Working from home has some really great benefits. I love those extra moments I get with the kids and with my husband. The “bonus” time is precious, and I couldn’t be more thankful for it.
It comes with some challenges, too, though. I’m a multi-tasker by nature, so staying focused while there are distractions all around me most of the time feels like it comes pretty easily. That’s not always the case, though. And I know from speaking with many friends and coworkers that many people are struggling to adjust to being parked at home. It’s normal and it’s natural.
So, I thought I’d share some tips for making the most of your work from home situation. I’d love to hear from you on this topic as well, so feel free to give some tips of your own in the comments 🙂
Dress for success.
Staying in your pajamas all day might sound great…but I (and many others) have found that keeping your morning routine the same as if you were going into the office sets the tone for a productive day and helps you feel great right all the way through the day.
Keep moving!
Getting out for a run, lifting some weights, stretching…. Exercise is an absolute MUST to include in your work from home routine. It’s hard to feel motivated to do it sometimes, but it’s something that doesn’t have to take long and has huge benefits for your body and for your mental state. It’s one of those things that you never regret doing.
Embrace the chaos…
You might have kids running around screaming and asking you for things every 10 minutes…meals to prep…pets that need to go outside…bottom line, it can all feel pretty chaotic. My advice: just embrace it. Cut yourself some slack when you feel aggravated by it all, take a deep breath, and just…do your best. That’s all you can do, and that’s all anyone expects of you.
Avoid screen fatigue.
It’s not healthy to be sitting in front of a screen for huge portions of the day. We tell that to our kids, and now it’s time to take our own advice! When you’re able to, go device-free for a bit and give yourself a break. Go for a walk. Sit on the patio for a bit. Get some fresh air. You’ll avoid the end of day screen headache and have more energy throughout the day.
Practice being thankful.
Soon enough, life will go back to normal. This won’t last forever, so look for and enjoy the good in it, keep a positive attitude, and appreciate the little things, like the precious bonus moments that I mentioned earlier. And most of all, practice being thankful, even when you don’t feel like it’s real. Instead of dwelling on all the negative from the news, think about and list out all the things you are thankful for. Sometimes thankfulness is a choice, not a feeling. You can choose it over fear, anger, frustration, disappointment…it just takes commitment, and for us to dig deep sometimes. But it’s so worth it.