Has this Coronavirus thing sent you scrambling to set up a home office? How’s that going for you? I know, it’s a love-hate thing. I’ve been doing it for over 22 years. Read on.
My Telework Story
In 1997, I stopped my daily commute into D.C. and started working from home. This was before home offices were a thing. And when the Internet was just becoming a thing. Which made my foray into the home office world just a wee bit crazy. But 22 years in and I’m here to tell you – I ain’t never going back to a regular office. (My grammar may have slipped, but my slippers and I – we’re fine.)
Opportunity and Flexibility: Home Office for the Win
A home office provides two things I’m pretty big on: opportunity and flexibility. These can vastly improve your quality of life. A home office isn’t going to force you to exercise in place of your morning commute, or choose a healthy salad over a bowl of ice cream for lunch (hypothetical example, of course). But the home office provides the opportunity and flexibility to have that more balanced and healthy life you’ve been dreaming of.
Figuring it all out takes some practice. Right now you might feel like you’re barely surviving. Between the kids and the dog and the unfortunate timing of the UPS guy, it can be tough. But you’re home. And you love home, right? Tweak things as you go. You’ve got this.
Here are a few suggestions to help you not only survive, but thrive in your new home office environment.
Practical Suggestions for Home Office Wellness
Organize your Space and Time
With a home office, there’s no clear transition between work and home life. You have to create the boundaries. For example, you may have already noticed that it’s really not practical to work from your kitchen island all day. Try to create separate work and home zones – preferably a dedicated work area where you can close the door when needed.
My desk area in my office is for work. When I need my computer for something that is not work-related after hours, I pull it through to my kitchen or sitting room. If it’s not possible for you to carve out a designated work area, at least find a way to keep work and home documents separate. Otherwise, you’ll feel overwhelmed as your two worlds collide.
It’s also really helpful to carve out dedicated work hours. Although exceptions will occur (this flexibility is part of the beauty of the home office), designated work hours will help protect your work life from encroaching on your home life, and vice versa.
Move your Body
Your morning commute may have gone from a 30-minute ride and a quarter-mile walk to only about 20 steps! It would be way too easy to become sedentary. You simply must force yourself to take some breaks, to get up and move.
Set a timer if needed – maybe a five-minute break for every hour of work. Walk around your office during long conference calls. Or do some stretching exercises while you’re staring at that spreadsheet. All the movement adds up.
You’re in luck if you own a dog. My dog Chloe (cockapoo, age 4.5, likes back rubs and rolling in dirt) keeps me from staying glued to my chair. When she needs to go, we go. (One of the highlights of my day used to be our daily walks to the bus stop at 3 PM. I miss that. We’re still walking, but it’s just not the same without the sight of that yellow bus rounding the corner. #coronavirusblues)
Create your Mood
With no one sitting across the cubicle from you, you can create whatever mood you want. Rock music? Got it. A cozy blanket and coffee in your favorite mug? Why not. Who said we can’t be happy while we work?
I’m personally a little obsessed with candles. Clear off some space on your desk and light a candle. Or plug in a salt lamp or oil diffuser. And don’t forget plants.
For music, I use the Mood station on Spotify. When I need to focus, I select tranquil piano music or spa music. Occasionally, I need more upbeat music to get energized. You could even play affirmations or uplifting podcasts. There are no coworkers around, so you don’t even need to wear headphones.
Why not feel a little more zen while you’re working?
Change your Scenery
If you’re spinning your wheels or your energy is flagging, change your scenery.
I’d ordinarily suggest tapping into the WiFi at your local coffee shop or cafe. When we’re all out and about again, support your local shops and find a quiet corner to work with a mug of your favorite brew. (Just be sure to time your calls carefully so that the barista isn’t announcing your Skinny Venti Vanilla Latte at an awkward moment.) Libraries are another great place to get work done – when they’re open.
But for now, look for times when you can grab your laptop and head to another quiet spot in the house for an hour or two. I find this helps when I need to get past writer’s block. Sometimes I just need the change of scenery, which can work magic. Just make sure the temporary location boosts your productivity and isn’t full of distractions.
Mind your Eating Habits
So by now you’ve realized one of the challenges (or benefits – depends how you look at it) of working from home is the open access to the kitchen. But that candy jar on your coworker’s desk in your “real” office was a danger too. The truth is, it’s always been up to you to make healthy choices. Don’t let working from home be an excuse to let healthy eating fall by the wayside.
Keep your fridge stocked with healthy snacks. Yes, it takes some planning, but so did packing a lunch for the office. Sure, have the occasional treat. We all need it. But don’t let the home office derail your efforts entirely.
Be Creative in How you Socialize
You have the opportunity to stay connected socially while working from home. It just requires more effort, especially under quarantine rules. This is why Zoom has exploded.
I’ve been using Zoom at work for about five years, but it wasn’t until Coronavirus that I started using it to keep in touch with friends. Now we Zoom regularly and even play Yahtzee and other games over Zoom. Get creative. Call friends, set up chat groups, or find an online discussion board. Take online lessons and classes – many are being offered for free right now.
If you find yourself still working from home after this crisis has passed, be sure to get out in the evenings or on weekends to get your social fix. Gyms, meet-up groups, faith-based groups, etc. It would be easy to become a homebody, but you need your social network. And they need you.
By the way, a big plus of home office socialization? The lack of office gossip and drama. Enough said.
Home Office Wellness is Up to You!
These are challenging times, but your home office is there to help you through. Do what it takes to stay sane, productive, and happy while you work. So go ahead and strike your best yoga pose. Just be sure your video camera is off!
