Once upon a time, where we lived was determined by the location in which one procured a job. For many undergraduate students, the pressure seemed to mount during their final semester of college. Choices must be made, and often sacrifices, in order to get out into the working world and secure your future.
Back then it was called the ‘rat race.’ A clear-cut picture of workers, whether they be blue collar employees going to a factory or white collar professionals into an office building, getting up, making the commute to work and then punching a clock in and out.
Every day the same.
The same traffic jam on the way to work. The same traffic jam on their way home from work.
These days, with remote operations offered by many employers, where one lives has become more of a choice. While COVID seemed to jump-start more companies into offering this type of work from home setup, it seems it to have caught on, creating a whole new realm for the working world.
With this, however, comes obstacles and challenges many have not considered. Working from home is a delicate animal. You must find that steady balance between ‘work’ time and ‘home’ time. To help aid in your transition to a home office, these tips are a great start.
- Get ready for your workday
- While it seems ideal to simply stay in your pajamas all day long, studies show productivity increases when you’re dressed and ready to tackle the day.
- Choose a proper home office
- Lounging on the couch with your laptop while you binge the latest television series is not the way to work from home. Setting up your home office will equip you with all the tools for a good, productive day.
- Install quality technology
- Invest in a high-quality computer and printer. Office furniture is also a must and I highly recommend getting a good desk chair. In addition, upgrade your internet speed to the highest possible. Nothing ruins a day faster than a slow internet connection and being constantly kicked offline.
- Consistent Work Hours
- Just as if you had to be at the office at a certain time, the key to a successful work from home experience is to do the same. Treat your day at the home office the same as if you were on site.
- Set a morning and afternoon work routine
- It will help differentiate between ‘work’ time and ‘home’ time immensely if you do this!
- Managing your lunch hour
- Enjoy a meal and relax. But keep in mind when the time is up you must get back to work. I know it can be tempting to simply watch one more show, but that will only make it more difficult to finish your workday.
- To-do lists will keep you on task
- Make a list of everything you wish to achieve for the day and cross them off as you complete each task. The sense of accomplishment will help you feel like your efforts were successful.
- When work time is done – it’s done!
- The pull will be there after hours to just get that last little bit finished, or to go back to it even though it’s officially become ‘home’ time. Separating your work/home life is a must for personal and job satisfaction.
In an older economic development model, cities often tried to entice companies to relocate or build a branch/warehouse in their location. The purpose was to entice workers to follow, to move close to the new operational facility in order to obtain a job with said company, thus, finding a home near the new office.
While that model is still around somewhat today, the remote work model is gaining preference quickly.
One this is for certain: remote work is here to stay. Research studies have noted that most respondents report higher productivity while working remotely.
Why is that?
Are we happier? More content? Do workers feel more valued, respected, and even trusted by their employers while working from home?
At this point, there is no right response to any of those questions. Or, maybe it’s simply too soon to obtain a clear-cut answer. Either way, working remotely opens a plethora of options on where you choose to live, work, and play. If you don’t have to live in the big city in order to keep your job, where will you go?
North Iowa is the perfect location! Great schools, low crime, and quality, affordable housing options are just a few reasons to choose this region.
Thankfully, the team at Jane Fischer and Associates is available to help you find the perfect place to call home.