Let's face it, working from home is our new normal. Given this pandemic, we are left with no choice but to stay indoors and continue living our lives that way. It may sound like privilege, and it may be the best and comfortable setup, but let us not get too carried away with it. Alongside that comfort, there are some things we need to keep note of.
Working from home is either the best thing ever or the worst thing ever, depending on who you ask. For those who count on the comforts of the workplace and the predictable routine of a typical workday, it's not an easy world to navigate.
Join me in this article as we talk about the things we should do or not do when we are working remotely.
The Pitfalls of a Work From Home Setup
Working from home has both benefits and drawbacks, according to a 2012 report published in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. On the one hand, a more organized work environment is helpful for repetitive and tedious tasks. Working from home, on the other hand, is preferable for innovative activities.
If you're having trouble adapting to work from home life, you may be lacking motivation. Maybe you don't have enough energy or can't keep centered. Regardless, keeping on track and breaking some poor work from home habits are two excellent ways to counteract these restless feelings.
Working from home may allow you the freedom to work however you want, and it does to some degree, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't follow some clear ground rules. Here are five poor work habits to watch out for to help you figure out what's holding you back.
Poor Habits You Might Be Currently Doing
1. Wearing whatever you want
Albeit may look like a simple thing and not posing as an issue but this turns out to be a significant problem. One of the most appealing aspects of working from home is the ability to work in whatever clothes you like — or none at all! While this can seem attractive, it may detract from the ability to concentrate and be productive. The known idea of: “dress for the job you have” could be easily replaced with “dress for the job you have now,” even though you work from home.
2. Sleeping in late or catching any chance for a shut-eye
Avoid the urge to sleep in late; it's a bad work habit that needs to be broken. This is useful for many reasons:
- You may be required sooner for something, and if you're half-awake or asleep, you won't be able to react appropriately.
- You'll begin to stay up later and later, decreasing the amount of time you spend enjoying the morning.
When it's time to return to work, you might find it difficult to get back into the habit of getting up early. This is important to note. You're not on vacation just because you're at home. Sure, you can take more liberty and take your time, but try not to disrupt your sleep cycle so that you can maintain a healthy sleeping cycle and get the rest you need for the day.
3. Maintaining flexible working hours
When you work from home, it's important to keep working and non-working hours apart. This is the point at which personal and professional time converge. When you're doing both things in the same place, it's easy for the distinction between work and relaxation to blur, meaning you're never totally in either mode. Both are critical!
Both finish on time and stick to a fixed schedule of working hours. After work, turn off your alerts so you don't have to deal with any after-hours emails until the next day when you're back "on the clock." You must value your rest and relaxation time as much as you value your work time.
4. Working in the comforts of your comfy bed
This is a bad habit that you can easily integrate into your routine. If this is not addressed, it may even become worse for you. It's time for you to get out of bed! If you lie in bed, you'll face a slew of issues:
- You won't be in the mood to work.
- Staying in bed does not equate to going to work in your head.
- You'll feel drowsy and find it harder to concentrate.
- Over time, you'll feel cramped and experience back pain.
It is not an ergonomic place to work in bed! Make sure you don't succumb to this lure. It has a negative effect on your ability to function effectively and with concentration, as well as on your physical health. Staying sharp and alert can be as simple as getting out of bed, working at a proper desk, and stretching now and then. Find some ergonomically designed products you can have at home through FlexiSpot's website.
5. Working anywhere you wish: the absence of a dedicated workstation
Some people work from home in bed, on their sofa, or at their table because they don't have the proper work-from-home desk setup. If you don't have the right equipment, you won't be able to do your best work. Consider purchasing a low-cost standing desk and an ergonomic office chair to make the workday run more smoothly. A standing desk can assist you by allowing you to function while standing if desired. A plain kitchen chair would not adhere to your body's needs as well as an office chair with several levers and adjustments.
Check out this good pairing from FlexiSpot.
Looking for an ergonomic office chair? Have your back relaxed and your neck and spine in proper alignment with the Ergonomic Office Chair OC3B
Want to have your unique work desk? Try out this standing desk, bet your friends might not have one yet. You'll be the first one to boast this in your work area. This Seiffen Laminated Standing Desk (Eco & Pro) is yours for the taking.
Conclusion
When you work from home, you have access to benefits that typical office employees do not. For example, you can go to work in your pajamas and avoid the dreaded commute. People who work from home, on the other hand, face one of the most difficult tasks of all: maintaining the discipline to remain on track. It is crucial to understand that this can either make things easier for you or maybe even harder.
Nobody is monitoring you at home, and you have complete control of your schedule. This also implies that you should avoid wasting time on unnecessary distractions. If you want to be more productive, you must eliminate distractions and reclaim your attention.
These are the five items that someone working from home should stop in general. Do you find yourself succumbing to some of these poor work-at-home habits? Hopefully, you can find this article useful.
