Seven ways I stay sane while working at home
Due to COVID-19, a lot of you might be working at home consistently for the first time in your careers, and it is an adjustment… especially if you are also “crisis schooling” your children on top of trying to be productive at work. I’ve been working at home for the last seven years – so I figured I’d give you my best tips for staying sane while working at home.
Find a place to set up a dedicated workspace. My office is in what would typically be a formal living room, so I don’t have a door, but it still works out most of the time. Having my own space to work is a key to my sanity. My husband and I shared an office for about a month, and let me tell you – it was not good!
Plan your morning routine. Yes, you could work in your pajamas, but if you do that for very long, you will start feeling like a sloth. I promise it is worth it to get up, shower, and put on (comfy) clothes in the morning. You’ll be more productive, and you’ll feel better.
Take breaks. It is easy to sit and become engrossed in work and spend more hours at your desk than you usually would. In the short-term, that might work, but in the long-term, it leads to significant burnout and resentment. My advice? Don’t eat lunch at your desk, take breaks when you need them, and get out to see actual daylight when you can.
Find a way to connect with your colleagues, even from your remote office. It isn’t quite the same to do calls over the phone or via video chat, but it is better than nothing at all. You can even set up a time to just chat and catch up – like a virtual happy hour.
Make a plan for your days – I like to time block and do my work in batches. I tend to batch email responses, writing time, and time for intense projects or brainstorming. By time blocking, you are less likely to sink into the vortex of the internet and more likely to find a balance and stay productive.
Communicate with your family or roommates what the expectations are - and when you need uninterrupted time. I have a handy little light on my desk, and I can turn it to red when I am on a call. Everyone from my husband to my six year old knows that they shouldn’t interrupt me when the light is red. It doesn’t work 100% of the time, but it helps keep the distractions to a minimum!
Know when to walk away. You could sit and work all night but you shouldn’t. Set a start and end time to your workday and stick to it unless there is a real emergency.
One bonus tip for the parents out there- If you have children at home with you during this pandemic and you feel guilty that they aren’t getting as much attention as they normally would, or you are phoning in the school work, or they are getting way to much screen time - let it go! No guilt allowed during these days where we are trying to balance it all as parents, employees, and friends. This won’t go on forever and they’ll be just fine.
