Welcome newbies! You’re probably so excited that you get to work from home now, but trust me, it could get old fast. Sure, you’ll be in the comfort of your own home, but after a while, the need for sunlight and human interaction is needed! You’ll start to feel like you need to get out more. Since I’ve been working from home (it’s now going on a year and a half) I go out a lot more on the weekends. Something about being in the house all day, every day, can drive a person crazy! But I don’t want that for you, so I have come up with some useful tips to help you get your job done all whilst not losing your mind in the process.
Bathe. Yes, bathe. Some of you will ixnay that morning shower since you don’t have to leave the house now, but showering first thing in the morning makes all the difference in the world. Showers also help you to wake up. Now, if you just can’t help yourself and you need to get those extra minutes of sleep in now that you have some extra time in the morning since you don’t have to commute to work, and there is no time for a shower because you have to clock-in, taking a shower on your 10-15 minute break or lunch break also makes a great difference. It’s sort of a refresher after you’ve already begun working.
Get dressed. Don’t take a shower and then put your pajamas back on. Wear something that you can be seen out in, public in. This is in case you need to make a quick run to pick up your kids, or if you want to go and grab some food for lunch. Having to change out of your pjs and into clothes, wastes time. I would also suggest not to wear anything uncomfortable (like jeans, tight-fitting clothing, etc.) because you are at home, so you should be comfy.
Create an office space. Although working in bed or on the couch may be comfortable, trust me, that gets old. Create an office space somewhere in your house. If you don’t already have an office, set up a workstation on your dining room table or anywhere in your house that has a tabletop and chair.
Step Outside. It’s good to get some sunlight every now and then throughout your day. If you think about it, most people only get sunlight because of having to leave the house for work. Those of us who work from home, rarely get sunlight. So, go check the mail, take out the trash, or you can even take a work call outside – if your background isn’t loud. If you have a balcony or backyard with a tabletop and chair, you could even spend sometime working outside – weather and noise permitting.