Many people work from home these days, which can be both a blessing and a curse. One of the major perks is that you have the freedom to practice self-care in ways that would not be possible with an office job. But there are some pitfalls as well – it’s easy to fall into feeling like you never get away or take time for yourself when working at home.
This blog post will go over five ways to practice self-care while still working at home.
1. Begin by organizing your days and routines
Have a set time you will start work and end work. Make sure to stick to this schedule as much as possible. If you’re working from home, it’s easy to get caught up in your household tasks or other obligations and fail to prioritize yourself. Having a set time each day dedicated solely to working towards your goals ensures that you’ll be able to complete all of the essential things on your list without feeling overwhelmed by other responsibilities throughout the week.
When working from home, it can be easy to get distracted by household chores and other responsibilities that arise throughout the day. Prioritizing yourself is one of the easiest ways to practice self-care when working from home. Make sure to create a schedule for yourself and stick with it as much as possible to ensure that your work goals will always remain at the top of your priority list.
2. Breaks should not be shortened
Many people might think that working from home means they can cut out their breaks, but this is the opposite of what you should do. Taking a few minutes to step away and get some fresh air or go for a quick walk around your neighborhood will help you clear your head, which in turn helps improve productivity when it comes time to sit back down at the computer.
In fact, research has found that taking short breaks throughout the day improves performance by 34 percent! To make sure these mini-breaks don’t disrupt your workflow too much, try setting them up beforehand, so all you have to do is lean back and relax after pressing play on our self-care timer.
3. Keep Your Posture in Mind
Your posture while working is essential. Slouching or not enough support for your head and neck can cause muscle stiffness over time, leading to pain. Your desk setup should be adjusted so that you can sit upright with both feet on the floor. If this causes too much tension in your back, consider using an ergonomic chair designed for. You can also adjust your screen height so that you are looking straight ahead and not down.
You should be able to use either a wireless keyboard or the built-in one on your laptop, as well as keep both of your arms at a 90-degree angle while typing. If this is too much for you, consider purchasing an ergonomic mouse instead; they’re designed to reduce wrist and shoulder strain by keeping them in line with each other rather than having them contort as traditional mice do over time.
4. Make contact with coworkers
It’s essential to reach out and interact with your coworkers in person now and then, even if you work at home. If this is not possible due to scheduling conflicts or other reasons, consider finding some online chat rooms for self-employed people so that you can communicate with them on a more regular basis.
If neither of these options seems like they will work for you, set up an email account just for the two of you so that when questions come up about projects or documents needing revisions, it’s easy to get in touch without having distractions coming from all corners of the internet pulling at your attention span away.
5. Recognize and Respect Your Boundaries
Know your physical boundaries. Be aware of how much time you’re spending on work and other activities throughout the day, as well as where you’re doing it (at home or coworking space). You should also be mindful of what kind of energy you put into each activity to ensure that they are appropriate for the situation. For example, relaxed reading is excellent when relaxing at home but does not apply to an environment where people are working hard.Â
On the flip side, if someone has just completed several hours of strenuous work at their office desk, then taking a break with some laid-back reading makes sense! Make yourself comfortable -Remember that no one can read your mind, so give clear written directions whenever possible.
The Bottom Line
There is a lot to be said for working from home. You can work around your schedule, avoid commuting time, and save money by not having a second office space. Plus, you don’t have to dress up every day. For many people, this sounds like heaven, but that doesn’t mean it comes without its problems or challenges. Many people find they are less productive when working from home because there isn’t anyone looking over their shoulders all the time telling them what they need to do next (though I admit sometimes we wish someone would!).
