Working from home can be as difficult as ever – especially if you have kids or pets in your home! 
After months of practice, you’d expect to have a better routine in place but after all this time, it seems like everyone is still figuring it out. Between kids and coworkers, projects and playtime, working from home can still pose a challenge when it comes to setting boundaries.
It’s hard to balance work time and home time when they happen in the same place.
Not to worry, your favorite neighborhood realtor Ellen has collected the best tips in the community to make your working from home experience more successful – and more enjoyable! Several clients and friends alike shared their experiences and wisdom with Ellen, and she’s excited to share these helpful tips with you. These tried and true tricks are sure to ease your work-stressed mind and help you accomplish more in a shorter amount of time!
1. Find Your Morning Motivation
Getting out of bed is hard enough as it is; knowing that you don’t have to face traffic on your way to the office may tempt you to spend a few minutes longer in bed. The bad news is we all know how five minutes turns into fifteen, and pretty soon you’re signing into a video call with the hair of a monster and under-eye bags that can only be called designer – not to mention the lack of caffeine!
Setting a morning routine will help you flow from waking to working. Find a fun activity that you can do regularly each morning; maybe it’s making a cup of coffee or going for a morning walk. Having something to look forward to each day will help motivate you to kick back the covers (or shuffle to the kitchen) for a little wake up call before office time.
2. Block Out Your Time 
Keeping to your regular hours as much as possible will help you accomplish what you need to get done, but working from home affords a certain flexibility that office hours do not. Set clear guidelines for yourself on when you will start work and when you will call it a day. Next, download a time-tracking app or a work timer to help you stay on track. (Peek at these free time-tracking apps to see which will work for you!) Take note of when you have the most energy and focus for work and pay attention to the moments you find yourself drifting; adjust your time-blocking to include your breaks. You may need to take five minutes and make that second cup of coffee before your mid-morning slump.
Flexibility should not be discarded, however. Working from home may give you the freedom to work on a project during odd hours or to incorporate activities you would generally leave out of the workplace. Once of Ellen’s sources likes to get a head start on sales activities between 5-7 am; this same man enjoys to work in his workout clothes so that he can do push-ups or sit-ups whenever he wants! In a normal office setting these perks wouldn’t be possible!
3. Plan Your Breaks and Take Them
For most companies, a lunch and two breaks are part of your normal office hours. Don’t skimp on your breaks just because you’re working from home – you still need the mental rest. It’s good to take a step back and enjoy your lunch before returning to your meetings and projects. Stick to the time limit you set for your breaks and return with a new focus for your work.
3. Set Ground Rules for Your Living Space 
Some people can work effectively in pajamas from bed; this is not recommended. While it may work for a week to two, the long stretch of working from home begs for a dedicated office space. Either way, uninterrupted time is important. If you have children home from school, set clear expectations for what is or isn’t allowed while you’re “at work.” Another great idea is to establish a “signal system” – perhaps set up a whiteboard outside your office for any questions the kids have while you’re working. You can address these questions when you get a break. Maybe you can place a “do not disturb” sign on the door for when you have a video call; a “quiet time please” notice could even mean something fun like movie time for the kids while you need quiet.
4. Set Yourself Up For Success
One way to make sure your worktime is profitable is to ensure you have the proper equipment for your job. Some people may require at least two monitors; other sources depend on a comfortable office chair. Make sure you have what you need to get the job done. Lacking office resources? Just reach out to your employer or HR department for the tools necessary to do your work.
Another work trick is to use work downtime for personal and career development. If you have less to do while working from home, request to take additional training. Many employers will pay for online courses or next-level learning options; advance your career while your work projects are on hold. There’s nothing quite like getting paid to invest in yourself!
5. Get Some Fresh Air
When living and working in the same space, getting out to clear your head has never been more important. Take a walk when your work day is over, or eat your lunch on the back patio. Use one of your breaks to weed the garden! Natural light and fresh air are crucial to your critical thinking and mental well-being. Just getting outside for a few minutes will drastically improve your focus, clarity, and creativity – and maybe your attitude!
6. Be Present 
Being present involves sharing your ideas at work and overcommunicating through emails. Time apart tends to distance us, making communication and understanding harder. Begin emails with a friendly greeting; start with a hello or a thank you in a video conference meeting. Your coworkers will appreciate a short thank you or goodbye – just don’t be a time hog; save the personal conversations for another time.
Being present doesn’t just encompass work, however. Social interaction is more important than ever. Maybe once a month you have a virtual happy hour with coworkers, or perhaps you choose to work from a local café once a week. Always remember to follow local safety guidelines.
Your amount of needed interaction will vary depending on your personality and work environment, so use good judgment and be self-aware about where you’re at. If you ever need anything, reach out! Friends, family, and coworkers will be more than happy to help – they just don’t know how yet. Staying in touch and supporting one another is an essential aspect of the working from home environment.
7. Finish with a Flourish 
Just like your morning routine is important for getting you to a work-ready mindset, an evening routine is essential to setting work aside and unwinding. When your “end of day” time rolls around, close your computer and start to distance yourself from your work. Maybe you take a 6 pm yoga class or perhaps you start dinner. Another idea is to always take the dog for a walk after work; if you start to get too caught up, guess who will come wagging to remind you about walk-time?
Find a system that works for you and take advantage of the benefits of being home. With healthy work/home boundaries, working from home can be enjoyable experience (hello being next to the coffeemaker). For more tips, just check out Ellen’s blog Brookside Local!
Looking for a home with a little more room? If you need space to create an at-home office or a backyard for the dog to play in, Ellen is your first call! More than your neighborhood realtor, Ellen makes homeowning EZ!
