There is a definite mind set change that happens when you move from an office environment to working from home. The work does not change, but the environment, often the pace and structure of your day does undergo substantial change. There are fewer reminders of outside prompts and discipline to get at it, and get it done. You have in essence become the discipline to get the job done. Often there can be fewer work interruptions, such as mentoring and interplay with colleagues. Many working from home find that the the pace of work actually goes faster - no commute, fewer interruptions which allows for increased focus. There are a lot of hours on your own, with your computer, your phone, emails, software and platforms. This loss of people around you, noise around you and the change of how you function all affect the mind and how you feel day to day. You may find yourself a little lonely sometimes, a little bored, or not quite in your element. Here are some tips to help you if you find yourself in that mind space. (or perhaps to avoid getting there)
Introduce color, texture, greenery into your work space. Paint a wall, hang some pictures, place a plant near your desk. Choose your colors well. Blues and Greens add calm to a space, whereas Red stimulates and can increase productivity. I began drinking my coffee from a fine porcelain cup for just the visual and tactile enjoyment. The small details can create some happiness in your day.
Get some fresh air a couple of times during the day. With the cooler weather coming, steel yourself that you will have to embrace the winter and have your coat and mitts at hand! This is a great way to clear the mind and get the body moving! Set your alarm if you have to. But do it! Periodic movement is essential. Stand up and shake out the cobwebs. Do some stretches, jump around, be silly, no one is watching!
It is especially important to either keep or build connection with others. Your colleagues are still important to your work life. The exchange of ideas is still part of your work and it's easy to become unsocialized with too much time on your own. Take the time to make a call, set up a zoom, reach out and seek out others. Look for feedback on your work or give feedback to others and remember you're not in a vacuum just because you are working from home. This may be a great time to ask to be mentored or to mentor someone who needs your connection. Be proactive on this, it will come back to you in many positive and unexpected ways!
Periodic hybrid space can be a life saver. When you are just about to think you are the last human on Earth, it may be time to find some space in your local coffee shop or office hub to do some work. Do a little people watching while you get some work done and sip your favorite beverage! I rent some office hub space to meet with others in my field of work once a month. I always get great takeaways from these meetings and the networking is great! There is a mental boost that occurs from these 'field trips' away from the home office.
There was one group of 'at home workers' that decided to each do a 'cooking show' via zoom once a month. The twist was that the employee whose turn it was to cook and show, also had to send the recipe ingredients to their coworkers homes to cook along. It was hilarious watching an engineer teach everyone how to cook a grilled cheese sandwich (with jalapenos) all the while sounding like Julia Child. Another company organized a scavenger hunt without leaving the home, pitting departments in the company against one another. Marketing, Finance, Engineering, HR all had teams. These teams were not even in the same cities, but all are building long distance work relationships while combating the sole experience of remote working from home.
A little innovation, a little effort can create some fun for yourself and others. Get creative! There is no need to go down the rabbit hole of being lonely, but it will take some vigilance and a little action to take care of yourself! Invest in yourself, it's worth it.