5 ideas to make it easier to switch off when working from home – let’s take a look
Working from home has a multitude of benefits – on the other hand, when you work and play in the same room, it can admittedly be pretty difficult to switch off at the end of the day.
If this is something you find yourself struggling with, here are 5 ideas to make it easier to switch off when working from home.
Make a morning routine
Working from home means you get to work in your joggers, or even your PJs, right? We all know that feeling of being late for a Zoom meeting and having to throw on some semi-decent work clothes to look professional (at least from the waist up).
However, it is important to have a good routine that allows you to separate your work from your home. Just as you would if you were headed to the office, wake up, have your breakfast, and begin your minute commute to your laptop, ready to start your day on a good note.
Consider working from home… from somewhere else
The beauty of working from home is that it can be done anywhere. This might be at home, or it might be from your local coffee shop or library a couple of hours a week. Some might operate a hybrid schedule, and go into the office a day or two a week.
That said, some businesses nowadays might not have a physical office at all. If this is the case, you might consider renting a desk in a serviced office in Central London, or elsewhere in the UK – wherever you are based. This will give you the feeling of being in an office, but with the flexibility of remote working.
Set boundaries – and stick to them
If you have a home office, great – that said, many of us might need to work from the kitchen table or even a bedroom desk. This means that it can be difficult to switch off when you’re in that room later hoping to relax.
To counteract this, create physical boundaries and habits that separate your ‘work space’ from your ‘relaxing space’. For example, sitting in a different seat than you would normally eat dinner, or pushing your desk into the corner – or, even just remembering to clear your laptop away at the end of the day.
Literally switch off at the end of the day
As soon as the working day is done, switch off your computer, laptop, work phone, and any other devices that might tempt you to switch back into work mode.
Nowadays, many of us will also have work apps downloaded on our personal smartphones. Mute group chats, disable notifications, and turn off automatic syncing on the necessary apps so you can truly switch off and disconnect.
Take a break from your environment
With office work, you physically leave the office and have time to decompress on your commute home. With this in mind, it can be useful to plan something for after work outside of your home– even if it is simply a walk down the street for some fresh air.
So, if you are finding it difficult to switch off after a long day of working from home, worry no more. Follow these 5 simple tips to give yourself more of a boundary between work and home life.
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