Did you know that April 10 is Global Work from Home Day? As an entirely remote agency, we’ve become experts in how to work from home like a boss.
As we navigate the nuances of working from home, striking a balance between productivity and self-care is an essential part of your success. So, let’s explore some actionable tips to help you thrive in your work from home (or “WFH”, as the kids like to call it) environment that will keep you focused, organized, and productive all while taking care of your mental health.
Whether you’re new to working from home or have been doing it for a long time, one thing is for sure: being comfortable and staying active during the day is a must. While it’s very easy to slip into the habit of staying put at your desk/kitchen table/couch/bed/wherever you work, it’s important to get up, move around, and get some fresh air once in a while. Take your dog for a walk, go grab a coffee, or fit a little yoga into your breaks. It’s not only good for the body, but for the mind as well. In addition to this, here are some products that we love that’ll help you stay comfy and active during the day:
Adding a footstool – like this one from BlissTrends – to your home office setup is a game-changer. Bid adieu to uncomfortable seating positions and say hello to ergonomic bliss. With a footstool tucked neatly under your desk, you can eliminate cramps and stiffness, while improving posture and comfort. Elevate your feet and your productivity as you conquer your day with ease.
Investing in a criss-cross chair – like this beauty from Sweetcrispy – is ideal for home office setups. With a 360° rotating seat and adjustable features, this chair offers optimal comfort and versatility. Its wide seat size and U-shaped design reduce hip pressure, while the high-density, sponge-filled cushion ensures long-lasting comfort.
Who said you can’t walk a mile or two while you work? Place a walking pad – like this one from Yagud – underneath any table where you can stand and work, and start your journey towards consistent exercise while you crush your to-do list.
Comfort doesn’t always have to come in the form of how your body is positioned. Since we spend upwards of 7-8 hours a day glued to computer screens during the week (instead of socializing by the office copy machine), your eyes are getting a heck of a workout.
Luckily, there’s a solution to eye fatigue in the form of blue light glasses – like these trendy cuties from Visoone. With the capability to block up to 99% of harmful blue light, they should be your go-to solution for preventing visual fatigue, eyestrain, and those pesky headaches. Plus, they’re non-prescription, making them suitable for anyone.
If you’re someone who works at a desk, managing lots of projects at once, there’s no need to try to fit all your windows and assets on one 11-15” screen. With its expansive screen real estate and crystal-clear display, a monitor – like this one from HP – enhances productivity by facilitating seamless multitasking and providing clarity for documents, presentations, and detailed design work.
One of the more challenging aspects of working from home is trying to avoid distraction. Cohabitating with family members, pets, and life noise can often create a recipe for disastrous workflow…not to mention the laundry that has been piling up all week. While it’s healthy to take a break to throw in that laundry, it’s important to learn how to identify and minimize common distractions in a home environment, including noise, social media, and household chores, to maintain focus and concentration during work hours. Here’s some tips on how to do just that:
Consider exploring strategies for effectively managing your time, such as setting daily goals, creating schedules in your calendar, and utilizing organization features/applications that will help you maximize productivity. At Random, we use a combination of Google Workspace, Slack, and ClickUp to keep our team in communication and hold one another accountable for getting tasks done. That said, nothing is wrong with keeping a notebook, some sticky notes, a whiteboard, or any other tool that will keep you on task near your workspace to maximize your productivity.
A major part of working from home is working alone throughout most of – if not all – of your week. If you allow yourself to be sequestered to your everyday workspace without regularly interacting with the outside world, your mental health has the potential to decline significantly.
One way to shake things up (if your job allows for it) is to challenge yourself to work from a coffee shop or a coworking space. This could be once a week, once a month, or even sporadically. Either way, getting out of the house and into the world can be just what the doctor ordered; the change of scenery can really boost your productivity and creativity levels in ways you have to see to believe, just purely based on a different environment, the buzz of the other people around you, or both!
If this isn’t an option for you, find other ways to stimulate your brain outside of your home. Go for a walk on your break or sit on your porch/balcony (as long as the WiFi reaches). Anything that allows you to switch things up without sacrificing your workflow or efficiency is worth the extra effort if it ultimately boosts your mood.
There can be a lot of crossover between work life and personal life when you work from home, and the laptop can end up staying open a lot longer than it might if you worked in an office. The good news is that there are lots of ways you can avoid blurring the lines between your 9-5 and your 5-9.
One of the most important concepts to embrace is the act of setting boundaries. Setting boundaries between work and personal life is essential when working from home, especially if the space that used to be used for relaxation and decompression is now the same one in which you take meetings and work on presentation decks.. Creating dedicated workspaces, establishing clear work hours, and communicating expectations with family members, housemates, and even your coworkers will help you foster a more productive work environment.
We understand that setting boundaries can be challenging and anxiety inducing for some folks; nobody wants to seem like they aren’t a team player. That said, communicating healthy boundaries is the best way to set yourself (and your team) up for success. To dive into this concept more, check out this blog on Weworkremotely.com for even more tips.
By implementing these products and strategies to maintain focus, protect our physical and mental health, and establish clear boundaries, we can navigate the intricacies of working from home with resilience and wellbeing intact, like the boss that you are. Remember, it’s all about making your workspace work for YOU.
Looking to level up more than just your WFH setup? Random can help you with everything from A to Z in the digital marketing realm. Contact us here to get started!
Schedule a discovery call today → thatrandomagency.com
