Since Covid-19 has led to various changes in the job world, working from home has become increasingly common in the wake of social distancing becoming a norm. Although working from home can be an awesome opportunity, and many jobs have had positions that work from home before, for those new to the experience it can sometimes be complicated to stay on task and focused while trying to do your job from the comfort of your home. Here are some tips and habits that can help improve your working from home life.
- Purchase Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Even if workers begin returning to commuting to their job sites, the addition of blue light blocking glasses is a must for anyone who uses computers and electronic screen devices. Blue light blocking glasses block the blue spectrum of light on the UV scale, which is typically responsible for causing headaches and migraines when overexposed to it. If you are working from home then you are most likely on the computer for your entire shift, so it makes sense to invest in a pair of these glasses to lessen the pain on your eyes.
Many websites feature glasses with prescription blue light blocking lenses for those who are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. These same websites also sell blue light blocking glasses that have no correctional lenses for those who do not need prescriptions, so these glasses are a good investment to make your daily life easier while working from home, or even back at the workplace.
- Work in a Private Environment
When having to work from home, making sure you are in a location free of distractions and bothersome things is important. You could try using a spare bedroom as an office, working at the dining room table away from the living room tv and couches, or even on the deck, balcony, or porch while using an extension cord.
Making sure you are not interrupted or have easy access to possible distractions helps keep your work day productive and allows you to get more done, all while being able to spend a minute grabbing a snack, drink, or conveniently using the bathroom. It is also important to keep the television off, and if you have a home phone that is not necessary for your coworkers to contact you on, then it would be best to keep that muted.
- Take the Proper Amount of Breaks
Staying productive also means taking your necessary breaks. If you skip through the allotted breaks given to you, it can make the end of the work day hours feel very slow and hard to focus on. Studies show that taking breaks from working or studying allow you to renew your focus and are healthy for your daily ability to work well.
Try not to split your fifteen minute breaks into 5 minute breaks, because those 5 breaks can show up more frequently and lead you to have a harder time refocusing on your work. Also make sure you use your lunch break to eat and drink something that can help you stay energised, and isn’t high in carbs. High carbs can lead to sleepiness and drowsiness afterwards, and that can slow down your productivity.
- Play Music in the Background
Music can help you stay productive, and finding the right kind of music to keep you focused and motivated is a good habit to practice. Podcasts, live streams, and online videos in the background can be distracting because your brain wants to try and focus on the work you are doing, as well as the new stimuli being given to you on the videos, so it is better to listen to music in order to concentrate.
You could listen to music that you are very familiar with so your brain does not try to focus on hearing new music, or you can listen to soundtracks of various media that are meant to stimulate your ability to focus. Video game soundtracks like Tetris, and other puzzle games are good for increasing focus, because those games require lots of focus to do well at.
- Keep in Contact with Coworkers
Since you are still performing your job at home, it helps productivity to keep in contact with those who are also working from home. By messaging your coworkers you can still maintain the social supplication that your job normally provides, and you can even learn ways that your coworkers are keeping focused. Contacting them a few times every hour helps you stay focused on the social aspects of your life, but through the lens of still being at work.
If you run into complications with your current task or need information on something, message your peers or bosses in order to keep your work flow going, so you do not get stuck waiting to hear from them. Being proactive in your drive to complete tasks will keep you productive and make sure that you always have something to do so you do not get distracted.
