10 Ways to Beat the Work-from-Home Blues
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Even for people who love it, working from home every day can sometimes feel isolating, dull and de-motivating. Here are 10 ideas to shake up your WFM routines, lower your stress and build connections in a remote world:
Elevate your home work environment. Put on some “real clothes,” light a scented candle, play music (I love the House Focus playlist on Spotify), buy fresh flowers, etc. Think about the sensory experiences that help you get into a creative, engaged mindset.
Schedule a “walk and talk.” Set up a time to catch up with a friend or colleague, pop on a headset and take your phone call outside.
Adopt a pet. A recent study found that dog owners were “significantly less depressed than non-pet owners during the COVID-19 pandemic” (Martin et. al. 2021). No need to hire a dog walker when you’re already working from home.
Switch up your scenery. Pack your laptop and work from a friend’s place while they’re out, or swap workspaces with them for the day.
Host a co-working session. Missing coworkers? Invite a few friends who also work remotely over to your place to work (and catch up) for a few hours.
Bring nature indoors. House plants help clean your indoor air, and studies have shown that people who are surrounded by plants experience reduced stress levels.
Take yourself on an “artist date.” Carve out a couple of hours to go somewhere by yourself just for fun. It could be to the beach, an art gallery, a museum, a craft store, or simply a walk in nature. The only agenda is to be inspired by the outside world. A weekly artist date is a foundational tool from the Artist’s Way, the seminal book on creativity by Julia Cameron.
Create a ritual to close out your day. Close down your computer, write out your to-do list for tomorrow, take a walk, brew a cup of tea ... Do what it takes to intentionally wrap up the work day, or else you may always feel like you’re at work.
Move your body. I’ve found that daily exercise is essential to my mental health while working from home. Today’s digital workout options make it possible to exercise anywhere – even right next to your computer. Even on busy days, I can usually make time for a 20-minute bodyweight or HIIT class on the Peloton app.
Enjoy your work. This one may be a no-brainer, but if you hate what you’re doing for work, you’ll hate it wherever you are. On the other hand, if you feel engaged in your work, the workday will fly by. If you’re struggling to figure out what type of work gives you the most meaning, try this free Sparketype™ assessment.
I’d love to hear from you! How do you beat the work-from-home blues? Drop me a line at lauren@laurenmiura.com.