At the outset of COVID-19, it was estimated that approximately four in ten Canadians were employed in jobs that could be done from home, and many of us did just that. While many workplaces (including Home Trust) have been accommodating by providing employees with equipment from the office, and financial supplements to purchase more, there is one thing that no second monitor or equipment stipend can fix: a lack of separation between home and work.

As the months go on and we look ahead at the potential for working from home for a little while longer, here are some ideas you can consider to maintain some separation between work and home.

Put away work at the end of the day

The easiest way to separate your work day from the time after hours is by physically packing up your workspace at the end of the day. Powering off your laptop, or at least closing the lid and putting it away, can help prevent you from going back to just “check on one thing.” Close up notebooks and put away pens you don’t use after hours too!

By making it more difficult to get re-absorbed in work when the day is done, you buy yourself some valuable time to rest and recharge before starting all over again tomorrow.

Take breaks at regular intervals

While there is no doubt working from home has its advantages, including reduced commute times and fewer distractions from coworkers, there are some drawbacks that must also be taken into consideration. For example, when working from home, there are fewer natural breaks that occur throughout the course of the day.

But taking breaks throughout the day is important! And, though it may seem counterintuitive, taking a break can actually increase your productivity. Plus, when you’re living and working in the same place, all the time, a break to get outside and clear your head can be a very welcome change.

Invest in the right equipment

Because we don’t yet know how long many of us will continue to work from home, it’s understandable if you don’t want to invest in a lot of furniture that might not be of use in a short while. However, the importance of being comfortable at home simply cannot be underestimated. To ensure you can effectively get the most out of your space at home while it doubles as your office, consider investing even a small amount of money in the right equipment.

While individual needs and preferences may vary, some items worthy of consideration for more prolonged spells of remote working include a proper office chair, rather than one of the chairs from the dining room that is best suited for mealtimes. Speaking of the dining room, even a very small desk that is at the correct height may better suit your needs – and your lower back! If space is an issue, consider a wall-mounted desk that can fold out of the way when it’s not in use.  

Nobody knows exactly when people working from home will make a return to the office, or what the world of work will look like once we get there. But we do know that making an effort to keep work and home separate as much as possible will help us stay focused until that day comes.

If you are investing in pieces to help make your time working from home more comfortable, consider making your purchases with a credit card that rewards you for your spending with cash back and the peace of mind of purchase security, like the Home Trust Preferred Visa.

Visit our website to learn more, and apply today to start earning rewards!

The information, materials and opinions contained in this Blog are provided for your information only. This Blog does not constitute legal, financial or other professional advice and you should not rely on it as an alternative to specific advice based on your particular circumstance. This Blog contains links to third party websites. These links are provided for information and convenience; Home Trust does not endorse the content of any third party website, and it makes no representation or warranty as to the information on such third party sites. By clicking on any link to a third party site, you leave Home Trust’s website and do so at your own risk. Home Trust disclaims all liability for any damage or loss that results from your access to or reliance on information contained in this Blog or any third party site.