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Remote work is not necessarily an ideal experience some people expect it to be. Sure, more people than ever have been forced to work from home because of the pandemic, and while some of them are thriving, not everyone is finding their situation manageable.
Sure, things are improving, and we can expect to return to our regular workplaces eventually, but if you are not feeling too good and find it too difficult to work from home because you associate the place with leisure, try some of the ideas below.
Take Regular Breaks
Let’s start with what might seem obvious, but still gets overlooked quite often. Regular breaks are not as easy to take when you are alone and get into work too much. Unlike when you are in an office surrounded by other people who stand up and give you a queue that it is time for a break. Not to mention having a supervisor.
If you struggle to remember when to take a break, get yourself a smartphone app that can send you reminders. When it is time, make sure to enjoy your break to the fullest. Also, if it is your lunchtime, prepare a proper meal instead of a quick snack.
Failing to take a break will lead to fatigue, which, consequently, causes more errors at work. When your employer evaluates your results, they are less inclined to pay you money because of poor work results.
Get Rid of Distractions
Smartphone notifications, computer notifications, video games, books, people, and other distractions disrupt workflow and should be eliminated if possible.
When it is time to work, you want to focus on important tasks and finish them on time. Otherwise, you will struggle to meet the deadlines and find yourself working late into the night.
Pay more attention to things that are distracting and take the necessary measures to get rid of them. Once you do, you should notice a significant improvement in your productivity and motivation.
Reward Yourself
Now and then, it might take some motivation to get you out of the slump. A small reward could be a good way to find motivation and finish work before you commit to work-unrelated things.
Perhaps you have a tasty snack waiting for you in the fridge? Or maybe the TV series you waited an entire week finally released its new episode? Leave these rewards for the end of the day when you finish work. Doing so will make you feel like you deserved the reward more and make it more enjoyable. Not to mention that it will help with the work itself.
Stay in Touch With Others
If you are stuck at home with few opportunities to socialize, take advantage of technology and keep in touch with others via facetime. You do not even need a webcam so long as there is a smartphone with a reliable camera.
Remember that other people are in a similar situation and they also likely seek opportunities to socialize. That is why social media and chatting platforms like Discord are becoming more popular than ever, particularly the latter.
It is also worth noting that if you remain on good terms with your coworkers during the remote work period, the transition of returning to your usual office will be smoother. Otherwise, it might feel a bit awkward meeting people you did not see for so long.
Go Outside When Possible
Going outside might not be as easy during the pandemic, but if you find an opportunity, take it and get a breath of fresh air. Surrounding yourself with nothing but work is not great for long-term health. In fact, it will not take too long before you struggle to work even more because you have nothing else going on in your life.
A short walk outside is a nice change of pace and it should be something you do as much as possible.
Create a Proper Workspace
A proper workspace is also a must if you want to struggle less with your tasks. And with that, keep in mind that you need more than just a chair and a desk.
For starters, do not litter the space with random trash. Keeping things neat and tidy is a great motivation booster. Something as simple as a few plants might also do wonders.
It is also worth mentioning that you need an optimally performing computer. For example, if there is too much junk on the computer’s drive, free it up. Otherwise, the overabundance of random files will worsen the device’s performance and make it harder to find files you actually need.
Seek Opportunities to Improve
The last bit of advice to consider is how you should seek opportunities to improve. If you are staying at home, it means that you have more free time thanks to no commuting to work. Use the time to check available online courses and consume the content to upgrade your skills or learn something new.
