While some may be returning to the office, some may be facing a more permanent remote work situation. This means you may need to find new ways to keep yourself invested in your work. Here are some ways to stay motivated in your work life:
Create a Routine
Routines are great for maintaining balance in your day-to-day life. Setting specific morning and evening routines can help start and end your day in productive ways. A small task such as waking up early to make breakfast before your work hours start is one way to prepare yourself for the day ahead. Simple steps like that are great ways to create healthy habits that will make working from home feel more normal than before.
Take Breaks
If you’re given an hour lunch break, take that hour in its entirety. Use that time as a way to take a step back from work and screen time. It’s important to have the time where you disconnect from emails, calls, messages, and other work-related activities. That short amount of time is enough to be productive in other ways. Dedicate the time to working out, playing with your pets or kids, or actually eating lunch.
It’s also important to note that working from home doesn’t mean that you can’t get up and take a stretch break. While you do need to continue working hard to meet deadlines, taking the time to get up and move around is important – and often encouraged by employers.
Socialize
Being away from the office may mean that you may very rarely see or speak to colleagues, friends, or family. Every now and then, reach out to someone. It’s beneficial for both parties to have some sort of socialization during these times. It’s important to maintain those relationships and keep a balance. This is another scenario where you can treat it as if you’re still in the office. Sending a weekly check-in with someone you regularly interacted with while in the office allows you to think about something other than work for a change.
Use Vacation Days
This may be easier said than done, but it’s still important to take time for yourself. Summer activities and vacations may be canceled or postponed, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a day or two to relax and recharge. Most of us have been working from home consecutively for the past four months with little to no breaks. Taking a day to get housework done or just relax is the mental break that we all probably need and deserve.
Don’t Be Hard on Yourself
Times are tough right now. If you have a slow day or feel less productive than usual, don’t take it out on yourself. Some days will inevitably be slower than others. This isn’t your fault; it’s just part of the “new normal” we all are adapting to. When there’s downtime or a slow day, check-in with your manager or other team members to see if there’s anything you can do to help out. Just remember that we are all still learning the ins and outs of remote work and our new workload. It’s a learning process, and we are all in this together.
With everything that is happening in the world, it’s important to remember that small steps, like the ones mentioned above, can make a huge difference in your remote work experience. Take everything one step at a time, and remember that everyone is adjusting to this “new” normal.
For information on how Compulse Integrated Marketing can help your company in these trying times, contact us by visiting www.compulse.com, or call us at 844-821-2154.