Life since the pandemic began has changed – and for some, it’s for the better. If you are a computer-savvy person with a role that went remote in 2020 or 2021, it might be staying that way. Many businesses have chosen to cut down on commercial real estate costs and let their employees stay home to do their jobs. The Sliding Door Company’s glass door solutions and room dividers have seen a large increase in demand as home offices are set up around the world. Through our various conversations with remote employees, we’ve found these common tips to enhance your workspace for joy, productivity, and success.
Prepare your home and family
It’s important to set expectations for availability if you have friends, family, and even pets at home with you while you’re working. The Sliding Door Company has been creating workspaces to help with the issues of privacy and noise. You might not be able to casually transport your computer from the kitchen counter, to the living room, or travel around the house. If you don’t have a spare bedroom, you may be able to set space aside with a partition or doorway. We’ve even seen people creatively convert closets to desk workspaces!
Take breaks
In reality, you take time to leave your desk at the office, but sometimes your guilt might make you feel tied to your desk at home. It’s ok to grab a snack, get a stretch in, or even walk in the sun for 5 minutes much as you did at the office. You don’t have to be hard on yourself! Small breaks are proven to boost productivity and your overall mindset as you do your job.
Maintain regular work hours
Flexibility with schedules has become a huge win for remote workers, but be careful you aren’t sacrificing your boundaries. When your job allows, be clear on your start and end availability times, to maintain a clear work-life balance. Having a separate room comes in handy when you need to start early or work late occasionally, but it is also possible to make space in a sectioned-off part of your home.
Set up for Success
You might have left the office with little more than a laptop and mouse, but no one should be stuck 9 to 5 in a folding chair! A second monitor, standing desk, quality printer and comfortable, ergonomic chair are all reasonable requests that your employer can and should help you secure. Ask about a budget for remote equipment and understand whether things are on loan or outdated, and who is responsible for what. Try to make yourself as comfortable as possible, maybe with a support cushion, better lighting, or a laptop riser.
Have fun with your team
Zoom fatigue is so real it’s a term we didn’t have in the vernacular 2 years ago, but is all too present now. You might dread the weekly recurring standup, so try to bring something to the table. Suggest an icebreaker question, wear a Santa hat during the holidays, or open the door and let the cat in for an introduction. Although we connected in new ways, we can still feel lonely or isolated in our remote work life. If you are a manager, be sure to check in with your team, even the extroverted members, to be sure they are getting what they need from their role and time spent online.
Overall there are some pros and cons to working from home. It might depend on the boundaries you set and the quality of your work-from-home setup. Hopefully, you can incorporate these tips into your routine to find the joys in working from home. If finding some bonus square footage to make a home office work for you is on your 2022 list, reach out to us here at The Sliding Door Company to get started on designing the perfect remote setup!