Happy Work From Home Life (11 Tips & Tricks)
It’s official! A recent study shows that working from home increases happiness by up to 20%. Moving away from a regular office job can be great for your work and personal life!
However, maintaining high happiness levels can be challenging. In fact, according to a recent survey, more than half of remote workers report that isolation and loneliness hamper their happiness.
If you want to maintain a happy work-from-home life, keep reading to learn how to achieve happiness as a remote worker.
Happy Work From Home Life: Our Top Tips
Some apparent advantages to working from home include being your own boss, setting your own hours, saving time and money by skipping the commute, and avoiding office politics.
But there can also be some challenges, like feeling isolated and unproductive. For example, sleeping in late or working in your pajamas all day can be tempting, which can negatively impact your motivation and productivity.
Remember, happiness starts with you. Luckily, there are ways to combat these challenges and make working from home a happy experience.
Here are our top tips to help you achieve a happy work-from-home life:
1. Create and Stick to a Schedule
Working from home can be great because it offers flexibility. When you work remotely, you can work whenever you want, take a break whenever you want, and even pick up the slack on weekends if needed.
However, this lack of structure can quickly become detrimental. Without a set schedule, it’s easy to fall into bad habits like working too much or not enough, leading to burnout or decreased productivity.
The key to maintaining a happy work-from-home life is to create and stick to a schedule. This means setting working hours and respecting them. Let your family members and friends know when you’re working so they don’t interrupt you. Turn off your phone, close the door to your home office, and put on some headphones if necessary. Communicate your schedule to your team and colleagues so they know when you’re available.
Treating work time as sacred will help you stay productive and focused. It will also be easier to switch off when your work day ends. This will allow you to enjoy your free time without feeling guilty or stressed about work.
2. Find and Work During Your Peak Productivity Hours
Eight hours is the standard work period. Let’s be honest: Maintaining unyielding focus for eight hours is hard. It’s even harder to focus while working from home, as distractions can hamper remote work.
That’s why it’s essential to find your peak productivity hours. Planning your work schedule around your most productive hours ensures you maintain a high level of quality when you put your head down.
How do you identify your peak productivity hours? Focus on your daily habits and energy levels. Do you work best in the morning or evening? Do you have more energy after a workout or before bed?
Track your productivity for a week and note when you feel most focused and energized. You may find that you work best in short bursts with breaks in between or that you prefer longer, uninterrupted work sessions.
Experiment with different work hours until you find what works for you. Once you do this, you’ll find the time of day when you’re ‘in the zone.’
When you’re productive and achieve your daily work goals, you’ll feel more accomplished, making you happier working from home.
3. Get Dressed and Ready for the Day
Even though you’re working from home, getting dressed and ready for the day as if going into an office is important. This simple act can help you get into the right mindset for work. It’s a psychological trick that tells your brain it’s time to focus and be productive.
You’ll feel more professional and put-together if you dress like you would for an important meeting. You’ll be less likely to lounge around on the couch all day and more likely to get things done. Plus, you’ll be ready to go without any last-minute scrambling if you have video calls or virtual meetings.
So, shower, do your hair, and wear decent clothes. Even if you don’t have any video calls, dressing up can boost your confidence and make you feel good about yourself. You’ll be surprised at how much it helps your work-from-home life.
4. Invest in the Right Tools and Resources
Working from home can be tough if you don’t have the right tools and resources. A laptop with a broken screen, an unreliable internet connection, or a cramped workspace can quickly lead to frustration.
Investing in the right tools and resources is an important step in taking your work-from-home setup seriously. It shows that you’re committed to being productive and provides you with the means to do your best work.
Some essential tools and resources for working from home include a quality laptop, a fast and reliable internet connection, a comfortable chair, a standing desk, and a quiet workplace.
If you have the budget, consider investing in a noise-canceling headset, a second monitor, or a printer/scanner. These devices can boost your productivity and make working from home more enjoyable.
5. Make Sure You Have a Designated Workspace
Working from home can be challenging if you don’t have a designated workspace. Being distracted by your surroundings is easy, and a messy or cluttered workspace can add stress.
Creating a designated workspace is a simple way to boost productivity and reduce stress. Find a quiet place in your home to set up a desk, chair, and other necessary supplies. If you have the space, consider setting up a dedicated home office.
If you live in a small apartment or don’t have an extra room to spare, that’s okay. You can still create a workspace that works for you. For example, you could set up a desk in your bedroom or living room.
Ensure your workspace is separate from your relaxation space to avoid feeling like you’re always working. Consider using a room divider or curtain to create a physical barrier between your work and living spaces.
