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Did working from home seem like a dream come true?
But then did reality hit?
Many people fall for the dream of working from home – sitting at home in your favourite chair, eating what you like, lounging around in your pyjamas if you can. Then there is the commute too – no more commute to worry about.
However, with increased numbers of employees working from home and with more and more people becoming self employed, it is important to note the downsides of working from home too.
You might find that you struggle with your work-life balance and feeling as if you are always on call. Here are 5 top tips to help you reduce the feelings of stress associated with working from home.
Ensure You Have A Dedicated Space
It may be tempting to work from your sofa or your bed but you truly need a dedicated space where you can shut out any distractions. This ensures that you can draw a line between your work life and family life. If you can use a specific room and shut the door on it at the end of the work day, even better.
Make Sure You Have The Right Equipment
If you are self-employed, the chances are you have the right equipment at home. However if you are remote working, you might not necessarily have it. There is no reason to be unprepared so make a request of your employer if you need any specific equipment.
For working from home, people will need a good internet connection, great communication tools including headphones and microphones, video camera or webcam for video meetings and software for your role.
Set Up A Schedule
Many assume that you can just work when you want when working from home. That can be true in some senses but you also need to be consistent and have a schedule. Set up a schedule that ensures you are tackling the tough challenges you have but also set time aside for breaks and a healthy lunch. This will also potentially stop you from overworking.
Stay Connected
It can be easy to feel isolated and cut off when working from home and this can cause large amounts of stress. Ensure you are regularly communicating with colleagues if you are employed and other similar workers or friends and family if you are self-employed. Take the initiative and get chatting!
Feel Good About Yourself
Stress can be horrible and so it is okay to feel like you need to take a break from time to time. If you find yourself struggling, speak to someone and take some time out. Many people will be going through similar experiences so get chatting and take breaks when you need.
Once you are more comfortable with working from home, the stresses should ease and you can begin to enjoy the experience.
If you liked this, you might like 10 Big Career Mistakes.
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