Tips for Staying Sane While Working from Home

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Last Updated on September 9, 2023 by Ellen

These tips for staying sane while working from home with your spouse and kids will make remote working less stressful. Try them today.

Staying Sane While Working from Home

Working from home with kids without losing your mind can definitely be a challenge. But, if you follow these simple tips you will find that it’s not quite as bad as you think.

There are lots of pitfalls of working at home from constant access to the refrigerator to being unable to lock the door and work alone. But, one of the biggest ones is trying to juggle multiple responsibilities at once.

Whether you’re working at home because your job has gone virtual or you typically work at home, it brings along a number of different challenges.

Staying productive while working from home can often mean keeping others from interrupting you regularly. While this isn’t always easy if you have younger children, there are things you can do to make it a little bit easier.

When setting up your home office, you may want to look into these Feng Shui home office tips for a successful career.

Don’t expect perfection

Working from home with the kids and your spouse at home isn’t going to allow you to be as productive as normal. It’s inevitable that there will be noise or interruptions that you wouldn’t normally have to deal with.

Just remember that it’s likely many others are also having to deal with this when they work at home. They’re probably understanding if they hear the kids yelling or the dog barking on your video conference.  Everyone is worried about staying sane while working from home, not just you.

Create a schedule

It’s all too easy to put off starting work for just a few more minutes. Before you know it, half of the morning is gone. With a schedule, it is much easier to stay on task and accomplish what you need to.

I like to create a formal schedule but allow myself enough time during the day for breaks. Trying to cram in too much into one day can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out.

I use a planner to keep track of what I need to do. This one allows me to time block fairly easily to stay organized.

If you’re worried about staying sane while working from home, more breaks may be just what you need.

Get dressed to the shoes

It’s difficult to be productive while you’re in your pajamas or working in bed. It’s best to get prepared for your day working at home just like you would if you were heading to the office.

I’m not saying you have to dress up in a business suit and heels. But, business casual with your hair and makeup done will help you feel more productive.

Have a space to work

If you already have a home office, then it is best to work there. But, if you don’t,  you still have options. Look for somewhere that is:

• Relatively quiet. Avoid high traffic spots like the kitchen.
• Convenient. You will need a desk or large table with enough room.
• Comfortable. It will be much better for you (and your back) if you work somewhere that has a chair with good back support.

If you don’t already have one, you should be able to find an ergonomic desk and chair at Walmart fairly inexpensively. Have you considered a corner desk?

Eliminate distractions

Even if you don’t have a spouse or children at home interrupting you, you will probably find ways to interrupt yourself.  Staying sane while working at home means minimizing distractions as much as possible.

It’s all too tempting to surf the internet, throw in a load of laundry, check the news, answer the phone, etc.

Here are a few days you can help yourself focus:

• Set a timer to allow yourself 25 minutes of working and then 5 minutes for a break. I love this Pomodoro timer.
• Use a time tracking app like RescueTime to really understand what you’re spending your time on.
• Block the sites that are distracting you. Limit is a wonderful way to make sites available for a certain amount of time while you really focus on work.

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Don’t work all of the time

If you’re concerned about staying sane while working at home, you need to set clear limits on your work hours. Don’t be tempted to work all day long.

I know that I struggle with this one a lot but it’s a good way to burn out quickly. Evaluate your work-life balance. Turn off the phone after hours and focus on time with the family.

Staying sane while working at home

• Don’t expect perfection
• Create a schedule
• Get dressed to the shoes
• Have space to work
• Eliminate distractions
• Don’t work all of the time
• Look into soundproofing office walls
• Positive ways to start the day

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