Just because your work-from-home routine isn’t great doesn’t mean it couldn’t be better. In this article, the author outlines three reasons why you might want to make a change: 1) You’re bored with the same old, same old. If you find yourself in the WFH slump and it’s impacting your motivation and productivity, it’s time for a change. 2) There has been a change in your household routines. Maybe your spouse has returned to the office or your children have changed schools, so the pick-up and drop-off times are different. These changes in your environment are significant and mean that you need to think carefully about every moment of your day. 3) You want to establish healthier habits. For some, the shift to working from home increased their self-care, as they redirected their commuting time to enjoy more sleep in the morning or to go for walks in the evening. But for others, not going to the office has taken a toll on their healthy habits. If that sounds a bit like you, try changing your schedule to better suit your health needs. Small tweaks to your routine can have a big impact and give you a fresh approach to the new year.
We are approaching three years since the initial office exodus, where millions of people found themselves at home full-time, overnight. The initial shock of this transition has dissipated. So if you’ve taken part in the office theft, you’ve probably settled into some semblance of routine.
But is it time to change? As a time management coach, I’ve helped clients all over the world transition from office to home, and back again. What I’ve seen is that a few small tweaks to your schedule can have a big impact and could give you a fresh approach to the new year.
Here are some reasons why you might want to shake things up – and how to make those changes effectively.
Reason #1: You’re bored with the same old, same old.
One of the reasons you may need to change your work-from-home schedule is that nothing has changed at all in the past two years and monotony is creeping up on you. Instead of really starting to work on time, you log in and then get some more sleep. You miss social interactions with your colleagues. And every day feels like the day before.
If you find yourself in this WFH slump and it’s impacting your motivation and productivity, it’s time for a change.
One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through a change of scenery. I’ve seen people go to cafes, libraries, or even hang out by the pool if they live in warmer climates. If you want a real office atmosphere, you can also position yourself in a coworking space. Going out and socializing with other people can add a bit of time and distraction. But if it helps you feel more energized and motivated overall, then that’s a productivity boost.
If it’s not easy to transport your work because you need multiple computer monitors or other special equipment, there are always ways to infuse some variety into your routine. We could be through a virtual coworking buddy. You can ask a colleague or a friend to work alongside you on a video call. Or you can use a service like FocusMate, which will connect you with someone else in the world who needs to do something at the same time as you.
Finally, you can add a little spice to your routine by incorporating something new and fresh. For example, if you sign up for ClassPass, you can try out a variety of gyms in your area. Every week could be an opportunity to experience something new. Or you can search MeetUp.com for events happening in your area. Sometimes having something to look forward to in the evening can make you much more focused during the day. Clients I’ve worked with have also said that being in an environment where it would be rude to be on the phone also helps their minds tune out of work.
Reason #2: Your home routines have changed.
Another reason to adjust your work-from-home schedule is to account for shifts that may have happened not for you, but around you. For example, maybe your spouse has returned to the office, so they’re gone most of the day, or your kids have changed schools, so pick-up and drop-off times are different, or you have a puppy and now you need to fit walks into your schedule.
These changes in your environment are significant and mean that you need to think carefully about every moment of your day. For example, should you adjust your start time to later or earlier? Do you need help carpooling for school or sports? Does your exercise program need modifications?
Recognize that changes in your home routine give you more or less time, then reset your expectations accordingly.
Reason #3: You want to establish healthier habits.
For some, the shift to working from home increased their self-care, as they redirected their commuting time to enjoy more sleep in the morning or to go for walks in the evening. But for others, skipping the office got in the way of their healthy habits, leading to not having a set time off, so they worked later and went to sleep later. Others also gave up on their exercise routine when they stopped going to the gym at work and never regained momentum. And still others may have swapped the office cafeteria salad bar for DoorDash and found that even their stretchy pants no longer fit.
If that sounds a bit like you, it’s time to change your schedule to better suit your health needs. Some potential solutions are to give you firmer start and end times so that you have time in the evening to relax and fall asleep at a decent time. If you want more flexibility than a set schedule, but also want to know when you’ve “done enough” for the day, another approach is to count the blocks of work you’ve completed, aiming for eight or nine. one hour blocks. Once you put in your hours, whether that puts you at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., or 8 p.m., give yourself permission to quit guilt-free.
To start retreating into physical movement, you can start small. Some of the people I work with will even start with 10 minutes of exercise a day that they can do at home. Apps like Sworkit can give you short routines and you can find a plethora of free videos on YouTube. Another strategy is to take short five-minute walks as breaks instead of checking your phone. It takes about the same amount of time and improves your health and concentration instead of harming them.
Finally, if you have struggled with nutrition since working from home, you may need to incorporate yourself at some point on the weekend or on a weeknight to pick up or order groceries. Most grocery stores offer prepared salads and quick meals that are cheaper and often healthier than takeout. You can also pick up apples, bananas, baby carrots and other quick and easy snacks to encourage nutritious eating.
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Just because your work-from-home schedule isn’t terrible doesn’t mean it couldn’t be better. Use these strategies if you need a new relationship with your remote work schedule in the new year.