America is at a very pivotal stage in the work culture at this moment. Those who are in the office space are noticing that a lot of their duties can be done remotely or with minimal contact at the very least. America is slowly noticing that those "essential" in-person meetings weren't really essential in the first place and could easily be done online. This gradual shift from in-person to online is shaping the way the work and can take a little bit of getting used to at first.
You never realize how much of a luxury going to the office is until you can't physically be there anymore. Believe it or not, those office spaces you work at are a really great environment that are packed to the brim with helpful resources. Although you may not miss the hour-long commute to work and back every day, being removed from the workspace has a drastic effect on the way you work.
As our new normal slowly shifts from office space to work at home, we see a lot of problems associated with working efficiently. We're suddenly not in our comfy office chairs or have the available coworker ready to help us when we have a question. Beyond work habits, there are so many more mental health tricks that we need to achieve to maintain the balance of work and play in our home setting.
Time Management
This one is probably the hardest on the list. We all probably struggle with time management in some way or another in our lives. Some of us cram everything into a few hours in the morning and then end up being bored for the rest of the day. Others work at a snail's pace and end up getting overwhelmed by the abundance that's due by the end of the day. But finding that perfect balance is challenging and hard to strike.
Setting a daily schedule is a helpful way of getting the right amount of work done every day. Setting goals dictated by certain hours can help you keep track of what needs to be done without burning yourself out. An hour by hour checklist can make sure you're on track for the rest of the day.
One of the hardest parts of working from home is getting out of bed. It's very tempting to sleep for that extra hour that we would typically use to commute, but promptly waking in the morning is crucial to the productivity of your day. As tempting as it is to crawl out of bed at 7:50 AM and log in by 8:00, it will not help you throughout those early morning hours. Going about your day as you usually would if you were going into to work really helps your mind
Dress the Part
This seems to be a very foreign concept to many, but they are surely realizing the importance of dressing up to boost your mental preparedness. When attending an online interview, you're always told to dress exactly as you would if you were there. You've always heard that dressing the part will lead you to success. If you look presentable in a real-life meeting, why not in a Zoom meeting?
As comfortable as it is to be in sweatpants and a tank top all day, you don't have that same kind of workplace mentality that is associated with dressing the part. We're not talking about dressing up in your fanciest suit jackets; we just mean that you should dress as you usually do at work.
Some studies support dressing up helps you mentally prepare for the work that's needing to be done. Studies based on the Harvard School of Business concluded that those who dressed up more often for work were more likely to have a boost in productivity compared to those who did not.
Physical Activity
While staring at a computer screen all day isn't really anybody's idea of fun, it's a necessary aspect of work that is unavoidable. None of us complain when we look at our phones, tablets, or TV's for hours on end recreationally, but when it's work-related, it suddenly becomes a chore. Your eyes get tired, you start squinting, and suddenly you've lost all your motivation to work.
That's when you have to remove yourself from the computer for a brief moment. This is where physical activity plays a key role in refreshing your mind. As an avid fan of walking to the bathroom twelve times a day to take in the scenery of the office, I regret to inform you that it's a lot less satisfying to do at home. Nonetheless, it takes your eyes off the computer screen for a brief second, just enough to refresh your mind.
Stretching is also an essential part of maintaining a healthy work at home balance. The chairs we sit on are likely not as ergonomic as the real computer chairs that are supplied at the office. As I sit on this hard, wooden chair for hours on end, let me tell you, getting up and stretching my lower back has become an integral part of my workday. Simple stretching can go a long way when it comes to reducing the stress that sitting for 8 hours has on your back.
It's also important to take advantage of your lunch break; this is the one hour that you don't have to be staring at a screen. Taking a brief stroll around the block is also something you can do to get your mind off work. There are plenty of things you can do after you're finished eating that will help alleviate stress.
Setting Means Everything
Getting in the right headspace is everything when you're tasked with an 8-hour shift on nonstop work. That means working in a space where you can focus and be removed from all the distractions of your household. They always say that a clear space leads to a cleared mind, and that really shines through during these work from home hours.
Most of us do not have the luxury of an extra room being dedicated as our office, or even a dedicated desk. It's important to set aside some space, wherever you are, to get your work done in peace. Pick a room that you can focus in for prolonged hours of the day, even if it's a cleared off kitchen table. Make sure that the room has all the necessary resources, so you don't waste time fumbling around different rooms of your house trying to find staplers.
People really don't realize it until it's too late, but we take our rolling office chairs for granted. Although squeaky, those office chairs were designed to be ergonomic and meant to assist with prolonged periods of sitting. Make sure you find a comfortable chair to hunker down to for the day, or even think about purchasing a dedicated office chair with lumbar support.
Order Office Supplies Online
One of the most significant downsides of working from home is having to supply yourself the needed material to get your work done. Usually, this isn't too much of a hassle, but with the current climate of the world, finding specific supplies at a physical store can be nearly impossible.
Ordering online has plenty of benefits now more than ever. Online retailers are offering up serious discounts on highly sought-after office supplies. Running out of an essential item could mean losing days' worth of progress until you attain it. Always remember to keep tabs on your printer ink, as ink cartridges tend to run out at the worst times imaginable.
Unlike toilet paper, you won't find a shortage at 1ink.com; we have an abundance of discount printer ink and toner cartridges at our disposal. We carry all the major brands such as HP ink, Canon, Brother, Lexmark, Dell, and so many more. With deep discounts on our entire stock of printer cartridges, you're sure to find the type that you're looking for with no hassle.
Conclusion
It may take some getting used to, but for the foreseeable future, we're going to be stuck working from home. Maybe you might enjoy the newfound luxury of working from the comfort of your own house - it admittedly has its perks in some areas. Keeping your mental health and will power at the forefront of your workday seems to breed productivity especially when tackling a large caseload.
Making sure you have all the right tools is also really important in maintaining a healthy balance in your workload. You never realize how vital having a working printer is until you're stuck at home and need to use one. Keep your supplies stocked up for that matter; whether it be pens, staples, paper, or even printer ink, you never know when you'll need the office supplies next.