The term “working from home” often presents diverse imagery for many. From a basic Google Search, working from home insinuates people handling their tasks from the floor, pets crawling all over, and some calming their babies while receiving work-related calls while dressed in pajamas. Without a doubt, most of these home-related activities cannot be done at regular offices, except for dogs as some offices have recently become dog friendly.
A clear conclusion is that working from home is equivalent to working from a zoo. Most people tend to associate remote work with unlimited freedom, where they dress the way they want, spend time with family, and enjoy all home-related activities while working. This isn’t far from the truth, as it allows more freedom compared to physical office settings.
On the contrary, working remotely helps employees adopt a smart and healthier working schedule. Remote work should help you to develop self-control and set boundaries. This is important for those working from home, co-working space, or in restaurants, which brings some home and work separation.
Working from home prompts most people to work from their beds, arguably the most comfortable place at home. So to say, the majority of young professionals, approximately 80 percent, attest to working from their beds. Although beds provide unmatched comfort, you should avoid it for the following reasons.
Bedrooms are Not Relaxing
A lot comes with embracing separate spaces at home. You should consider eating or sleeping in a place that you don’t work for many reasons. Understandably, it can be challenging to create separate spaces, especially if a bachelor’s apartment is what you call home. Even then, learn to create separate spaces. Have somewhere to eat, sleep, and work, even if it could be easier to do them from the same place.
According to studies from Harvard’s Division of Sleep Medicine, work shouldn’t be done where there is sleep. Keeping your work materials, which could include laptops and TVs away from your sleeping area, strengthens the association between sleep and your bedroom. This means that you will have difficulty time falling asleep if you work from your bed, as your brain will register it as a place of work.
Eliminates Work and Home Boundaries
Separating your work from home becomes difficult with remote work. Not unless you embrace working from the nearest coffee shop or a co-working space, you will find it challenging to draw a boundary between your regular life and work. Since you will be working and relaxing at the same place, you wouldn’t even realize how you will end mixing up the two.
According to the Harvard Business Review, the best way to become productive when working remotely is by establishing clear boundaries between work and home. Otherwise, you will start feeling like you are always at work, fading out where you can come home to. Being always at work is certainly not a healthy lifestyle, so you shouldn’t work from your bed. Have a dedicated space for work and another for relaxing.
Affects Your Quality of Sleep
Working from bed means that you will bring all the necessities, including your laptop, cellphones, and other items you use at work. Doing this can have a significant impact on the quality of your sleep. Working before you sleep means that you will be looking at bright screens, which reduces the much-needed melatonin that induces sleep. Bright light activates the optic nerves, making it challenging to get good quality sleep and productivity at large.
Working from your bed will affect restful sleep and affect your work and productivity the next day. Just like there are endless reasons not to work from your bed, you can achieve a good night’s sleep and feel comfortable while working from home in several ways.
Keeping Your Devices Away From Your Bed
You should create a safe space in your bed and make your bedroom solely for sleeping. This should involve having a good quality mattress, dark curtains, and other installations to improve your sleep quality. To achieve this, don’t bring electrical devices into your bed. This will promote your quality of sleep and help create some boundaries between work and home lifestyle.
Have a Separate Working Space
Since it is not advisable to work from your bed, consider creating a separate working space. This could mean having a specific table or room in your home for work. Consider working from a nearby coffee shop, restaurant, or a co-working space if you find this challenging.
