It is crucial to look for new ways to adapt to changes in our lives. Some people love working from home because of the freedom and flexibility that it allows them. Nevertheless, it can be socially isolating.
There is also the element of distractibility.
Some people are not always happy working at the office, as there could be interruptions by colleagues , co-workers, bosses or phone calls. On the other hand, there are also people who cannot work at home as they would keep going to the fridge or their family members would keep demanding for attention.
Some of us enjoy having coworkers and connecting with others every day in real life. One of the most challenging things about working from home is the lack of socialization.
May I offer the following tips and suggestions that can help negate some of these adverse effects and challenges:
1. Find time to exercise
It may be possible to have a treadmill at home. The important thing is to have to discipline to use it on a regular basis. Between the relentless news alerts, social media memes, and gossipy texts, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and scared. We need self-care more than ever, and it is important during these times to hold fast to any sense of normalcy that we can.
Do pick off-peak hours to exercise to minimize contact with others; other options include walking, jogging, or biking outdoors, while making sure to maintain distance from others. The more ventilated an area, the lower the risk of transmission. It is also possible to exercise at home with help from an app or online video. What is most useful is to pick up a sports or an exercise that you actually enjoy. If you dislike that particular form of exercise, it is unlikely that you will do it on a regular basis like 5 to 6 times in a week, with each session lasting for 30 minutes.
2. Having good quality sleep
Learn to disconnect in the early part of the evening, for example, not later than 8 pm. This is because most of us will need 2 hours of unwinding before we can effectively negotiate the transition between wakefulness and sleep. This would mean that he have to stop work, stop checking our emails and messages at about 8 pm the latest. Working from home can also feel like being at a casino -- you can get so caught up in your activity, in a relaxing environment, that you lose complete track of time. Not having any caffeine intake after 12 noon will also help as caffeine can stay in the body for as long as 14 hours and it can keep us awake at night, making it hard for us to fall asleep. Caffeine can also decrease the amount of deep sleep that we have and it may also lead to sleep fragmentation.
It's a good idea to treat your bedroom as a sacred space -- where you only go to sleep or relax. Once it becomes your office, you'll find it hard to avoid thinking about work 24/7. Try to set up a workspace somewhere else, even if that's the kitchen or dining table. If you're lucky enough to have the space, maybe you could work from a spare bedroom or home office.
3. Staying focused in the daytime
The average worker is only productive on average three hours every day, and these hours should be free of interruptions or multitasking. Having a standing desk may help us to focus better. This will also help alleviate lower back or hip pain and promote better health. I have friends who work in an office, and they also find having a standing desk helps them focus. Half the time, pacing helps solve the problem. Some people may find that moving around helps them feel less closed in. Some individuals also report that using a desktop timer app helps them stay focused much better. Having light background noise helps some people focus and it may be a lot more fun than working in silence. It is also possible to have frequent breaks for doing stretches. Every hour or so, one can step back from his desk and spend five minutes doing stretches. This will keep a person from overworking by building breaks into his day. One should aim to take a break every 75 to 90 minutes, for about 15 minutes per break. Ideally, his break should involve no screens at all and let him get some fresh air.
4. Having a community online
Some find it useful to join a community online so that they can have someone to converse with and to network. Nothing can be more energizing than interacting with people who are passionate about the things that they do.
5. Listening to music and watching youtube videos
Listening to sad songs may cause some people to feel down and depressed. Hearing cheerful songs may make a person more optimistic and cheerful. Watching comedies may also brighten up one’s mood as when we laugh loudly, our brain produces chemicals (neurotransmitters) that will help us deal with pains and difficult situations. Laughter is the best medicine as it can make us feel more relaxed and hopeful.
6. Having a team chat
Team chat is a huge asset to any remote team. Apart from facilitating work, there is also the social aspects of it which are not fully realised or appreciated. Nothing can be more relaxing and comforting than talking with team members whom you are comfortable with. .
7. Making Regular Calls
Hearing another person’s voice oftentimes helps to decrease sense of loneliness and isolation. Do make an effort to schedule time for your loved ones, family and friends, so that you can hear their voice over the phone. Nothing beats actually connecting with another person, especially if that person is someone close to you.
8. Learn to leave devices alone
To maintain our mental health, we need to spend sufficient time offline every day. Don’t wake up and jump into your emails and social media accounts. Ease into your day—you’re going to be plugged in for hours, so may as well enjoy your screen-free moments while you can. It is important to turn off the devices when our work for the day is finished.
There is really no much additional benefit that can be derived from frequent checking and reading of emails and social media. Creating clear temporal boundaries often depends on the ability to coordinate ones’ time with others.
