At this point for many, working from home isn’t new, and likely isn’t going away in the immediate future. Like many, you might feel a little stuck in your current work from home situation, but it doesn’t have to be that way. 

Regardless of whether you are in back to back Zoom calls all day, or working more independently with conversations on Slack, your work from home routine might be due for a shake-up. It might be easy to stay stuck in your current routine but try these tips and take note of the changes you see.

These suggestions are meant to get yourself out of the monotony that the work from home culture can bring. They’re also meant to help create separation between your work life and personal life in a time where they might feel one and the same. 

1. Create an Environment that Encourages Productivity & Inspires you

Creating a space that you like working in while that also lends itself to productivity is the key to setting yourself up for success. This is going to mean different things for everyone – but there are definitely a few things to consider when it comes to maximizing productivity and keeping you creative.

In an Architectural Digest article, Anja Jamrozik – a cognitive scientist who studies physical and digital environments says there are a few basic things everyone needs to work well:

• Access to natural light

• A comfortable temperature

• Good air quality

• Comfortable furniture

• A strategy for minimizing distractions

Use this a guide when determining where to put your home office – consider setting up near a window if possible, in an area of the home with little distraction (this will be dependent on what you find distracting), and with a chair that is going to keep you comfortable throughout the day. A good start would be to declutter your desk space and keep your essentials close.

In the same article, Donald Rattner, an architect and the author of My Creative Space, discusses creativity and the importance of colours around you in your workspace. He says that what you see around you changes the way you think, with studies showing that blue boosts creativity, red encourages attention to detail, and pops of green puts people into an imaginative mood.

These colours don’t necessarily have to be in the form of paint – they can be brought into the space through house plants, framed photography, among other décor items. Experiment with color therapy to see if it makes a difference in your productivity or thinking patterns while you’re working.

Making the space your own will also aid in your productivity and creativity – which ultimately allows you to do your best work. This can be done by incorporating artwork into the space that reflects your style. In a Forbes article, Patrick McCrae, CEO of UK art consultancy ARTIQ, tells the readers that, “Art has been proven to increase productivity, enhance wellbeing and help creative thinking, making it an essential addition to any home office.”

If you find your creativity and productivity dwindling over time – it may be time to change things up it up every few months (or as often as you’d like) to keep yourself working in an inspiring environment – a space that allows you to do your best work and keeps you in a good headspace. Before switching things up, determine what exactly could be hindering your productivity. The changes you need to make may include: the room you work in, a new desk, painting the walls, moving your desk by a window, or switching out the décor.

2. Take Intentional Breaks

It’s really important to take your breaks, especially when working from home. For each person, what makes your breaks beneficial will vary, but the idea is to truly take a break from your work and allow your brain to recharge for the rest of your day. Your breaks should provide a sense of newfound energy to carry you throughout the day – but only you can determine exactly how you do that.

Some ideas for your break:

• Take a walk

• Stretch

• Eat a healthy snack or smoothie

• Listen to music that puts you in a good mood

• Read a chapter of a book

• A hobby you enjoy (drawing, photography, knitting, etc.)

• Make it a tech-free time

Additionally, try making a nice space that you can go to during your break where your desk and workspace are out of sight. This could mean creating a cozy nook in your living room or leaving a yoga mat and candles out, or a set up at your dinner table – really any space that works for you to “escape to” during your break.

Try and make this space one that gets you in a different area of your home (it’s always a good idea to move around your home during the day). Think of it this way: in an office, during your breaks, you might be going to the break room, or running to the cafe next store, and during your workday, or walking down halls to meetings. By moving around your house during your workday, you’ll get your blood flowing, as well as staying engaged with your environment.

Staring at the same thing all day will very likely have you disengaged, making yourself less productive and producing work that isn’t your best. The importance lies in disengaging with work during your breaks so you are ready to tackle the rest of the day.

3. Create a New Morning Routine

Anxiety is something that many people experience day in and day out, especially when it comes to working from home in a pandemic. Building healthy routines will allow you to start your days on the right note, and ease some of that everyday anxiety we feel.

According to a recent Forbes article, “Having a morning routine in place provides structure to manage the happenings of the day.” Take a look at your current morning routine (if you don’t have one yet, that’s okay!) Consider how you feel before you start work, and ask yourself if the routine is serving you, or if you might need to switch things up.

Your morning routine should set you up for success during the day and give you something to look forward to when you go to bed (I look forward to making my coffee every morning).

Some things to maybe add to your current routine or include in a brand new one:

• Skincare routine, for a relaxing start to the day 

• Doing your hair/makeup, to feel put together

• Put on an outfit you feel confident, even when you’re working solo at home

• Meditation, to start the workday in a good mindset

• Journaling, to get your thoughts flowing

• Listening to an inspiring podcast, to pump you up for a positive day

• Avoiding screens when you first wake up, to give you a chance to wake up before diving into work

• Ultimately you want to set yourself up for success – to do your best work while also keeping on top of your mental health.

Working from home can feel monotonous because your scenery isn’t changing the same way as it might during a day at the office and there isn’t much separation between your home life and work life. By implementing these changes, you will add some variety to your day, keeping you engaged and productive during these remote work times.

Wondering how you can level up your career while working from home? Book a Virtual Career Meeting with Style Nine to Five Founder, Christie Lohr, to help. These meetings will help you gain clarity on your next steps, and how your cover letter, resume and LinkedIn profile can work together to achieve your career goals. 

By Jenna Yeomans – Jenna is a freelance community manager and writer in Hamilton, ON with a passion for storytelling, creativity and supporting small businesses.

Feature Image: Adobe Stock