As flexible work schedules have become the norm in many professional settings, more and more people are opting to work from home. It’s easy to find tips about working from home—there are many articles, and even books, devoted to the subject.
But there’s a huge difference between choosing to work part-time from home, and being forced to work from home due to a pandemic, which is the current state of the world as I write this post.
Choosing to work from home means you have the time and forethought to set up a designated workspace, and purchase ergonomic aids like external keyboards and desk chairs. It means your employer is already set-up for remote work.
That’s not the case for myself, and many, many people right now. Whether you’re a teacher struggling to adapt a very face-to-face job to a remote set-up, a student who’s suddenly finishing a full course load in a tiny student rental, or even a seasoned work-from-home professional, here are five tips for working from home under less-than-ideal conditions.
And if you’re reading this in the future, and you are not stuck at home in a bid to contain a pandemic, these tips are still helpful in situations where you’re unexpectedly working from home or can’t afford an ideal set-up.
Take breaks when you need them.
When you’re in a workplace, you naturally take little breaks any time you talk to a co-worker. When you’re working from home, it’s easy to feel pressure to work straight through the whole work day. Not only will this lead to burn-out, it’s simply not realistic.
Every hour or two, get up and take a walk around your home. Say hi to your family members, roommates, pets, or houseplants. Do a few stretches. Anything that forces you to move and look away from your screen is key. Taking breaks from your computer reminds you to stretch and helps avoid wrist, shoulder and back pain. It also reduces the strain on your eyes, and helps maintain good mental health.
Cushions are your friends.
One of my biggest challenges currently is the lack of a good desk chair. I’m a huge advocate for pillows as DIY padding and lumbar support (I’m sitting on a couch cushion as I write this). You can put a pillow on the seat of a chair to make it comfier. You can put a pillow behind your back for extra support. Sure it’s not going to win any awards for ergonomic correctness, but it can make a significant difference when you’re sitting on an unpadded chair for hours.
Don’t work from bed.
Everyone suggests having a separate space for work, but that’s not always possible. Especially right now, when entire households are working from home, most people simply don’t have enough space. Instead, try not to work from bed. Or, at the very least, make your bed before you start the work day. What’s most important here is the mental break between “work” and “home”. You need something that signals to your brain that it’s time to stop work for the day. You may only be able to pull up your covers to change your “Sleep Bed” into your “Work Bed” and that’s okay too.
Be patient with technology.
You might have a job that is being delivered remotely for the first time. Or you may be working with out-of-date or inadequate technology. In this situation, patience is key. Be adaptable and creative; you may have to figure out multiple ways of doing things.
My current set-up and location doesn’t always have consistent, fast internet. (And my internet’s slow speed is nothing compared to people who live in the rural areas near my town). There’s nothing I can do to change the internet situation, but I’ve found some workarounds, like downloading files to work offline, uploading and downloading at night when the rest of my family is asleep, or even working by hand when all else fails. Sometimes technology doesn’t work, and that’s okay as long as you work to the best of your abilities.
Find something green to look at.
A view out of a window is ideal, but a houseplant (even a fake one), or a few pictures of trees will do the trick. Nature is proven to boost your mood. It also helps you remember that there’s more to life than work. I like to collect little things that make me happy on the windowsill in front of my desk—a little plant and two paintings of flowers. Even if I’m frustrated, unsure, or unable to get my technology to work, the sight of something green really boosts my mood.
Don’t take everyone’s advice (Yes even mine).
There is no comprehensive set of rules that will ensure you have a good work-from-home experience. Everyone will have different preferences, needs and abilities to cope. Sometimes you can’t have an optimal work set-up, or even a good experience, and that’s okay. It’s all about doing the best you can, with what you have, and slowly figuring out what works for you.