In this post-lockdown life, many of us have now found ourselves working from home, as opposed to sitting in the office. Working remotely has become far more common after the COVID 19 pandemic, and many people have had their working worlds turned upside down. This has resulted in a lot of us finding ourselves working either part time or full time from home.
The transition from working full time in an office environment, or any working environment, to working from your home is huge. Not only have you gone from a social area where motivation can be gained from your peers, but you’ve also found yourself moving away from an environment void of distractions and temptations.
Many people experience loneliness and isolation whilst working from home, whereas others find it difficult to remove themselves from temptation. Regardless of your personal motivation struggles, these tips will help you find your ‘get up and go’ again, and help you to stay motivated when working from home.
Firstly, it’s vital you dedicate an area of your home as your new workstation.
The very first thing you should do in your quest to stay motivated when working from home is to set up an area of your home that is dedicated specifically to your work. This area is going to be your ‘at home office’, therefore there are a few factors that need to be taken into consideration when picking a suitable place.
Ideally, your spare bedroom would be the best place to convert into a home office. You could easily transform your spare room into an office for working from home without having to do too much in the way of DIY or rearranging your house. Another benefit to converting your spare room into a home office is that you will be able to stay motivated when working from home more easily due to having fewer distractions around you.
If converting your spare room into a home office isn’t an option for you, focus on finding a peaceful and calm area that you can convert into a home workstation instead. Have an open mind when looking around your home for suitable areas; is your dining room big enough for you to squeeze a small desk in, or is there some additional room in your bedroom where you could set up?
Wherever you decide to set up your new working from home office space, take into consideration that this space will need to remain undisturbed. The last thing you want to be doing after a long day of working from home is to pack up everything from your dining room table and shove it in a cupboard until tomorrow.
You may not be leaving the house, but you’re still going to work – so get up, and get dressed.
One of the biggest secrets for staying motivated when working from home is to dress like you’re heading into work.
My advice is to get up at your usual time, stick to your routine, and follow it as though you were going to your place of work.
I know that rolling out of bed and sitting at your desk in your comfiest clothes, or even your pyjamas, can be tempting, but psychologically, it’s not doing you any favours. There’s something extremely motivating about getting up, getting dressed, and getting yourself ready for the day. Staying in your pjyamas can make you feel extremely groggy, overtired, and unmotivated, so it’s always best to get up and get dressed.
Try it out for yourself: spend one day working in your pyjamas, and one day working in proper clothes (wear makeup if you want!), and you’re likely to see a huge difference in your motivation levels.
Structure and routine are important but don’t forget to take regular breaks for lunch, walks, and relaxation.
Without a proper structure to your day, not only will you find yourself losing motivation, but you may also find yourself becoming less productive and more stressed. Keep a track of your work duties and deadlines by using a planner or online planning tool such as Trello, and stick to an everyday working routine that you’re used to.
A routine should also consist of breaks. If you don’t take regular breaks, you’ll find yourself feeling overwhelmed, and you could even experience burnout. It’s important to always take your lunch break, and don’t forget to take regular breaks from sitting at your workstation to stretch your legs, snack, and stay hydrated.
Schedule regular video chats and phone calls with your colleagues.
Struggling to stay motivated when working from home isn’t an isolated issue; if you’re struggling, it’s likely that your colleagues will be too. If your place of work hasn’t organised regular team Zoom meetings to keep everyone in the loop, take charge and start setting these up regularly. Don’t forget to reach out to your workplace besties too! Part of staying motivated when working from home is to remember that you’re all in this situation together and that you’re not alone in experiencing feelings of isolation.
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
Leave a Reply