Strategies for Coping with Working Alone at Home
Even before the current health crisis around the world, there are people that will have solely worked from home in all of that time. If it is all that you have known, then by now, you are probably getting used to it. However, there is something a little different to working from home, even if you have a team of people only a call or email away, as it can be quite isolating and even lonely. Office banter, being able to chat about the weekend, and having someone to talk ideas through with are different when you’re in person. It can be definitely something that you miss.
Loneliness is something that can be very real for people who work from home the majority of the time. You may do so alone in self-employment, or just work remotely as part of a wider team, but it is something that does need to be addressed. It is stigmatized somewhat as it can be connected to feelings of anxiety or depression. However, remote workers can often feel this way from time to time. So what are the best things to do to cope? Here are some things that you can do to help, especially if you are self-employed and don’t necessarily have a team around you.
Structure Your Day
It is quite shocking how many people can just go with the flow, whether they work from home or not. However, much like with children, having a routine can have a massive impact on your productivity, as well as how isolated you feel. When there is structure to your day you have a focus and something to work towards by the end of the day. Without that, you can just get distracted and your thoughts move to other things, hindering your productivity.
That is why you should approach the start of your day like you would with anything else, or with any other job. Make sure that you are up by a certain time, get ready for the day, and eat breakfast. Arrange what you will do when, and then take some breaks at set times. Getting away from your desk temporarily can be a big help to how productive you can be. When you have a structure in place that is organized and you’re able to plan in advance what you will be doing and when, then you can focus on your goals, and feel less stressed.
Work Away From Home
Sometimes having a change of where you work can do you the world of good. It can help you to have a fresh perspective on things, and it can help to boost your motivation too. Even if it is just once or twice a week, it can make such a difference to how you feel.
There are a number of options open to you. You could take advantage of free Wi-Fi that is on offer in a local coffee shop, for example. There may also be an option to work in your local library perhaps, if you don’t want to be at home but want some peace and quiet. There are options like looking to find private office space to use. When it isn’t in your home, you can close the door on it, and it can help to give you a good work and life balance. Working in a dedicated coworking space is an option too. This is something that is growing in popularity, as it is fairly low-cost, but you have people around you to get to know and create that office buzz. If you do work for someone else, then you could also look to go into their office once or twice a week, if locality and commuting would allow. So think about what would work best for you. Some remote workers enjoy the buzz of other people being around. For others, it is all about just not being in the office at home for a couple of hours a week.
Working from home can provide the opportunity for a lot of people to be more in control of their working day, and more in control of setting and managing their workload. In many ways, it can be really productive. But if there are feelings of isolation for too long, then it will have an impact, which is why staying connected is so important. Solo working and remote working aren’t going to suit everyone. However, if it is you, then there are plenty of ways to mix things up, and to be able to cope better with the situation.
