In the considerable shift seen worldwide due to the COVID-19 / Corona Virus outbreak, a lot of the population learned to work from home and are still doing just that.
Now, as someone who has been working from home for seven years, I thought it might just be the perfect timing for a little lesson of ways to keep yourself on track, focused and at your most productive while staying at home, thus keeping you sane and out of trouble, or wandering into the streets out of sheer boredom.
Photo by cottonbro
Make a daily wake-up routine
Each day I get up and make a coffee. While that is heating up, I go and make my bed, and while I enjoy that coffee, I list things I’d like to accomplish for the day. That spans from work projects to cleaning, laundry; you name it, I add it to the list.
So, not only do I know what to exact of my day, I have a list of things to keep me focused and productive as I make my way through the day.
Take Breaks
You’d think to be at home; most people would make breakfast, work, make lunch, make dinner, and stop. From the data, we’ve seen that just isn’t the case. Instead, there is a large percentage of people who just speed through the day and, before you know it, haven’t had breakfast, lunch or dinner, and while you might think that’s the best way to work, after missing a couple of meals you won’t be much good to anybody, let alone yourself.
It’s necessary to not only break for meals but take two other 10 – 15 minutes breaks over the day, if not more. Stretch, move around, read the paper, and have a quick chat with a friend or family member. Once you come back to your workspace, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the next task.
Eat regularly
We partially touched on this, but I firmly believe that you must eat well and frequently to feel good. The reality is, if you’re at home already, you should be able to repair 3 -5 meals for yourself (your family) per day.
Now when I say meals, that can also include snacks, protein shakes, or whatever works best for you. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and get a regular intake of nutrients to keep yourself feeling and thinking your best.
Exercise and stretch
While I’d typically run off to spin, pilates, boxing or the gym, those aren’t options right now and, for many, aren’t in every day either. That being said, getting cardio, working out, or even just getting the blood flowing, not only adds to your energy levels, help to make you feel more alert and focused. Exercise can also be an excellent outlet for stress and anxiety and offers a daily release from that grind.
There are about 10,000 at-home workouts online, many I’ve tested out myself. Take some time and do one that works for you and your goals.
Maintaining a good workout and fitness program also enlivens stretching all the muscles so they don’t lock up, cause issues, etc. Not only that, but stretching is also essentially a form of meditation. If done right, it can help you to re-centre and find your focus at the beginning, middle or end of a long day.
While you’re at it, find a few videos for stretching and post-workout recovery.
Set goals in order of importance
I’ve found that it pays to go old school and use a notebook. Each day write down a list of what you have to do, and with time, also try to put it in order of importance.
As you go through the day, it will not only help keep you on track; it helps to give a sense of accomplishment by crossing each off as you go along the way.
Make a list, check it twice, it will stop you from being notty and keep you nice!
Choose an end time
When working from home, you may just want to keep going and going, especially since you might still be productive. Still, it’s essential that you set a cut-off time, take a break and ease into some downtime before you sleep and inevitably do it all over again tomorrow.
Working from home can be challenging, but if you’re able to set some structure around your daily schedule, set goals and attain them, you’ll be winning regardless of being temporarily confined at home.
markmunroe
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