Let’s face it, working from home has many benefits, but it isn’t always a walk in the park. While we all enjoy spending time with our families, when it comes to work hours, sometimes it can be difficult to manage the two simultaneously. That’s why it’s important to have a set of rules in place in order to make a clear distinction between work time and playtime. After all, boundaries are healthy. Here are some tips to maximize your productivity and staying sane while working from home.
Have A Home Office Space
Have A Home Office Space
If you have a spare room to use as a home office, fantastic. However, don’t worry if you don’t — just make sure to block off a designated area that will be you home “office.” It’s important to differentiate your work space from the rest of your living space. That way, both you and your family can know that when you are in the “office” it’s work time and should be treated this way. Explain this to your kids calmly, this is a great way to teach them about respecting boundaries.
Set And Declare Work Hours
Set And Declare Work Hours
Another important thing to do is to decide when your working hours will be. The lack of commute may allow you to start earlier or later than you might if you were to go into the office. Try to keep these hours the same every day. If it becomes a routine, then your family will become used to the idea that between these hours, you are not available. This is also a great way to divide up time with the kids amongst partners, if your job permits. If you prefer to get work done in the morning, maybe your partner can spend time with the kids then, and then you can switch (and of course, vice versa).
Take Breaks
Take Breaks
Taking breaks is important at any job, but it is especially important when you’re working from home. You might feel extra pressure to work longer hours if you’re at home, but make sure you’re still taking care of yourself. Get up and stretch every once in a while and add in coffee or snack breaks to break up the work hours. Having lunch together is a nice way to spend time with your family in the middle of the day without sacrificing productivity.
Divvy Up The Chores
Divvy Up The Chores
With everyone at home, this is a great time to divide and conquer. Every member of the family can be in charge of certain chores, or you can change things up. It all depends on your family and everyone’s personal preferences, but as long as everyone is pitching in, any arrangement works. This is a wonderful way to teach kids responsibility and also get all of the chores done while working together. You can even make a chart together and let the kids add stickers to it each time they accomplish a task.
Grooming Still Counts
Grooming Still Counts
While you can definitely wear sweatpants and comfortable at-home attire, make sure you still look somewhat presentable and you’re taking care of your personal hygiene. While you don’t have to be board room ready, you’ll most likely feel more motivated to get work done if you’re not wearing pajamas and having your hair in a sloppy bun. Make sure everyone is clean and wearing comfy clothes, we promise it will help everyone feel great.
