Working on Working From Home
This past year has seen some of the constants of life be completely upended in favor of isolation. A massive transformation has taken place in the way that work and learning is organized: we’ve moved online. While working from home might allow for comfy business-top pajama-bottom outfits, it can have a large effect on productivity, motivation and fulfillment. When days start to blend together without the physical actions of travel, working at an office or attending a lecture on campus, it can be tough to feel like your best self. That being said, there are a few different ways to mitigate this struggle, keep up your morale, and be on top of your tasks whether they be school or work.
CREATE A WORKSPACE THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
I used to be one of those people that did all my homework on my bed and barely used my desk other than to hold a pile of random objects in my room. During this time, I often found myself very lethargic and all too easily convinced to abandon my essay for a “short” nap. When your entire world is narrowed down to a single room, it becomes increasingly important to curate your space to help you function the best you can. Many people find it helpful to create zones for productivity and leisure by establishing a workstation that kick starts a productive and focused mindset. Part of curating your own space is also decorating it in a way that makes you feel comfortable and happy. Plants can literally breathe life into a room with the dual effects of decoration and air purification. Posters, trinkets and pictures of family and friends can personalize a space and act as a reminder of the best and brightest things in life. However, cultivating your own space doesn’t end after setting up a room. It can be hard not to let clutter pile up, but keeping a clean space is proven to reduce stress levels.
FIGURE OUT HOW YOU LIKE TO SCHEDULE
One of the effects of virtual everything is the increased amount of effort required to keep track of a myriad of zoom meetings and deadlines without the reinforcement and flexibility of meeting in person. I’ve always loved having a planner, but in the past few months I have become obsessed with Notion (an online bullet journal) for the organization and structure it lends to my life. However, as with everything, we all have different preferences and methods that work best for us.
Taking the time to find which scheduling and organization methods work best for you and sticking to them can have an astounding impact on how going through each day feels. For those that like to kick it old-school with a pen and paper, a physical planner or bullet journal might be the best method. For others, it may be a whiteboard or calendar placed at eye level with daily tasks laid out and for others still, online challenges may require online solutions like Notion or Todoist. The benefit of using an online organizer is the amount of flexibility and visual appeal these services provide. Google Calendar is also commonly used by workplaces and organizations alike so adding your own schedule to a Google Calendar may be a good idea.
GET ACTIVE
A sedentary lifestyle is a long-accepted side effect of the modern work day but it can be incredibly detrimental to your physical and mental well-being, not to mention long term health. Make time to stretch, exercise or even just walk around your room to break up the day. Even for people that like to workout and be active, it is all too easy to let exercise slide. If it helps you, it can be good to set a designated time to exercise or stretch and keep the blood moving through your body. Exercise also releases endorphins that boost happiness, stability and energy. Three things that are more than welcome while working from home.
PICK UP A CREATIVE HOBBY (OR 10!)
Being stuck inside the house with limited options for entertainment has allowed many people to reconnect with old hobbies or make new ones. I personally have cycled rapidly between trying my best to paint, crochet and dance. Creative hobbies function as an outlet and a brief break from thinking about your academic or professional tasks. It allows you time to decompress and use different skills and come back to your work refreshed. Even better, taking up certain creative skills can actually serve to aid you in future work and endeavors.
CONNECT
it’s really hard to stay connected with friends and family when you’re not living together because few things are really a substitute for being able to freely travel and meet up. However, it's important to remain grounded in this collective experience by keeping contact with people that get it. This can extend beyond the people you already know -- finding an online community to keep that human connection can help. Like anything in life, working from home will have its good days and bad days but hopefully making some specific choices and starting some new habits will lead to growth for all of us!