Set up your desk by a window or anywhere with natural light for a natural happiness boost. The warmth of the sunshine can improve your mood and help you feel more productive.
6. Take Breaks and Get away From Your Desk
Sitting at a desk for eight hours is tough, even if you have a comfortable chair and a standing desk. Your eyes can get strained, your back can hurt, and you can feel restless. Prolonged sitting can also lead to health issues like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Taking breaks and getting away from your desk throughout the day is important. Go for a walk, stretch, make yourself a cup of tea, or do something else that relaxes you. Taking a few minutes for yourself can help you recharge and come back to work feeling refreshed. Aim to take a 5-10 minute break every hour and a longer break (20-30 minutes) every few hours.
Taking vacation days and using your paid time off is also important. Working remotely can make it easy to become a workaholic and work too many hours. But burnout is real, and it’s not worth sacrificing your mental health for work’s sake. Make sure to take time off when needed, and don’t feel guilty about it. Your well-being should always be a top priority.
7. Get Rid of Distractions
Distractions may not seem like a big deal, but they can negatively impact your happiness levels when working from home.
Multitasking (task switching) is the leading cause of distractions for remote workers. Joblist recently surveyed remote workers and found that more than half of the participants found it difficult to separate work from non-work life. The survey found that doing house chores, cooking, and watching TV were the main distractions. These distractions can make it hard to focus on work, decreasing productivity and increasing stress.
Finding ways to minimize distractions and focus on your work is crucial. Use a website blocker if you can’t stay off social media platforms. If you have trouble concentrating with noise in the background, try wearing noise-canceling headphones or working in a quiet place.
8. Set the Right Mood
The right mood can make a huge difference in your happiness levels. There are many things you can do to set the right mood:
– Start your day with a positive morning routine and set positive intentions that you’re going to make today great
– Make sure your workspace is clean and organized
– Decorate your workspace with things that make you happy
– Play soothing, lyric-free music (e.g., video game soundtracks) in the background
– Make sure the lighting in your workspace is conducive to concentration
Setting the right mood can create a positive environment that will help you stay happy and productive.
9. Keep Social When You Can
Working from home means you’re primarily working alone. For many remote workers, this decreased human interaction leads to increased feelings of loneliness.
If you want to maintain a happy work-from-home life, you’ve got to get out of your house and make plans with your friends! Research studies have shown that engaging in an active social life leads to happiness.
You don’t have to go out every night or see your friends every day. Just make sure you routinely schedule some time to keep in touch. There are so many fun things you can do. For example, you could have a friends’ night in, go out for lunch, or meet for coffee. You could also join a remote worker meetup group or attend virtual events to connect with other people in similar situations.
By maintaining a social life, you’ll feel less isolated and more connected. And as a bonus, you’ll have people to vent to about work frustrations! Contact your friends and family regularly, even just for a quick chat or video call. Those small interactions can make a big difference in your happiness levels.
10. Practice Self-Care
Working from home can be stressful, especially if you’re used to a traditional office environment. To avoid burnout, practice self-care.
Self-care means taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. This can include exercise, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, spending time outdoors, and taking breaks when needed.
It’s important to find ways to relax and destress. This could involve yoga, meditation, reading, listening to music, or spending time with friends and family. Find what works for you, and schedule it into your week. Taking just a few minutes daily to focus on your mental and emotional well-being can make a big difference in your happiness.
11. Give Thanks and Appreciate What You Have
Cultivating gratitude is one of the best ways to maintain a happy work-from-home life. When you’re feeling stressed or lonely, take a step back and remind yourself of everything you’re grateful for.
For instance, think about all the benefits of remote working. You may be grateful for the extra time you have to spend with your family or the ability to work in your PJs. You may be thankful for the flexibility to take a break whenever you want or the lack of a morning commute. With the extra time you have in the morning, maybe you’ve been able to catch up on sleep or finish reading more books.
You could start a gratitude list and write down three things you’re grateful for daily. You could also send a thank-you note to someone who has positively impacted your life.
When you’re grateful and happy with what you have instead of focusing on what you lack, you’ll find it much easier to maintain a positive outlook and a happy work-from-home life.
Final Thoughts
By following these simple tips, you can achieve a better work-life balance and happiness while working from home. Remember, it’s okay to have bad days and feel overwhelmed sometimes. Be kind to yourself and take things one day at a time.
You deserve to be happy at home whether working or not! Prioritize your well-being and make time for the things that bring you joy. With a little effort and intentionality, you can create a happy and fulfilling work-from-home life.
For more great tips on becoming a happier you, check out the a little dose of happy blog.