Top 4 WFH Self-Care Tips

Whether it's due to COVID-19 or you've always had a remote job, your work from home (WFH) morning commute might look like walking from your bedroom to the home-office kitchen table. While there are some perks to staying at home like saving money on gas, time getting ready, and a much shorter commute, there are also difficulties that come with this adjustment. Self-care can help you prioritize your well-being while maintaining a high level of productivity. Below are four self-care tips while working from home to ensure your home office is one of success.

1. Maintain Clear Boundaries Between Your Work Area and Leisure Area.

If your desk has always been in your bedroom, but you'd prefer to not work in the same area that you sleep, then shift around furniture. Try moving your desk from the bedroom into another room in the house. If you're in an apartment and unable to choose from various rooms to move furniture to, then designate specific spaces (i.e. bed, desk, comfy chair) in which you only do work or leisure in.

2. Get Dressed.

When the alarm goes off don't stay in your pajamas. Get yourself in the right mindset for work by looking the part. Continue the typical motions of your morning routine - wash your face, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, and get dressed for work - to get yourself in the right state of mind for the day. Dress for success.

3. Put The Phone Away + Close Tabs.

Being at home allows for extra distractions that might make it difficult to focus. In order to limit distractions so that you stay attentive to the task at hand, remove all distractions. When you're on that Zoom call, put your phone away by silencing it and leaving it in another room and close all other tabs on your computer. When you're on a phone conference put your other electronic devices in another room. If you need your computer for note taking then close out other tabs except for the necessary document.

4. Set a Timer.

While being at home, you might find yourself spending time on other tasks that minimize your level of productivity. If you need to spend a significant amount of time finishing your powerpoint or responding to emails, but notice you are getting easily distracted set a designated amount of time to complete that task. Then, if you want to take a break, also set a timer for that break so that you don't lose track of time. Let the timer help hold yourself accountable.