By Anusha Bapat

Are you tired of promising yourself to be more productive while working from home just to end up binge-watching “The Office” and completely neglecting your to-do list? We’ve all been there and we’ve all felt guilty for enjoying the procrastination. Quarantine has blurred the line between work and personal life.

Here are a few effective tips to get your work-life back on track while building a healthy relationship with yourself. 

Dedicating an office space:

Your brain has subconsciously established that you complete tasks at your office and you relax at home. There’s no longer a geographic barrier separating the two. This can cause personal cravings to flood into work time. Having the right work environment can immensely impact your attitude towards getting things done. Set up a proper workspace away from your bed. Choose a quiet, clutter-free place with a lot of light and proper ventilation. Make sure you’re cosy and comfortable sitting there for hours. Adding colorful decor and inspirational quotes help. Having a positive image of your workspace will help you start each day with a go-getter mindset. (You will also start loving your couch more because it doesn’t remind you of work!)

Looking the part:

Just like the location, your brain has associated your wardrobe with various events. Your comfortable pink pj’s are only going to remind you of lounging around and cosying back into bed with your favourite book. You’d be surprised by how motivated you get just by getting out of those pyjamas and looking more presentable. It will not only get you ready to kickstart the day but it will also make you feel more put together emotionally. On the bright side, you do have the privilege of choosing something more comfortable than those stuffy formals!

Overcoming distractions: 

It’s common to fall down the social media rabbit hole while “just checking your messages for two minutes”. That’s the thing about social media, you could spend hours scrolling or texting people and it would feel like a few minutes. Using social media when you’re supposed to be working just disrupts your flow and tires you out emotionally. Put your phone on do not disturb and shut all the unnecessary tabs. Don’t give yourself a chance to get carried away by ensuring that you open these apps only when it’s time for a well-deserved break. 

Making a realistic to-do list:

Don’t try to bite off more than you can chew. Setting unrealistic targets will leave you unsatisfied. It’s common to start loathing work because you think you aren’t doing it well enough or fast enough. Allow your inner self-critique to cut you some slack and start with smaller, achievable goals and make sure you get those done. This will motivate you to add more tasks to your list and accomplish way more. You will start noticing growth in your self-confidence and self-satisfaction. Prioritise your tasks. Finish the most time-consuming ones first when you’re fresh and active and progress your way to the less taxing ones. 

Making the most out of those well-deserved breaks:

It’s important to know when to take breaks. Allow yourself ample breaks so that you’re not overwhelmed by your job. Your mind and body need to rejuvenate to be able to work with consistency. At the same time, it is important to know when to stop relaxing and get back to work. Try to avoid looking at a screen during your break. Activities, like working out, cooking, watering plants, journaling and taking baths, can boost your serotonin and make the overall work from home experience much more beneficial to your mind and body.