More people than ever are working from home these days. Working from home has its perks, but sometimes it can leave us feeling a bit stir-crazy. Look forward to going to your home office each day with these tips.
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Get dressed as if you were going into the office
Wearing your “daytime pajamas”–or even your regular pajamas–can make use feel grungy and stale after a while. Get up, wash your face, comb your hair, and put on something that makes you feel confident. Put on makeup that makes you glow, use that nice aftershave you got for Christmas, or wear pants without a drawstring to feel a little more awake and a little more “you” all day.
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Make your desk area homey
Spruce up your work space with cheerful plants. Move your desk to face a window for some extra Vitamin D. Invest in a more comfortable work chair. Get a little cat tree or a dog bed so that your furry little executive assistant can supervise you from nearby. (My two cats LOVE this tip, as they have a cat tree in my office, optimally placed for maximum sunshine exposure of course.) We still don’t know when we’ll be returning to the office, so you may as well enjoy the time you have in your space at home.
Here’s another tip: If you’re having trouble sleeping, make sure you’re not doing work in your bed! Your brain will associate your bed as a place where you feel stressed and alert, making it more difficult for you to relax and fall asleep at night.
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Set a cozy mood
Light your a nice-smelling candle for instant good vibes. Put on your favorite cheerful music, or choose from one of the dozens of “Music to Put You In a Better Mood” tracks on YouTube. Maximum coze achieved!
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Treat yourself to a nice lunch.
For me, this means making tacos with all the fixings instead of my usual sandwich and chips. Eat something you enjoy at least once a week to break the routine. It could be a fancy salad, a favorite smoothie, or getting delivery from your favorite Thai restaurant.
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Leave work at work
Turn off your computer, close the door to your office, go for a walk to shake out your legs and stretch–anything to physically and mentally signal that work is done so you can transition to actually “being at home”. If you don’t have a dedicated office, think about getting a folding room divider or privacy screen to help section off your desk so that you’re not always reminded of work in your down time.
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Meet up with coworkers you enjoy spending time with
It may have been a long time since you’ve seen each other! Some people may feel hesitant to reach out, but they could feel just as happy as you to go out for a happy hour or boba tea and talk to someone you don’t live with for a change. It doesn’t have to be big–even seeing just one coworker in person can make it feel like there’s a human on the other end of the email chain.
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Get out of the house
Does going without seeing other people start to wear on you? Totally normal, especially for our social butterflies. Try working from a coffee shop. You could even find one with a patio area if that’s your preference!
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Bonus Tip: Consider your needs with regard to WFH or In-Office time
Working from home has taught us all a lot about ourselves.
For some, like my friend Stacy, it’s taught us that we NEED coworkers–we just want to be around people! I gotta have that lunchtime microwave catchup with Dave and chat with Maria about her vacation as we take a walk around the building.
For others, like my friend Joseph, we might really value being able to work from home indefinitely–and want a workplace that can accommodate that. Nothings beats a 30 second commute to your work computer upstairs, especially living in a traffic-heavy city like Austin!
A lot of us will fall somewhere in between, too, where going into the office a couple of days a week and working from home a couple of days a week feels like the best balance.
Consider how much your workplace is currently meeting your needs in terms of work from home or in-office time. What options do you have to make this feel like a better fit?
Find balance, feel at peace. Reach out and connect with an Austin EMDR Therapist today.
