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While the pandemic was still at large, many of us have become familiar with the concept of working from home. Although you might think working from home may be easier than working on-site, research suggests that people who work from home actually experience higher stress levels than employees who carry out tasks in a physical workspace. If you’re one of the former and have no idea how to manage the stressors around your house, here are 6 tips for keeping stress at bay while you work from home online quran hifz program.
Wake up with a plan
One of the best ways to manage work stress is to manage your daily expectations. Before winding down for bed before a workday, try to come up with a plan for the day: what time you’ll wake up, what you’ll do before you sit down to work, how long you’ll spend on each assigned task, etc.
While the rigidity of the plan is completely up to you – some people like every minute of their day mapped out, while some prefer more fluidity in their schedule. Nevertheless, it’s important to establish time management in even the broadest strokes, so you can wake up with an idea of how the day will be and end your day with all tasks completed and a sense of fulfillment.
A good way to keep track of such a plan is to write it down somewhere. You can use a physical notebook or just your notes application on your phone – either is fine, as long as you commit it to writing what your day is going to look like. Not only does this provide you with a point of reference, but it also helps you commit your schedule to memory.
Find the right work spot
A big factor as to why working from home can be so stressful is the difficulty of navigating a space equipped with so many distractors and comforters. To avoid mixing your leisure time and working hours at home, you should take your HP laptop and find a spot in your house to designate as your daily workspace. Preferably, you’d seek out an area that’s farther away from areas like your bedroom, to avoid getting distracted and tempted to rest for too long.
Once you’re done for the day, it’ll be good to leave the area and not return until the next workday. This is to strengthen the mental connotation you’re building about where work is done, so that the rest of the house becomes a place for absolute leisure in your off-hours.
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Create the right environment
One of the benefits of working from home that isn’t typically offered in an office space is that you get to create a work environment that’s more tailor-made for your tastes. Once you’ve designated a workspace, you can play around with different aspects of the space – like the scent, temperature, and sound – to create an atmosphere that’s best for your productivity and stress management. Once you’ve set the air conditioner as cold as you want, lit a scented candle, and taken a deep breath, you might just feel more ready to start working.
Try white noise or other subtle sounds if you’re interested in playing with sound to establish your work-from-home environment. Hearing the sound of, say, waves melting on the shore from your Bose speakers can help drown out other household noises and help you focus on your tasks at hand.
Take little breaks, here and there
Maintaining a workflow for an entire day is incredibly difficult, and you shouldn’t hold yourself up to such a standard. Be kind to yourself and allow yourself to take small breaks whenever necessary – get out of the workroom, brew tea or coffee, and do some physical activity (even if it’s just pacing around your house). While distractors in your work environment can be detrimental, you need to find ways to let it out when you get too stressed by the work in front of you.
During these short breaks, you can even treat yourself to something sweet or a snack. By rewarding yourself in these little recesses, you’re also simultaneously encouraging yourself to perform better when you return to work so you can treat yourself again once your tasks are completed.
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Connect with friends and family
Another big difference between working from home and in an office is who you’re most likely to see around you: instead of co-workers and supervisors, at home, you’re likely surrounded by family and friends, with whom you might share a close emotional bond. Take advantage of this and spend time with them. If they’re working from home as well, you can sit together and complete tasks side-by-side, sharing experiences and making merry as the work gets done. That way, you’ll have someone to joke with and complain to as you face the many challenges and issues that working from home brings.
If your lunch breaks overlap, you can also enjoy a meal together at the dining table. Cooking for each other might also be a fun experience you all can share – after all, there’s nothing quite as de-stressing as a home-cooked meal made with love.
Get a good night’s sleep
When the day is finally done, make sure to unwind properly as you get ready for a good night’s sleep. Turn down the electronics, turn off the big lights, use your water heater to take a warm shower and do everything you need to do to relax. There’s not much that’s as stressful as having to slog through a full workday without proper rest; as such, quality sleep should be your top priority.
If you find it difficult to unwind and get your mind off of work, consider meditating before bed. Meditating is a great technique for getting your head in the right space for relaxation and has many proven medical benefits. If you want to elevate the pre-bedtime experience, feel free to also use aromatherapy and let some lavender into the air before calling it a night.
Stress isn’t good for anybody, and taking on too much of it can manifest mentally, emotionally, and even physically. With that in mind, it’s important to ensure work stress doesn’t affect your productivity and well-being. Even if you’re “just” working from home, remember: your stress is valid and needs to be taken care of, just as with anyone else.
