When you start working from home, you may find yourself struggling with building and sticking to a working schedule. Working from home is very different: you may start off your day without commuting to work or chatting with your colleagues, then you may get caught up in your to-do list and realize you have worked through dinner! Or you may find yourself distracted by your surroundings and procrastinate as a result. This blog will walk you through some tips to create an effective work-from-home schedule that will help you stay focused and maintain a great work-life balance.
1, Build a morning routine
Unlike working in the office, remote working now allows you to have some time before work instead of commuting. You may choose to sleep in a bit more, but we recommend that you should spend some time on a morning routine. You can go out for a jog, do yoga for 30 minutes or sit down with your family for breakfast. Having a morning routine before work allows you to spend time with your family and take care of your physical and mental health. You can also squeeze in some housework in your morning routine, so you don’t have to worry about it later during the day.
2, Make a schedule and set alarms if necessary
You may get caught up in your work and work through lunch, or you may forget important meetings if you don’t stick to a schedule. This tip is simple: make a schedule. You can use free and easy tools like Google calendar and note down what you need to do throughout the day, or you can choose to opt-in a fancier tool like a project management software. If you have trouble sticking to the schedule, try setting alarms. Make sure to leave some time for breaks in your schedule as well.
3, Schedule catch-ups with colleagues
Working from home can be lonely. By catching up with colleagues, especially those that you don’t see often, you can get more connected with them. Try a virtual coffee or lunches with them, get to know them better, and stay updated with what’s happening in the company.
4, Take breaks
It’s obvious that you should take breaks during the day, but it’s not easy to remember to do it once you focus on work. Leave time for breaks in your schedule and set alarms for them. To relax during your break, you can try cooking up something quick for lunch, doing a quick workout or calling loved ones. You may enjoy a five-minute break every hour, or a longer break after working for four hours straight – the choice is up to you, just do whatever you feel comfortable with! By taking breaks, you are allowing yourself to relax, prevent burnout and boost creativity.
5, Take some time for yourself
It’s important to set your work hours so your colleagues know that they shouldn’t contact or set up a meeting outside of your work hours. When you finish work, make sure to take some time for yourself. You can catch up with some friends, whip up your favourite dish, or watch a movie with your family. Some great activities to relax are drawing and painting, meditating, writing, going for a walk, singing and dancing.