Whether you’re returning to work from home or have been toughing out Zoom calls for most of 2020, the dark and (relative) cold of winter can bring a new level of difficulty to the modern, virtual workplace. Read these 5 simple tips for how to make your less-than-normal winter more productive and enjoyable:
1. Prioritize Sunshine (Store-Bought or Real)
It’s hard to ignore the dreariness that the early-setting and late-rising sun can bring to our work days as soon as Daylight Savings hits. Seasonal Affective Disorder plagues 10 million Americans, and the fleeting daylight can often make us feel like we are running out of time each and every day. Along with other health benefits, this is why it is absolutely essential to get enough Vitamin D each day - whether through a quick midday walk or with the help of supplements. Taking the time to even out these levels is bound to improve your mood and productivity throughout the day and winter months - not to mention that taking brief time to be mindful and present in your day can do wonders for clearing your head, maintaining mental health, and setting a realistic agenda. As an added bonus, there has been some preliminary evidence that regular Vitamin D levels may help lessen the severity of COVID-19 disease.
2. Make “Space” for Personal Time
Working from home can at times make one feel like a tiger pacing in its cage, especially if you are returning home for the holidays, or sharing your working space with a partner or roommates as coworkers. Obviously, working and relaxing in the same space is bound to negatively impact your ability to both work and relax, and this becomes increasingly detrimental as it becomes harder to get outdoors and appreciate space outside of your home. Creating a designated area in which you will relax, and a differentiated space in which you work, will make it that much easier to create balance in your life, perform your best when needed, and truly unwind when the workday ends. In a small space, even designating one side of the bed, couch, or table as your work area will encourage the creation of mental boundaries and help you enjoy Netflix again.
3. Incorporate at-Home Festivities
This winter and holiday season will likely differ from your normal traditions and celebrations, and many of the fun and relaxing activities that we lean on to get us over mid-week slumps may not be happening. To help with this, try and plan for little celebratory rewards that will motivate you to power through long meetings and tedious email inboxes. Maybe a Zoom Holiday-Cocktail Happy Hour or baking session, some grocery-store gingerbread house decorating with your living partners, or even dressing up for holiday photoshoots with your pets. This time does not have to look the same as our Spring Work from Home experiences, and embracing the specialities that make winter and holidays unique is sure to boost your spirit.
4. Make Your Space Comfortable
Your at-home work space is not going to be the same as a bustling office, WeWork table, or conference room, so why pretend it is? Rather than gazing out a frosty window while shivering in your ergonomic chair, we recommend surrounding yourself with items that keep you motivated and comfortable. Printed photos, a scented candle, a cozy blanket, or a space heater may be the small thing that keeps you from crawling into your bed to work or ending the day feeling exasperated. In fact, a dimmer, warmer workspace may actually increase your productivity and creativity as well as your happiness. Gather some blankets and turn on a desk lamp for a cozy boost!
5. Finish the Year Out Strong
2020 is a year for the books. Many of us had aspirations that got left behind in the dust of the pandemic, election, and so much other turmoil that plagued the year. It was also a year that forced reassessment of our employment situations, career plans, and personal goals. As we close out 2020, consider the objectives that you had for yourself in January - maybe to finish your own project, strategize, or adapt to new circumstances. Assess how you can make small contributions to reaching these goals by the end of the year; creating bite-size steps can make these huge, pre-pandemic goals feel more manageable, and grant you feelings of accomplishment. Focusing on these small, personal achievements can help push you to the finish line that is 2020, and propel you with energy into the brand-new opportunities that 2021 will (hopefully) hold.
Best of luck to you and yours as we enter this unprecedented season of work, especially to all pet coworkers. Let us know on our social media if these tips help you beat the blustery winter work-from-home blues!