improve their quality of work and life. Contact us today to learn more.
