What Are Some Things I Can Do To Keep My Mind Fresh While Working From Home?
While there are lots of reasons why people are enjoying working from home (so long, traffic jams!), we don’t always get the stimulation we need to stay focused and productive. Taking breaks throughout the day is necessary, but not necessarily invigorating or refreshing. We need mental inspiration and stimulation to do our best work, but some of our favorite activities may not be compatible with our working hours and environment. Here are a few ideas you can use to stay sharp, be creative, and keep your workday flowing and on task.
How To Stay Productive Working From Home
Many of our jobs require superior organizational skills. Many of us produce, categorize, or research data. We crunch numbers, we create files, we make charts and graphs, and do things that might have been interesting the first time, but lose their luster or any sense of mystery almost immediately. If organizing is at the heart of what you do, try COLORING! Staying inside the lines is your job, but adding color can be your joy. Or even purposely color outside the lines! (Gasp!) Really! It may feel good to go ‘against the rules’, and release any frustrations you may have if you are feeling constrained by your job description. You might enjoy revisiting some classic childhood favorites (I was a fan of The Pink Panther), or you might like adult coloring books (not THAT kind of “adult”) that feature geometric patterns, flowers, etc. Paint-by-numbers has come a long way and with just a little time each day, a masterpiece can unfold before your eyes. A little coloring for a fifteen- or thirty-minute break will distract you enough to help you focus when you go back to work.
Some of us need to be more creative at work and staring at a blank screen waiting for inspiration can be an exercise in futility. Try BUILDING SOMETHING! Legos are not just for kids; age-appropriate recommendations never have a maximum age, so you are never too old! Many sets sold today require more hours and focus than most kids have, and there are lots of fun subjects to choose from, or you can just build randomly and see what happens. Snap-together and glue-together models are also classic favorites not just for kids, and can get custom paint jobs, too! Make stuff with popsicle sticks or tongue depressors. Buy some blocks, or even use what you have around the house. Build a fort! Why not work from inside your fort for a day? Building something will help you feel creative and accomplished and maybe even inspire a new idea you can apply to your work.
How Can I Be More Creative While Working From Home?
Some of us need to be able to “think outside the box” for a living, and waiting for the idea fairy to visit us is not always convenient. To help inspire creativity, try BEING CREATIVE in new ways. Stretching our brains by trying something new is an effective and fun way to open new neural pathways. Pick up an instrument or sketch pad and just see what happens. There doesn’t need to be a goal; you can just play instead of trying to learn anything in particular. Trying to be good at an instrument or art can be very frustrating. Give yourself the freedom to explore instead of demanding perfection from yourself. Spend as little time at it as you want, because it is only for you and won’t be judged by anyone. The freedom to create without boundaries will help you be creative within the boundaries of your role at work.
How Can I Be More Focused While Working From Home?
When we are bored working from home, our focus suffers. Some of us fall into daydreams very easily, and many of the ideas mentioned above can be helpful, but a great way to help focus is with PUZZLES. Picture puzzles, word puzzles, and number puzzles require us to focus, and it is easy to lose track of time when working on any of these. Start with easy puzzles; you will improve over time, and it is important to foster a sense of accomplishment so that you see your focus paying off. Spend small amounts of time at first, and limit the time, so that you leave the activity wanting to go back to it instead of being exhausted or defeated by it. Puzzles will sharpen your focus and help you retain focus at work.
No matter the reason for you being bored while working from home, you need to MOVE. If you want to be creative, sitting still is killing your mojo. Stagnation of the brain is often the product of stagnation of the body. Stretching at your seat is enough; just reach out in all directions as far as comfortably possible. Roll your shoulders and your neck. Wiggle in your seat. Spread your fingers and point your toes. Get up if you can; jump, bend, squat, even rolling on the ground is better than doing nothing. Your goal is just increasing blood flow, and we can have mental blocks about calling something exercise, so wiggle, dance, run down the hallway, whatever, just get up and move and you will get rid of boredom and feel refreshed getting back to work.
About Our Guest Writer:
M.R. Felker, Content Writer. M.R. Felker lives near San Diego, travels frequently with his amazing wife, and likes to live dangerously by accepting candy from strangers.
Fighting Boredom At Work FAQs
How Can I Avoid Boredom At Work If I Can’t Leave My Desk?
There are toys and other things available that can fit on your desk that can be a fun break. Miniature rock gardens, puzzle boxes and even fidget spinners can all be good distractions.How Can I Avoid Feeling Bored Every Time I Sit At My Desk?
If you have room at your workstation, add plants, photos, toys, or memorabilia to make it more personal and inviting.How Can I Avoid Feeling Sleepy Because I'm Bored At My Desk?
Take care to have good posture when sitting. Leaning back in your chair and having bad posture sends the message to your brain that focus is not necessary; be more at attention, rather than too relaxed.Advertising Disclosure: This post may contain promotional links. Watch the Review may be compensated if you use these links.
