Working from home stepped up a gear during the pandemic, but despite the relaxing of COVID restrictions, many Australian workers are spending at least part of their week working from home. Employers offering flexible work hours and hybrid work options seem set to continue.
According to figures released by the ABS in August 2021, more than 40% of employees regularly work from home, compared to 30% before the pandemic. Working from home suits office-based workers who use computers rather than work that is physical or based outdoors. Most home workers enjoy the savings from not commuting and the extra flexibility it offers, however not everyone finds it easy to be productive. Whether you work from home full time or part time, having a routine can help. If you’ve already found a routine but are looking for ways to improve it, take a look at these six great tips to try.
#1 Give Yourself Time in the Morning
Many workers find it tempting to swap the morning commute with hitting the snooze button a few extra times. The longer lie-in might be enjoyable, but it’s not ideal to go straight from bed to desk. Try to get up early enough that you have time to have a shower, dress, eat breakfast and be mentally ready for work.
#2 Have Set Hours and Times
You might be able to work flexi time, but you need to set boundaries. While it can be handy to leave the house and run errands during the work day, it’s good to set yourself start, finish and break times. It’s easy to slip into unproductive non-work time during the day, but then you find yourself having to work into the evenings to get all your work done. On the flipside, some people may find that without the usual structure in the office, they work through their lunch break and into the evening. Stciking to your usual set hours and times and switching off from your work at the end of the day is important so you don’t end up feeling burnout.
Continue to eat breakfast at the same time you did when you commuted, and have lunch when you would if you were in the office. Besides these times, try to stay out of the kitchen at home. Having easy access to the fridge and pantry can lead to snacking throughout the day when you work from home, and then you may not feel like preparing a nutritious evening meal.
#3 Replace the Incidental Exercise
If you’re taking public transport to work, it’s likely you’re getting incidental exercise in your day without even realising it. A 10 minute walk to-and-from the bus each day might not seem like much, but it's an activity that you are missing out on if you’re taking a few steps to your home office. When you’re working from home try to replicate this with a walk around the block twice a day or get out for a ride on your bike at lunch. Some exercise helps get the blood pumping and the brain working. It’s also good for your mental health to leave the house during your work day to de-stress.
#4 Build in Healthy Habits
Think about using the time you spent commuting each day on healthy activities. The time you spent in the evening heading home could be used to prepare nutritious evening meals or healthy lunches for the next couple of days. Take up some mindfulness or meditation exercises in the morning to prepare your mind and body for the busy work day ahead.
#5 Get Organised
Workers may find that they’re not as organised when they work from home. When they’re working in the office, they’re more likely to do a full shop and meal plan on the weekend so they don’t need to go to the shop during the week. When they’re working from home, they leave the decision making and shopping until the work day because they have more time. They then feel pressured to finish work to get to the shop and home again to prepare the meal on time. Working from home offers a work life balance, but you need to be proactive about how you balance the time you save not commuting and how flexible hours will work best for you.
#6 Stay in Touch with Colleagues
You might really like working from home, but it can be isolating whether you realise it or not. Be sure to stay connected with colleagues throughout the day on chat and video calls. Organise the occasional lunch date with co-workers so you can chat together. During work time, do a brainstorming or training session so you’re sharing ideas and knowledge, but also learning from each other. This will help to build and maintain strong working relationships that are rewarding and mutually beneficial.
Managing the Downsides of Work from Home
The sheer number of people working from home during the pandemic has been one of the fastest labour changes in history. Working from home offers a range of benefits to workers and employers, but it can come with downsides. With management and a routine, the downsides can be reduced.
If you're a manager looking to facilitate a positive and flexible working culture, our selection of effective workplace wellbeing programs can provide assistance. Call 1800 258 487 or contact us online for more information.