{"id":23929,"date":"2020-04-23T03:41:31","date_gmt":"2020-04-23T09:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/corevalues.com\/?p=23929"},"modified":"2020-04-23T03:41:31","modified_gmt":"2020-04-23T09:41:31","slug":"how-to-keep-work-sacred-when-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corevalues.com\/dev\/2020\/04\/23\/how-to-keep-work-sacred-when-working-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Keep Work Sacred When Working from Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Working from home takes some grit.<\/p>\n

Corrine had just finished putting her five-year-old son to bed.\u00a0\u00a0 The three-day-old pile of clean laundry had been folded and stacked.\u00a0 The daily, week-to-date, and year-to-date reports she had worked on for the past few days had finally been given a green light by all the necessary managers.<\/p>\n

This COVID-19 pandemic had finally given her the work option she so desperately wanted since the year began \u2026working from home.\u00a0 As the digital alarm clock on the breakfast nook flashed 10:30 pm, all seemed well.<\/p>\n

Except that\u2026 it wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

She was dead beat and exhausted beyond words. \u00a0This was new.\u00a0 Corrine never felt this way even when things got hectic at work.<\/p>\n

Barely a month into the community quarantine, she found herself raring to get back to the tiny office cubicle she once abhorred.\u00a0 \u201cI got to finish more in such a shorter time\u201d, she thought. No matter how her day went, she looked forward to kicking off her heels the moment she went home.\u00a0 Then, It felt as if she had left the day\u2019s problems by the door with her shoes.<\/p>\n

This time, it felt like work issues followed her everywhere.<\/p>\n

What made her feel worse was guilt.\u00a0 She cherished spending more time with her son but couldn\u2019t quite understand why she wanted her old routine back.<\/p>\n

If this feels familiar, you aren\u2019t alone when it comes to working from home<\/h4>\n

Working from home has been romanticized to perfection \u2013 no tiring commutes, more time with loved ones, flexible work hours, a relaxed working environment.\u00a0 To an extent, these perks are real.\u00a0 But if you are new to the game, remote work can prove to be more stressful.<\/p>\n

Why so?<\/p>\n

For one, it’s isolating.\u00a0 As if social distancing weren\u2019t enough, work from home quarantines you from face to face interaction.\u00a0 Second are boundary issues.\u00a0 Where does work begin? Where does it end?\u00a0 What do you do when a home office isn\u2019t possible? Third, your work set up may not leave you enough room to switch from home to work and vice versa.\u00a0 The challenge is real.\u00a0 Switching from work to home to work to home can take its toll.\u00a0 Last but not least, if you\u2019re programmed to a certain routine at the office, too much work or not enough of it can easily throw you off.<\/p>\n

Here are some strategies to avoid them.<\/p>\n

When working from home fix your work area<\/h4>\n

No matter how \u201ctemporary\u201d the situation feels to you, designate a place for work. Many greenhorn remote workers do their jobs from breakfast nooks, living room armchairs, beds, and bedside tables.\u00a0 Over time, these incorrect spaces can take its toll on your body with back pains and other health issues.\u00a0 Find a stool, chair, and table with the right height.\u00a0 If you work with a computer, be conscious of height and elbow positioning.<\/p>\n

When working from home establish boundaries<\/h4>\n

Delineate spaces.\u00a0 Family members (or flatmates) should be made to understand that just because you\u2019re home doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re readily available anytime for play, chats, and errands.\u00a0 Have an open and honest conversation regarding work hours.\u00a0 Keep your home office off-limits during work.\u00a0 If a home office isn\u2019t possible, create an office \u201czone\u201d.\u00a0 Children need to be reminded more frequently.\u00a0 One technique that works for a home quarantined accountant is putting up signs. A red block on the desk means he couldn\u2019t be bothered except when the house was burning \u2013 because even the tiniest interruption can knock off productivity.<\/p>\n

Avoid making the kitchen table and living room places of work.\u00a0 These are zones you should \u201ccome home to\u201d.\u00a0 Bringing work to these areas makes it harder to begin or end your workday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When working from home balance your workload<\/h4>\n

Too little work can do as much damage as doing too much.\u00a0 If your routine in the office involves a particular workload, get that balance going.\u00a0 Bid for more work if need be.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, don\u2019t let work take over your life. \u00a0Set boundaries with supervisors, team members, and even clients when it comes to late-night messaging, calls, or even emails.\u00a0 It’s easy to fall into a perpetually-connected culture with apps that work for phones and computers.\u00a0 Disconnect at the end of each workday.\u00a0 Your consistency when it comes to responses will make everyone think twice before messaging you at midnight \u2013 because they know you\u2019ll reply soon anyway.<\/p>\n

Last but not least, give yourself regular breaks just as you would at work.\u00a0 Since leaving the house isn\u2019t a great idea at this time, connect with your friends and colleagues virtually. Take advantage of technology. It can never replace human interaction, but it\u2019s the only way that gives you a sense of community at this time.<\/p>\n

Care to learn more about the topic of working from home?<\/h4>\n