Working from home is often imagined as the ideal employment arrangement.
No uniform.
No travel time.
Flexible hours.
Unlimited access to the fridge.
What’s not to love?
Despite these perks, working from home quickly becomes a struggle for many people, who find their productivity dropping and job satisfaction declining.
Jess and Julie have each spent the past year working from home, and have experienced the pros and cons first hand. This article discusses the main trials and tribulations that we encountered – and the tricks we used to make working from home work for us!
Unproductive work environment
There are three key factors that negatively influence your productivity when working from home: distraction, alienation and suffocation.
Distraction
Without the structure of a standard workplace, staying on task can be difficult. At home, you don’t feel the same pressure to keep up with the work rate of your co-workers as you do when surrounded by them, nor do you have the presence of your boss to drive productivity. What’s to stop you spending “just five minutes” on Facebook before starting work, or giving yourself a half-hour late mark because bed was just too comfortable? These wasted minutes add up, and can quickly impact your efficiency as an employee.
In addition, the lack of structure at home makes it easy to become swept up in other tasks.
That room needs a quick tidy.
I’ll just pop on a load of washing on before I start.
Those dishes will need to be done before I can even think about getting into work!
Put simply, there is always something else that needs doing. Before you know it, all of this can create a lack of motivation and low productivity levels – a dangerous mix as far as both your abilities as an employee and your overall well-being are concerned.
Alienation
Working from home usually means that you are working alone. While this independent form of work suits some, for others it feels more like isolation. Being around coworkers gives you the chance to have a joke and break up the monotony of the day-to-day. More importantly, it allows you to feel a connection to people, since you each experience the ups and downs that every job entails, together. Without someone to share your frustrations, joy or boredom with, you can quickly become alienated and lonely.
Suffocation
Working out of the house means that you have a clear line between your work and relaxation time. When you walk into work it’s time to focus, and when you arrive home at the end of the day you can put your feet up and breathe a sigh of relief. For those who work from home, this distinction between work and relaxation is not as profound – your sanctuary commonly becomes your place of stress and alertness. You may have trouble switching off at home and feel guilty whenever you are home and not working. Work can quickly seem to take up all of your time, thought and worry, causing you to feel suffocated by your job.
Make working from home work for you
Despite the potential downsides to working from home, there are ways that you can make it work for you.
Start your day the right way
When you start working from home, it can be tempting to throw routine out the window and do work whenever it suits you. However, this lack of structure usually leads to a drop in focus and motivation. So, just as you did when you were working externally, make sure you establish a pre-work routine.
Wake up early, sit down to breakfast, have a shower and get dressed – shoes and all. By following a strict schedule you will wake your body up and prepare your mind for the day ahead.
Set clear work goals
Without a clear goal in mind when working from home, you can easily find yourself spending half an hour trying to decide where to start. To avoid these wasted hours, reserve 15 minutes at the end of your working day to map out a plan for the following day’s work. This will allow you to start the next day on the right foot, and prevent your attention wandering during the crucial morning hours.
Make time for a lunch break
While it may feel more efficient to work while you eat, don’t be afraid to schedule proper a lunch or coffee break during your day. Most workplaces reserve an hour in the middle of the day for workers to have a break and a chat – why not make this part of your own routine? Scheduled breaks not only give you something to work towards, but will also help you to maintain the energy to make it through the rest of the day.
Work out of the house
“Working from home” doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to work at home. A sure-fire way to escape the distractions and suffocating confines of your home is to get out of the house. Suss out which of your favourite cafes have Wi-Fi, or set up around other busy people at your local library. Working away from home will give you a new perspective on your job, and allow you to hone your focus without worrying about what needs doing around the house.
Buddy up
It is likely that you aren’t the only person in your business who works from home – use this to your advantage by contacting other employees and arranging to work together. Alternate between houses and lunch duty, or meet halfway at a library. Regardless of the location, working alongside one another will give you a greater sense of workplace community and increase your productivity levels.
