From a Wall Street Journal story by Alexandra Samuel headlined “I’ve Worked From Home for 22 Years. Here’s What I’ve Learned”:
How do you balance productivity with health and well-being when you’re working from home, rather than at the office?
It is a question many people are now grappling with for the first time, as Covid-19 closes many workplaces and sends people into the relative isolation of the home office. But in our house, it is business as usual: I’ve worked from home for the most of the past 22 years, and for the past four, my husband and I have worked from home together. (And we still like each other!)
But I’ll be honest: The first time I found myself working from home, in my mid-20s, I had a tough time. And since then, to make sure I don’t sink into any more funks, I’ve been very conscientious about staying connected to the outside world, balancing my productivity with what’s good for my mental health.
That is more challenging for me now, just as it is for everyone else: I really miss the coffee shop where I usually spend at least three workdays a week. But it is possible, because I already have some basic habits in place that ensure home-based work doesn’t compromise my well-being.
Here are my secrets:
Let go of the eight-hour day. . . .
Choose three things a day. . . .
Choose a new time-management system. . . .
Respect and work with your natural energy cycles. . . .
Be a regular . . . .
Take time to reconnect. . . .
Wear a fitness tracker. . . .
Set up mental-health check-ins. . . .
Schedule a standing date. . . .
Remember, tackling remote work in a healthy way is a skill, just like any other professional skill. It is going to take a little time, and a little practice—but by prioritizing your well-being, as well as your productivity, you may even discover that you actually prefer working from home.
Dr. Samuel is a technology researcher and the author of “Work Smarter With Social Media.” She can be reached at [email protected].
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