Hands typing on a laptop with cup of tea and flower

How to Make Working from Home a Breeze

Working from home can be incredible. Especially if you also happen to be a parent. You get more flexibility with your schedule, to work in complete comfort, and to avoid office politics. But with the good also comes the bad. You might find that you’re tempted to do chores while you’re meant to be working, and work and home life can blur into one. It can be hard to know when to switch off.  Your home is now your office, which presents its own challenges. Who knew it could be so complicated?

Here are some ideas to help you make working from home a breeze

 

Establish a routine

Just because you’re free of the regular 9-5, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a routine. Some people love to have complete flexibility, whereas others find a set schedule helps them stay productive. It can also help to ensure your time is managed well, so your work days don’t blend into your evenings. It’s important to set boundaries since when you work from home, you have no co-workers to measure your progress against. This means it’s easy for you always to feel like you could do more. Find working hours that work best with your body clock and your family responsibilities, then try to stick to them as best you can.

 

Get a set working space

Are you working on the sofa, or even on the bed? This might feel comfy, but for many people working from home, this is a big no-no! After all, your not likely to get your best work done in the area your brain associates with sleepiness. And when it comes time to wind down and chill out on the sofa, you might find it hard to relax if you’ve been working in that spot all day. Try to separate work from play, physically. Get a home office or a desk if you can.

 

Set up a business address

If you’re self-employed, you’ll need a business address for tax and communication purposes. You don’t want to advertise your home address on the internet, even if it is technically your place of business. The best thing to do is to get a virtual business address. See what the options are at physicaladdress.com.

 

Get a standing desk

Have you heard that sitting all day is bad for you? Not only is it bad for your health, but it can also reduce your productivity by making you feel sluggish. If you can stand for periods, you might find a standing desk useful. They’re becoming very popular and can make a big difference to your working day. You can find desks that facilitate both sitting and standing at www.ikea.com/.

 

Get out of the house

When you work from home, it’s easy to become isolated from the outside world. Try to get out every day, whether it’s to pick the kids up from school, to take a lunchtime walk in some greenery, or to go to an energizing gym class. Since you don’t work with co-workers, it’s great if you can get a bit of social time in throughout the week. Schedule some coffee dates with friends, or even chat on the phone in your lunch break. It can make a huge difference to your wellbeing!

This post is written by a third party and I have received payment for posting it.