4 Ways To Increase Happiness While Working From Home
This sponsored post really came at a great time because I was thinking about what I could write to make working from home easier. When I was contacted by Piranha Furniture I thought the information would be invaluable for those of you who are currently working from home and those of you who are thinking of making the switch.
Happiness is the key to success in all areas of life, but it is never more important than at work. The average American spends 8.8 hours a day working and on work-related activities, which is over one-third of their whole day. Therefore, if your work is causing you excessive stress or unhappiness, this can have a major impact on your quality of life in general.
When you work in an office, it is easy to de-stress by talking to colleagues and asking for help, sharing your workload and decreasing the burden on yourself. However, this luxury is not afforded to those who work from home. Whether you work remotely from a home office, are a freelancer or are just getting a new start-up business off the ground, it is important to remember to take time out of your day to look after yourself. Being happy at work can greatly increase your overall motivation and productivity, having a positive knock-on effect when it comes to efficiency and working effectively.
To help you get the most out of your working day, here are four tried and tested methods of improving your levels of happiness in the home office.
Take Time for Yourself
Working from home can put an increased amount of pressure on you to meet deadlines and achieve targets. After all, when you work alone, there is no one to help you out and take some of the pressure off. Sometimes, the stress can get too much, and this is when problems start to arise. The easiest way to cut down on stress is to ensure that you take regular time for yourself. Make sure that you stop work at the end of the working day, as the temptation to finish that piece of work or reply to that last email can be particularly strong when you work from home.
Set Realistic Goals
Similarly, setting unachievable or unattainable goals can lead to problems. If you are consistently working to capacity but struggling to meet your targets, it may be time to reconsider your goals and perhaps adjust objectives accordingly. Completing targets will give you a greater sense of achievement and improve your levels of motivation at work.
Don’t Compare Yourself to Others
Comparing yourself to others in an unfavourable light is another common pitfall that many people fall victim to. If you don’t feel as though you are getting as much done as others in similar job roles, this can quickly lead to feelings of inadequacy. Although it is difficult to cut negative comparisons out of your life completely, minimise the harmful side-effects by trying to focus on yourself rather than the work of other people.
Create a Positive Working Environment
Your home office should be a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed, as this is by far the best environment for productivity. Keep the space clear of clutter and remove any unnecessary distractions from the room – anything that isn’t required for your work should be left outside the office to minimise the risk of procrastination. Allow natural light to fill the room and decorate with plants, photographs and any small keepsakes that will boost your mood throughout the day. Invest in a computer desk that suits both the available space and the requirements of your job; in the modern workplace, computer desks are the centrepiece of the home office, so it is important that yours is right for you.
Although work is a necessary part of life, there is no reason for it to become a chore or something to be dreaded. Make sure that you are as happy as possible in the workplace and put yourself on the right track ready to head towards greater success.
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