5 Tips to Spice Up Working from Home

We’ve been in a pandemic for what seems like five years now, right? All joking aside, if you’ve been lucky enough to work from home this past year, then it’s possible that you are going stir-crazy. Or maybe you’re simply ready to shake things up a bit.

Working from home has its benefits. Yet, if you are someone who enjoys going to the office every day, chatting with co-workers in person, attending meetings that aren’t all virtual, and having a little spontaneity each week, then we’re here to help. 

Here are five tips to boost your WFH (work from home) environment.

Taking regular breaks throughout the day is important—more than ever before! Without a doubt, these breaks will help you mentally, but they can also boost your quality of work and productivity. These breaks don’t need to be—and shouldn’t be—long or strenuous. 

Walk the dog. Stand up and do some light stretches. Run up and down your stairs. Go outside into your backyard. Dance to a song. Do a quick chore, like emptying or loading the dishwasher. Call a friend. Or choose your own favorite break activity. The goal is to get the blood flowing and the fog cleared from your mind. 

Get creative and switch up your location. If you have a yard or patio and good weather that allows you to sit outside, perfect! If not, try working from the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, even the bedroom. The idea here is to change your surroundings a few times a week so you don’t feel stuck or get lost in the monotony of a daily routine. 

Everyone needs something to look forward to, and what’s better than food? Depending on your budget, treat yourself to a special lunch once a week, every other week, or monthly. Consider trying new restaurants, different foods, places you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t had the opportunity to do so. Not only will this be fun for you, but you can also support small, local businesses. Win-win! 

We can probably all agree on one thing: sweatpants are comfortable! But it can be difficult to trade in the sweats for jeans or dress pants every day. After all, if you’re working from home and there’s no dress code, it can be hard to dress for success. Yet, it can give you a little burst of inspiration to get through the day. Keep your outfits casual as long as you have fun getting dressed. For example, you could have Sandal Mondays or Blue Shirt Fridays. Just have fun! 

Are you motivated by music? Can you work and listen to music at the same time? If so, create different playlists to listen to throughout your day. Try listening to various genres or new artists—anything that keeps you alert and stimulated, even excited about your workday. Depending on the type of music you enjoy, you can even get up periodically and take dance breaks (refer back to Tip #1)! 

Try the tips above to keep your routine fresh and boost your productivity and mood.