Surviving Working From Home

In today's world, working from home may seem like a good alternative to a traditional job, however most people don't anticipate the unique difficulties that come with these careers. Working from home can be just as, if not more stressful than a traditional job. Burnout is extremely common for those who aren't prepared.

Most issues can be broken down into two categories; physical and mental. Maintaining appropriate balance and expectations can put you on the road to success.

Physical issues are due to the Stationary nature of working from home. There isn't much walking involved, even to get up and go to the copier down the hall. Without these little moments of exercise adding up health can suffer.

Most people want to ignore just how physically taxing a stationary job can be. It seems like a better alternative for people with mobility issues or young parents. While working from home may fit your lifestyle, ignoring its health effects can be devastating. Just because they aren't as readily apparent, doesn't mean they aren't real.

Sitting for long periods has its own considerations. An ergonomic chair is a must. Your back will thank you. Good posture prevents chronic issues down the road, but if you find yourself unable to remember to sit up straight many office supply stores sell things like backrests and neck pillows to encourage good posture.

Repetitive typing can also put stress on fingers and wrists. It's a good idea to speak to a doctor about carpal tunnel syndrome and take steps to avoid it.

Even more easy to overlook than the physical challenges are the mental ones. Your mental health is important and just like with a traditional job many employers have resources for their work from home employees. Just because you are in your own house doesn't mean work can't affect you. In fact, there is no separation between your private and public space. This can lead to tension. Home is supposed to be a safe space, somewhere to shed your worries. Allowing your work to take over your entire house can make home stressful.

Confining your workspace to one room or one section of a room can help avoid this. Don't use this workspace for anything else. That way when you sit down to work you associate that area only with being productive. This makes standing up and pushing the chair in at the end of the day relieving instead of just a break before you have to work again.

Don't be afraid to decorate your workspace one good thing about working from home is that you can go as wild as you want. Make your work area fun and somewhere you enjoy being instead of a sad, grey cubicle in an office. Placing your desk next to a window if at all possible is a good idea as well. Nature has a proven calming effect and being able to look outside, even if only into your backyard, makes work more bearable.

It is a good idea to also leave your workspace for your breaks. If you only have 15 minutes and are tempted to get some other work done on that computer in your spare time This means that you never get a full mental break. Don't be afraid to walk out onto the porch get a snack or even go watch 10 minutes of television. You'll feel 100 times more refreshed.

Most of these tips can also apply to regular office jobs. The unique nature of working from home also has its own special consideration. Separate from all of your other coworkers it's easy to become lonely. Connect with others and maintain a good social network.

Last but not least, prepare for frustration! Working from home requires dependence upon technology and you know what they say, technology is great… when it works. Always have backups in place. Have a spare charger. Make sure both your phone and computer are set up to receive work emails in case of an emergency. Double check your Internet connection and maybe even talk to your provider about getting a faster connection.

It's good to be prepared but at the end of the day be aware that things will happen. The morning of that big meeting your Internet will go out. Unfortunately, that's just a fact of life. Make sure to have open communication with your coworkers and supervisors if anything does go wrong and don't blame yourself. Sometimes things just happen.

Working from home can be a perfect alternative to office jobs for some people, but it is still work. Going in with the right attitude ensures success.