Adjusting to Working From Home

COVID-19 has a lot of us working from home – and going from having a proper desk and office to working from your coffee table can be a rough adjustment, especially when you have kids to homeschool and relatives to care for.

With all this new stress, the last thing you need is to feel uncomfortable while trying to get your work done! Here are some ways to adjust to your new schedule as easy as possible.

Remember to take breaks

As someone who has been working from home for some years now, I can tell you that it can be very tempting to camp in front of the computer for your entire shift. You minimize bathroom breaks, and meals are eaten with one hand while you move your mouse with the other. Since you’re not present in the office, you want to prove you’re still working by putting out constant results.

While this may be fine and dandy for your boss, who’s happy to see you aren’t slacking, this really takes a toll on your mental and physical health! Sitting for long periods of time can be deeply unhealthy, and stresses you out from feeling chained to your computer.

Make it a point to step away from your computer once every hour. Do wall-push ups, watch a music video, or grab a snack. It’s

Have a decent makeshift desk

Hunching over your coffee table or leaving your hot laptop on your lap might work for the first couple of days, but you’re going to start feeling that in your back before the week is over. Laying on your stomach and working on your bed is going to give you some serious carpal tunnel, too.

If you don’t have a real desk at home to use, don’t be afraid to take the dining room or kitchen table. If your kids or partner are using it to get their own work done, rotate the seats. Have your partner move to the living room for a while, or give your kids a hands-on project that they can do elsewhere.

Kitchen counters let you work while standing as well, if you’re missing your desk converter. Laptop stands also help keep your computer at eye level, although stacked books or DVDs make for a good alternative.

If all else fails, use a foldable TV dinner tray. You might have limited desk space, but it gets the job done!

Learn to love being at home

The adjustment to remote work can’t just be physical; it has to be mental, too. I’m sure many of you love the idea of working from home, until you had to actually do it. Working from home can be isolating, uncomfortable and downright stressful – but it’s important to remember the upsides…

For starters, you don’t have to deal with any desk or officemates that bothered you. You have to still correspond with them, but at least you won’t be hearing them take personal calls or swear at their computer when it starts acting slow.

And how many people can say they can work while having their cat lay in their lap? Your furbabies are probably thrilled that you’re home all day to cuddle with them.

You can also blast your music! I’m much more productive with some tunes or even an Office rerun playing in the background. If your family is willing to deal with some noise, you’ll be able to jam out while you work without having to wear earbuds.

Times may be tough now, but the last thing you need adding to your stress is a crummy home office!