Tiny $0 Life Upgrades For Work From Home Days
It doesn’t cost anything to feel pumped for your workday.
Many homes offices aren’t perfect, but this doesn’t mean working from home has to wreck your mood. When your home workspace makes you feel good, you begin to love the freedom of this arrangement.
Like you, I also have experienced some discomforts adjusting from the 9–5 office setting to a home setup. The first few days were a hurdle to get over. But I’ve discovered four crafty ways to get around these energy killers.
If your work-from-home status isn’t changing anytime soon, here are four free solutions to common challenges.
Motivation
Workdays can seem mundane. You create a process to simplify your workflow, yet it feels like you’re doing the same tasks every day. It’s boring, and you dread taking action on your to-do list. Procrastination becomes a way of life until you’re close to the deadline.
For the tasks you can’t automate set an intention.
Intention helps you place your day in perspective. An affirmation is a reminder that you get to do your job. The purpose of this positive statement is to motivate you to work from a mindset of gratitude.
Everyone has an intention. Sometimes, it is to get through the day or make sure particular projects get done today. Choose a “smart” affirmation. This phrase goes beyond being enough. It is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based for a day of action.
A Skeleton Lift
I am amazed at how good workplace ergonomics lift moods; you don’t dream of the day ending as soon as it starts.
Research by Professor of Health Education, Erik Peper, approves upright postures. To summarize his research, he says:
“We tend to think the brain and body relationship goes one way. The passages go both ways,” Peper said. “When you choose to put your body in a different mode, it’s harder to drop into depression.”
It’s fascinating because we assume we need more money, new things, and lots of stuff to be happy. But, the truth is you could reverse your sadness by fixing your posture.
Be mindful of how you position your body. Try resting your feet flat on the floor. A cushion or folded blanket can help keep your back straight.
And to avoid neck pain, pull your shoulders back and keep your screen and keyboard at eye level. Would you agree that most computer desks make this impossible? The laptop designs have a natural eye-level advantage built-in.
Serenity
I once thought walking was the only pick-me-activity, but it isn’t. A person who deletes social media apps has a billion fewer people for social comparison.
One day social media posts inspire you. The next, they have you feeling bad about your life. If a social hiatus seems too extreme, you can mute pages that make you feel unhappy and insecure.
Algorithms pay keen attention to your interactions. I’d save a post featuring a baby or pet, and after a page refresh, my explore page looks a lot cuter. It’s the quickest way for me to release endorphins and smile at my phone screen.
If you’re over your social media addiction, consider podcasts. Deep breathing or minutes of stillness, the idea is to introduce calm and peace into your day.
A Body Break
Like you, I associated breaks with a beverage, restroom, or resting your head against the table. So, what’s a body break? I describe it as using keyboard shortcuts.
Women are most likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome because they have smaller wrists. The prevention tips of Mayo Clinic recommend reducing the stress on your hands. The suggestions appear simple.
Reduce your force, relax your grip, and improve your posture. But it takes a lot of effort to undo habits we’ve had for years.
A simple approach is to take short, frequent breaks. Keyboard shortcuts provide periodic relief for your wrist in less than a minute. And give you a faster way to complete repetitive projects.
So when someone shows you a few keyboard shortcuts, take note.
Many people won’t be returning to the office Monday to Friday soon; it’s time to optimize home offices. Some upgrades are possible without an Amazon haul.
You can feel energized to start your projects. By changing how you approach your workday and pick your workspace, you’ll raise your mood. And general productivity.
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