Feel like quickly stretching your legs during your lunch hour?
Most people feel that working from home presents a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the idea of avoiding long commutes, colleagues you don't really get on with, and a stuffy uniform in the height of summer is lovely. So is the thought of getting an extra hour's sleep or two.
On the other, separating your work and home lives when they're all in one place seems… intimidating. It's certainly not for everyone, and it can be tricky to strike a balance between comfortable working and productivity.
This is an issue we're all facing in this hyper-connected age, where working from home is a possibility for many of us, especially in tech. The truth is that you can find a balance between working and relaxing at home. Here are three suggestions to help you adjust to your new office, your house.
1. Consider Moving to a Better Location
If you're working from home full-time, then suddenly you don't have to live so near to your workplace. Perhaps you currently live in the suburbs of a large city. Perhaps you live in the city. And perhaps you're tired of paying crazy rates to live in a neighborhood that just isn't that… nice.
You might consider moving somewhere less crowded and more local-feeling, especially if you're raising a family. For example, if you're based in New York City but still want access to culture and nightlife, you could head upstate to Albany, Buffalo, or Syracuse, NY. Hey, in 2010, Forbes ranked 'Cuse as the #4 city in the US to raise a family.
With your home as your office, living somewhere that offers a more tranquil, scenic feel is so beneficial. Being away from the stress of mega-cities and offices boosts your physical and mental health.
Find a good realtor Syracuse NY to help you seek out your new home. Have a look around. You'll be amazed at the difference.
2. Use Your Commuting Hours Wisely
Whether you decide to move or not, here's an exercise. Make a note of how long your work commute used to take you. Note the total hours you're not commuting every day. At the end of 2 weeks, look at the total time.
The amount of time we spend getting to and from work is crazy. So here's an idea: think of what to do with those hours now. It could be setting aside time to read or driving out into the countryside and taking a walk.
Your time is what you make of it. Now you've got it back, so make it work for you.
3. Set Up a Private Workspace
Allocating an ‘office room’ is very important. Few people can effectively work from home if they're switching between the bed, the sofa, and the dining table. There are too many distractions, and you need to have a ‘work zone’ where you can focus.
Then there are the kids. A largely unspoken reason many of us blanch at the idea of working from home is the fear that our children may resent us ‘hovering.’ Sticking to your office during office hours minimizes the chance of the situation becoming claustrophobic for all of you.
Conclusion
As an increasing number of tech jobs can be done remotely, we face a new living and working style. Adjust to your new workspace by setting up a secluded office, planning your time wisely, and potentially moving to an environment that's better suited for working to strike that perfect work/home balance!
