I’m no stranger to working from home. I’ve been working remotely since I moved to the Netherlands in December 2018. It may seem like the most amazing thing to be able to work in your pajamas from your couch, but don’t forget there are downsides.  There are many adjustments that I had to get used to when I began working from home.

Disadvantages

Social Interaction

I miss chatting with my colleagues and clients the most. I’m no longer able to sit down with my colleagues and have a conversation. This was especially really hard for me when I started working remotely. I had moved to a new country, and didn’t know a soul except for my boyfriend. It took me over six months to make friends here. 

Supplies

When you’re in your workplace, you have everything available to you. Supplies such as paper, a printer, scanner, stamps to send mail, paperclips, staples etc are just there for you to use. Make sure that when working from home, you obtain or purchase the supplies you need.

You Can’t Help Feeling Like You’re Always Working

Working from home isn’t a regular work situation unless you set hours for yourself or they are set by your company. I work anywhere from 9:00am to 11:00pm. Even if I’m not working those hours straight through, I’m always clocking in and out throughout the day.

Advantages

Peace and Quiet

Usually when working from home, there are no distractions. That gives you so much more time to focus on your work and not get sidetracked chatting with someone at work.

Work Wherever – More Flexibility

Sometimes I have a doctor’s appointment in the middle of the day, and I don’t have to take off time for it. I simply take care of all my urgent work prior, and keep my phone by my side just in case something urgent comes up. This can be with any case. Makes life a whole lot easier.

No More Commute

You would not believe how much time a week I saved by not going to the office. Can you guess? I saved 10 hours a week! I had 2 hours of commute a day. Now I can spend that time on work or personal projects instead of falling asleep on the train.

Tips for Successfully Working Remotely

Take Frequent Breaks

Don’t be afraid to get up and go for a walk. Go see that thing in your neighborhood that you’ve been wanting to check out for like forever. Breaks are so important. Some days I take a 20 minute coffee break and then clock back in. Some days I take a 30 minute bike ride before returning to work. Just getting away from the computer helps you get back to focusing on work so your brain doesn’t turn to mush.

Set Time Goals

Some days are hard. Most days I’m able to focus on the work I have to do. But some days, I can’t. On such days, I set myself time goals. For example, from 12:00 to 2:00pm I’m going to finish x work and then take a break. This method has really helped me with getting work done on those days when I just feel like I’d rather be sleeping.

Get Yourself a Real Office

What I mean by that is, get a monitor or a computer, not a laptop. Get yourself a comfortable chair and desk. I learned this the hard way, but working on the couch from my laptop made my wrists hurt so badly. I finally invested in a chair and a proper monitor. My wrists don’t hurt anymore and I feel so much better. Don’t forget, health is wealth.

I got a bright green chair because it’s my favorite color. I love having a pop of color to add brightness. I also put the mother in law’s tongue plant my boyfriend gave me for Valentine’s Day on my desk. Add some things that make you feel happy, and that would make you focus better.

Put On Clothes

You don’t have to get all fancy, put on makeup or even brush your teeth. Just put on some clothes. That way you won’t have any excuses to why you can’t take a walk or run an errand. Also, clothes help you feel more motivated, and not sleepy.

Don’t Overwhelm Yourself

Lastly, and most importantly, don’t feel like the world is going to come crashing down if you don’t finish your entire to do list that day. Finish the time sensitive things and whatever else you’re able to complete. There simply isn’t enough time in a day to do absolutely everything. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Be sure to follow me on my Instagram scribble_a_dream where I post all about Dutch living and more.

What tricks help you concentrate on work?