Written by: Adam Vortherms

Due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, more people are currently working from home than ever before. People in many areas doing so for an indeterminate amount of time. What's more, many employers and employees are realizing the benefits of working from home, which means that even when recovery gets underway, many people will likely continue working remotely.

For some, news of permanent remote work may be a relief from long commutes or stuffy offices. For many others, working from home has been a challenging and even untenable situation. If you're in the latter camp or new to working from home, you may be struggling. At BRIX, we want to support your success, so we have compiled seven of our most effective tips on working from home.

Create a Workspace

In a perfect world, every remote employee would have a dedicated office with all the trimmings. However, not everyone has an office in their home, and many workers struggle to build themselves a workspace. Having a dedicated workspace is a foundational step to working from home. It will help you create a balance between your working hours and personal time, and help you continue being productive.

Thankfully, it doesn't have to be difficult or expensive to create a practical workspace in your home.

Get Your Tech in Order

Having functional equipment is what makes remote work possible in the first place. If you need a new laptop, monitor, or any other peripherals, get those in working order as soon as possible and look into improving or upgrading your home network. Nothing will add more frustration than trying to fix or upgrade equipment while trying to get your work done. 

Create a Morning and EOD Routine

Without a morning and evening commute structure, many workers struggle with starting and ending their workdays. Developing a routine that signals the beginning and end of a day's work will help create balance and avoid burnout. A routine may even be more useful to your productivity than an alarm clock.

Although your specific routine will entail is entirely up to you, here are some ideas for morning and EOD routines that you may find helpful:

Morning:

• Going for a jog
• Making and taking the time to savor a cup of coffee
• Closing the door to your workspace
• Getting dressed

End of Day:

• Logging out of work email
• Walking your dog or taking a family walk around the neighborhood
• Listening to a podcast or audiobook

Whatever you decide to do, do it consistently to mark the beginning and end of your workdays. 

Schedule (and Take) Regular Breaks

Take advantage of being at home during the regular workday and take a break to get up from your desk and move. You can attend to something around the house or engage in activities that can be taken in small chunks, like baking bread, working on a puzzle, or watering a plant. Take the whole time for yourself. Your work will still be there when you get back. 

Get (Safely) Out of the House Every Day

To the extent that it is safe to do so in your area, get out of the "building" at least once a day. The light, fresh air, and movement will rejuvenate you and create space between you and your work. 

Ask for Support

If your employer supports remote work for an extended time, request the equipment you need ASAP. It is vital to communicate your specific needs to your employer during this time, as the only way for them to know how to help you is for you to ask.

Also, if you share a home with others, collaborate on setting boundaries that work for everyone. For example, conflicts may arise when there is an expectation that you will take on more household or child-care duties because you are home more often. Communicating expectations and setting up realistic boundaries is an essential part of getting the support you need.

What all of these tips have in common is that they are some form of self-care. In these stressful and unpredictable times, where most people are struggling, you must balance self-care with work, or risk burnout.