It seems as though everyone wishes they could work from home.  Some of the benefits touted include less commute time, greater flexibility, and it “seems” so much less stressful.  But there can be some pitfalls.  For those experienced work from home (WFH) pros, they report a decrease in opportunities to socialize with others and the potential for interference with work-life harmony.  Finding ways to address these two issues can make transitioning to WFH much smoother.

For some, working from home can feel isolating.  You don’t run into people in the break room or catch up with coworkers over lunch.  Some people can begin to feel lonely and disconnected, which can have a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing.  To counteract working solo and WFH, incorporate socialization into your routine.  There are a lot of ways to accomplish this both within and outside of your day-to-day work.  They include: 

• Communicate regularly with your manager and coworkers—schedule phone or video conferences regularly to stay on track with your team. Make sure you know whom to reach out to when you have questions or run into computer issues.
• Some companies offer group training sessions or have group meetings for common interests like yoga, toastmasters, or classes for career advancement. Sign up for anything that interests you.   If possible, try to attend in-person (or virtual when necessary) happy hours and other after-work events with friends and coworkers.
• Take advantage of the flexible schedule. Take short walks and make time to exercise with friends.  Perhaps consider volunteering at a non-profit or charity organization.

 Although there are some distractions in a typical office environment, there are WFH factors that may cause work life and home life to merge to the point where it may seem like the workday is extended.  To prevent this, try to establish boundaries that differentiate between work and personal time.

• Designate a workspace. It helps to have a space solely for work, even if it’s just a desk.  If you don’t have extra space, pack up work stuff at the end of each day and take it out again the next morning.
• Splitting time between what needs to be done for work and things that need to be done around the house will require working longer hours or working into the night.
  • Work hard during your scheduled hours, so you are productive.
  • Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about ignoring housework because you are home; you are doing your job.
  • Losing track of time and working far longer than intended or feeling the need to do extra to prove that you are productive are also common.
  • Extra hours can create problems for a company, and it may be a disservice to you to work extra hours without pay.
  • Consider modifying email notifications when off work. If you still feel the need to check-in, limit yourself to set times to review and respond.

WFH is new for many.  Protect your sanity by establishing a routine that creates boundaries between your work and home lives and finding ways to interact with friends and coworkers.