Stress-Free Strategies for Remote Work: Tips to Keep Your Sanity Intact

Do you work from home?

If so, you know the struggle of trying to keep your sanity. There are many benefits to working remotely (e.g., saving money on gas and clothes, not having a commute), but there is also the issue of isolation.

It’s important to find strategies that will help you stay sane when working remotely to be productive and maintain a good quality of life. In this article, we discuss tips for staying sane while working remotely and keeping your sanity intact.

Tips For Staying Sane When Working From Home

Remote workers have an advantage over traditional office jobs because they can choose their schedule, location, and even work from home. These are some great perks but come with many other benefits too. Overall, working remotely just has so many advantages that you should consider trying it out at least once in your lifetime.

When working from home there are a few things to keep in mind to help you maintain productivity levels and stay sane when the workday is done (we all need some time off). Here’s what we recommend:

1) Stick to a routine.

When working from home, it’s easy to drift off from work. Having a routine will help you stay on track.

For example, working at the same time each day (e.g., first thing in the morning or right after lunch), taking breaks to exercise, and eat meals during set times are all great ways to have a routine for work. This will also give your mind something to look forward which can keep it from wandering.

A routine also helps your body get into a rhythm that is good for health and productivity.

2) Start your day right.

Your morning routine sets the mood for your day. It will either be a failure or a success. If you start off right, then it’ll be easier to stay productive throughout the rest of the day.

Working from an office or coworking space helps set the mood. By the time you get to your workspace, your mind is already tuned in to work. Unfortunately, when working from home, things can be different. You can easily roll from your bed, switch on your computer and start working. While this may sound like a perfect setup, it has its downside. Having a transitional time is healthy to help your mind adjust and reset to ‘work mode’.

Build your morning routine!

How many of us have started working and two hours later realize we forgot to eat breakfast?

Having a routine helps your body get into work mode. If you still want some flexibility, then set your alarm for 30 minutes before starting time so that you can avoid the feeling of rushing in the morning. Avoid a schedule that will set you up for failure. Here are some tips to help build a morning routine:

• Wake up at a set time. Set an alarm if you are having difficulties keeping to this. One of the main reasons for having a routine is to get into work mode. This will be hard if your body isn’t used to waking up at certain times.
• Do some light exercise first thing in the morning. Exercise gives you energy, wakes up your mind, and helps you feel good about yourself all day long! You don’t have to go to the gym or run a marathon, just do some jumping jacks, sit-ups, and push-ups to get your blood flowing.
• Wash up! After exercising you’ll feel more awake so save time for showering in your routine.
• Eat breakfast! It may seem obvious, but eating is important for good brain function and productivity throughout the day. Having a healthy diet will help your body stay strong so that it can keep up with work demands. Take breakfast at set times during morning days that work best with your schedule. You can even cook breakfast ahead of time to save you some effort.
• Set a time to check email and social media. It’s best to leave social media for breaks and try not to use it at all. Checking your email can be part of your morning routine, but make sure you don’t spend too much time on it as this will eat into your productive hours.
• Take some time before starting work to plan out the day and organize yourself. Setting goals and planning out what you need to accomplish for the day is a great way to stay productive and on track. You can set reminders throughout your email or calendar that will help keep you organized by knowing exactly when it’s time to start working.

3) Take healthy breaks.

Breaks are great.

They help your body recover and give you the energy to get back into the game. Leave time for breaks throughout your workday, but make sure you don’t spend too much time on them (e.g., more than 30 minutes) or else it will negatively affect productivity.

Some examples of healthy breaks are:

· Going for a short walk to your local coffee shop.

· Do some stretches or exercises in between tasks.

· Take time during lunch to eat and relax instead of working through the meal hour. These small steps will help you stay productive throughout the day, but keep an eye on that clock! You don’t want to go overboard with breaks as this will affect your work hours.

4) Listening to music.

Everyone has an opinion on this, but listening to music is something that can be good for productivity.

Some people, like having silence when working and don’t want anything interfering with their focus. Music is also a distraction for others so it’s best not to listen unless you know your preferences well enough. If you do decide to listen to music, make sure it has no words and is instrumental.

Being productive doesn’t have any set rules. You just need to find what works for you and your body. Just remember that staying healthy will help you keep up with work demands so don’t neglect self-care as this can affect productivity in the long run. It’s best not to go overboard with anything, but try to make healthy habits part of your daily routine.

5) Good sleep.

It’s important to get good sleep every night, but you probably already knew that.

When you don’t get enough sleep, this affects your work the next day in a big way. You won’t be able to focus and it will become harder to maintain productivity for the rest of the week which can affect deadlines and getting things done. Try to stay consistent with sleep times so that you can get enough rest every night.

Make sure your room is dark and quiet as this will help you fall asleep fast. But don’t forget to set a bedtime alarm as this will remind you when it’s time for bed. When getting ready for sleep, take off those work clothes. It’s best to go to sleep in comfortable clothing that won’t disturb you when sleeping. And invest in a good mattress too.

A good night’s rest is key for productivity, so make sure you get enough of it.

Remember: don’t try too hard because stressing about getting things done will affect your work instead of helping it. Take care of yourself and find what works for you!

6) Eating healthy.

Eating healthy is a great way to stay productive and maintain focus throughout the day.

What you eat will affect your work so it’s best not to ignore this. A balanced diet is key for staying productive. Make sure you don’t snack too much as this can also negatively affect productivity levels (e.g., by causing weight gain or making drowsiness worse which can interfere with tasks).

Healthy eating can help you perform better at tasks so it’s best not to ignore this aspect of self-care.

7) Exercise.

Exercise is a great way to stay productive and maintain focus.

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which will help you feel good about yourself and reduce stress levels too (which can affect productivity in the long run). Like sleep, exercise has great benefits to the body and mind. The best way to go about it is by choosing something you love.

If you hate running or other forms of cardio, don’t force yourself to do it. There are so many exercises out there that people enjoy doing like rock climbing, yoga, etc. Make sure you get enough exercise every day as this will help improve your health and well-being which can positively affect productivity too.

8) Family time.

Don’t neglect your loved ones as this can affect the way you work too.

When working from home, it’s easy to forget about everything else and become consumed by work. But make sure not to ignore family members as they are important. Plus, socializing with them is a great stress reliever that will help you stay productive in the long run. Try to set a limit on work hours so that you have time for your family and friends too.

9) Invest in tools/apps.

Investing in tools and apps can be a great way to make sure you stay productive.

You don’t need anything too fancy or expensive as there are many free options out there like the Pomodoro technique (which is timing yourself with 25 minutes of work followed by short breaks). Investing in technology will help you improve your productivity levels so it’s best to look into this.

If you don’t have anything in mind, consider apps like Trello or Google Docs for work-related tasks and things like Spotify or Apple music for personal use.

Here’s a list of apps and tools for freelancers to help you stay productive.

10) Create boundaries.

Creating boundaries is a great way to make sure you stay productive.

When working from home, it’s easy for work tasks to interrupt your personal time which can affect productivity in the long run. So try creating different times where you do work or have fun so that they don’t overlap too much and interfere with each other (e.g., work from 11:00 to 14:00, then have fun until 16:00).

This way you can also take breaks in between working hours which are necessary for the mind.

Remember that productivity isn’t just about getting things done fast but being efficient with time too so make sure your boundaries reflect this.

Stay Productive!

By taking action on these tips you’ll be able to experience the benefits of working remotely which are endless.

Do you work from home? If so, what are some of the strategies that help keep your sanity intact when working remotely? What do you find to be most beneficial about working remotely? Share in the comments below!