Work from home has its perks: no rush-hour traffic, more flexibility with your time, and you can even take midday naps if you feel like it. But as anyone who’s ever worked from home knows, there’s a downside, too: the temptation to just stay in your PJs all day long (or never leave the bed).
If you’re lucky enough to have a job that lets you work from home, it’s important to remember that there are certain etiquette rules you should still follow, even if you’re not in an office. Here are a few tips on how to be a good remote employee.
Be Professional
Just because you’re not physically going into an office doesn’t mean you can slack off on the way you dress or act. You should still treat your work-from-home job like any other job, which means being professional in both your appearance and your behavior. That doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit and tie every day (unless that’s what your company requires), but you should at least be presentable and put together.
Be responsive
When you’re not in an office, it can be easy to let emails or messages go unanswered for a while. But just because you’re not physically in the same space as your co-workers don’t mean you can take hours to respond to them. Be timely with your responses, and make sure to communicate if you’re going to be unavailable for a period of time.
Create a work-friendly space
Working from home can be great, but it also has its challenges – like trying to concentrate with a TV blaring in the background or kids running around screaming. If possible, try to create a dedicated workspace in your home, where you can close the door and really focus on getting things done. If you don’t have an extra room you can use, try to at least find a quiet spot where you can set up shop.
Be respectful of others
Even if you live alone, it’s important to be respectful of others when you’re working from home. That means keeping the noise down, not blasting music or TV, and not having people over during work hours. If you have kids, make sure they know not to disturb you while you’re working – and that includes pets, too!
Working from home can be a dream come true for many people. But it can also be a recipe for disaster if you’re not careful.
Here are six tips to help you avoid work-from-home burnout:
1. Set boundaries and stick to them
When you’re working from home, it can be easy to let the lines between work and personal time blur. But if you don’t set some boundaries, you’ll quickly find yourself burned out. Decide what hours you will work each day and stick to them. And when it’s time for lunch or for the day to end, put away your work and enjoy your personal time.
2. Take regular breaks
It’s important to take breaks throughout the day, even if you only have a few minutes here and there. Get up and move around, go outside for a walk, or just step away from your computer screen to give your eyes a break.
3. Set goals and deadlines
Having specific goals helps keep you on track and prevents burnout by giving you something to strive for. And deadlines (realistic ones) will help keep you accountable while ensuring that everything gets done on time.
4. Avoid distractions
This can be a challenge when you’re working from home, but it’s important to stay focused on your work. Turn off the TV, silence your phone, and close any tabs or apps that might tempt you to procrastinate.
5. Connect with others
One of the benefits of working from home is that you can easily connect with others via email, chat, or video conferencing. But it’s also important to schedule regular face-to-face time with colleagues or clients. Whether you have lunch together once a week or meet for coffee every morning, in-person interaction will help prevent burnout.
6. Take care of yourself.
When you’re burned out, it’s tempting to just keep going and hope that the feeling will eventually go away. But that’s not the best solution. Instead, take some time for yourself – even if it’s just a few minutes each day. Meditate, read, or take a relaxing bath. And make sure to get enough sleep every night.
Working from home is becoming an increasingly popular option for employees, but it can also be easy to fall into a trap of working too much and not taking enough breaks. In this article, we’ve outlined some tips for avoiding burnout while working remotely and staying productive.
Follow these guidelines to make the most out of your WFH experience! How has working from home worked out for you? Have you found any strategies that work particularly well for you?
