Once upon a time, the idea of working from home seemed like a dream: no commute, no annoying workmates, and the chance to get all your tasks done without too many distractions. However, once that dream became a reality for many people, they realised that all was not as good as it seemed. The time that used to be spent commuting and taking in your surroundings is now spent responding to extra e-mails. You miss the company of your colleagues, and you find working from home far too distracting if you know you need to vacuum the lounge or put the bins out. It has even been suggested that working from home adds to your mental load rather than taking away from it.
However, it seems like the home office is here to stay, so how can you avoid mental overload whilst working from home?
Work from a Designated Area
Whether this be a spare bedroom, dining room, or local coffee shop, finding yourself a proper workspace means that you can stay organised, keep on top of business and you can draw a definite line under your working day by coming out of your workspace when it is naturally time to finish for the day. That way, you aren’t tempted to work late into the night, and you feel as if you have had a definite break.
Take Breaks
In an office, you may have designated break and lunch times and there is no need for this to stop just because you are working from home. Giving yourself set break times will encourage your productivity and help to prevent you from becoming mentally overloaded. Don’t feel guilty about making yourself a mid-morning coffee or going for a walk around the block at lunchtime. It is good for your health and mental wellbeing.
Redesign Your Workspace
No longer having to work in a soul-less office cubicle with no windows and sterile lighting should be a reason to celebrate. You can design your workspace to best suit yourself but make sure you have everything you need to hand so you don’t have to keep getting up to look for anything. Biophilic office design is incredibly popular at the moment, and this works for a home office as well as a corporate building. The idea is that recreating natural features in your workplace can reduce mental overload and increase productivity. You can find inspiration at ninfastudio.com.
Banish Distractions
When you go into a corporate office, you know you are going to do little else but work for the next eight hours or so and you resign yourself to the fact. You should keep the same mindset when working from home; the washing up may be physically nearer to you but it will still be there when you have finished your day’s work. In a corporate office, you would not waste your time worrying about it so you should not do so when working from home. Distractions cause too much mental overload and should be banished.
Working from home does not have to increase your mental load if you go about it the right way. Follow these steps for a simpler home office/life balance.
Also read: How to Create The Perfect Office Ambiance At Your Home?
