Staying Motivated While Working From Home

The pandemic made working from home a true option for many professionals. Many companies are figuring out ways to revise the traditional work day at the office by offering employees split time, hybrid meetings, and other accommodations. At the more extreme end, some companies are letting the physical office go and creating a virtual workforce. Challenges in onboarding and professional development aside, remaining motivated on the job can become the employees first challenge when transitioning to a fully remote work life. But there are a few ways to combat at-home fatigue.

Keep to a schedule

It can be tempting to have a flexible schedule when working from home. But staggering work times can become confusing and before you know it the end of the week has arrived and no projects have been completed. Keep to regular work hours and let your office know that after a certain time you are unavailable. Stay with your eating and exercise routine during the week, too. You’ll find your body and mind function best while keeping to a routine.

Talk to your team

Be sure to attend all company meetings and team building events. This helps solidify common goals and maybe you’ll make a friend or two along the way. Talking with like-minded individuals can be inspiring when working for common goals. Be sure to have enough opportunities for water-cooler talk as if you were in the office.

Have an accountability buddy

If you have large creative projects, especially, find an accountability buddy to check in with either a colleague or a friend outside of work. Having someone to talk to about a creative project can help you see its strengths and weaknesses in a new light. Schedule check-ins regularly and keep to your schedule. Emergencies will come up, but simply reschedule and move your project dates. Hold yourself accountable, too.

Join a professional group

Participating in an industry group will help you stay motivated through meeting people with the same interests. Consider taking on an administrative or board role. That experience will not only look good on your resume, but also lead to networking opportunities. While planning events and scheduling speakers, you will also be immersed in new ideas that can only spark your imagination.

Set goals and reward yourself

From day to week to month goals, make sure to give yourself rewards for completing tasks even if management does not. After completing an onerous daily task get up from your work area and treat yourself to a snack or a quiet moment of meditation. Maybe you want something more active, then turn up a favorite song and let yourself dance it out. Celebrate your accomplishments both big and small. Be the supportive team you would have had in a physical office building.

Working from home does not have to be an isolating experience, but it requires a little more planning to get the motivation we need to keep doing a good job. Talk to your employer and see how they plan to promote team-building and camaraderie. Maybe there are opportunities for you to lead some events to support and motivate your colleagues, too. Remain flexible, participate, and challenge yourself to remain motivated with your job.