It’s official! A recent study shows that working from home increases your happiness levels by up to 20%. Moving away from a regular office job can be great for your work as well as your personal life!

 

However, it’s important to acknowledge that maintaining high happiness levels is not always easy. Many remote workers report that isolation and loneliness hamper their happiness.

 

If you want to maintain a happy work from home life, keep reading this article to find out how to achieve happiness as a remote worker.

 

Happy Work From Home Life: Our Top Tips

 

There are some obvious advantages to working from home like being your own boss, setting your own hours, saving time and money by skipping the morning commute, and avoiding office politics. But there can also be some challenges, like feeling isolated and unproductive.

 

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 take a break whenever you want, work in your PJs, and even pick up the slack on weekends if you need to. However, this lack of structure can quickly become detrimental.

 

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.

 

Treating work time like it’s sacred will help you stay productive and focused. It will also make it easier to ‘switch off’ when your work day is done.

 

 

2. Find And Work During Your Peak Productivity Hours

 

Eight hours is the standard work period. Let’s be honest, maintaining unyielding focus for 8 hours is hard. It’s even harder to focus while working from home. Remote work can be hampered by distractions at home.

 

That’s why it’s important 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?

 

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 find that you’re being productive and achieving your daily work goals, you’ll feel more accomplished, which will lead you to feeling happier working from home.

 

3. Get Dressed And Ready For The Day

 

Even though you’re working from home, it’s important to get dressed and ready for the day as if you’re going into an office. This simple act can help you get into the right mindset for work.

 

If you dress like you would for an important meeting, you’ll feel more professional and put-together. You’ll be less likely to lounge around on the couch all day and more likely to get things done.

 

So, take a shower, do your hair, and put on some decent clothes. 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 to 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 place to work.

 

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 tough if you don’t have a designated workspace. It’s easy to get distracted by your surroundings, and a messy or cluttered workspace can lead to added stress.

 

Creating a designated workspace is a simple way to boost your productivity and reduce stress. Find a quiet place in your home where you can set up a desk, chair, and any 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.

 

Just make sure your workspace is separate from your relaxation space to avoid feeling like you’re always working.

 

For a natural happiness boost, set up your desk by a window or anywhere that gets natural light. 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 8 hours is tough, even if you have a comfortable chair and a standing desk. Your eyes can get strained, your back can start to hurt, and you can feel restless.

 

That’s why it’s important to take breaks and get away from your desk throughout the day. Go for a walk, stretch, make yourself a cup of tea, or do something else that relaxes you. Taking a few minutes to yourself can help you recharge and come back to work feeling refreshed.

 

It’s also important to take vacation days and use your paid time off. 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 the sake of work.

 

7. Get Rid Of Distractions

 

Distractions may not seem like a big deal but they can negatively impact your happiness levels when you’re working from home.

 

The main cause of distractions for remote workers is multitasking (task switching). Joblist recently surveyed remote workers and found that over 50% 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.

 

It’s important to find ways to minimize distractions and focus on your work. If you can’t seem to stay off social media platforms, try using a website blocker. 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 a few 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 in the background
• Make sure the lighting in your workspace is conducive to concentration

 

By setting the right mood, you 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 mostly 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 schedule some time for socializing each week. You could have a friends’ night in, go out to lunch, or meet up for coffee.

 

By maintaining a social life, you’ll feel less isolated and more connected. And as an added bonus, you’ll have people to vent to about work frustrations!

 

 

10. Practice Self-Care

 

Working from home can be stressful, especially if you’re used to a traditional office environment. To avoid burnout, it’s important to 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 you need them.

 

It’s also 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 make sure to schedule it into your week.

 

 

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 all the things you’re grateful for.

 

For instance, think about all the benefits of remote working. Maybe you’re grateful for the extra time you have to spend with your family or the ability to work in your PJs.

 

Maybe you’re grateful for the flexibility to take a break whenever you want or the lack of a 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.

 

When you’re grateful – when you’re happy with what you have instead of focusing on what you lack – you’ll find it’s 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, you deserve to be happy at home whether you’re working or not!

 

For more great tips on how to become a happier you, check out the a little dose of happy blog.