With the rise of remote work, many of us have found ourselves navigating the challenges and benefits of working from home for an extended period. Welcome to our world! HiringThing has been a 100 percent remote company since we were established in 2012. Over the years, we've grown and refined our approach to remote work. Not only are we great at what we do, but we also know how to have fun! If you're new to working remotely, check out our top five tips for staying sane and having fun while working from home.
Five Ways to Stay Sane While Working Remotely
1. Switch Up Your Location
Why tie yourself to an uncomfortable desk chair when you’re working from home? Take advantage of the perks of remote working and settle in somewhere cozy! Work from the couch or your favorite overstuffed chair. As long as you can use your keyboard, it’s fair game. Consider working outside as well. Taking in fresh air and the beauty of nature can be relaxing and spur creativity. Working on a front porch or on a blanket in the backyard might be just what you need. If you’re tired of sitting, try that standing desk hack you've been thinking about. Or, pile some books on a desk and create a makeshift solution. Bonus? No coworkers are around to make fun of you. Keep switching it up to avoid cramps in places you didn’t know existed.
2. Take Breaks
Have you been having a hard time remembering what day it is? You’re not alone. Without our usual routines, it's easy to lose track of time and end up working longer hours. With no commute or evening plans, it’s tempting to keep working. Make sure you take breaks to help out with household tasks, enjoy a long lunch, or get some fresh air. Whether you have kids or not, it’s important to step away from your computer, interact with friends and family, and exercise. Stick to a schedule and make sure to sign off at a certain time. Studies show that longer hours don’t necessarily mean more productivity – efficient workers can accomplish more in a shorter day. Don’t feel like you have to be constantly online to prove your worth.
3. Socialize Remotely
It’s easy to retreat into your own world when working remotely, especially when you’re not leaving your home much. However, chatting with your coworkers can add some levity to your day and boost your mood and mental outlook.
At HiringThing, we strive to get to know each other better. Whether it’s casual department hangouts or fun events like our Halloween costume contest, we aim to connect. We have multiple Slack channels dedicated to non-work communications. In our fitness channel, we share tips, resources, and encouragement. In our parents channel, those with children post cute kid photos, online educational resources, and tips for entertaining the kiddos. We have weekly happy hours (at three different times to cover our time zones) to help each other relax. A yoga aficionado on our team even started teaching a weekly virtual yoga class for anyone who needs some de-stressing.
4. Be Comfortable
Now is not the time to wear a suit. If getting dressed in real clothes gets you ready to work and makes you feel productive, then go for it. But make sure you are relaxed and comfortable. Yoga pants? Great. Sweatpants? No problem. Want to wear your pajama pants? That gets a cautious thumbs-up, but if you have any video calls, make sure not to stand up.
5. Use Zoom backgrounds
You’ve probably been on plenty of Zoom calls, but have you tried their virtual backgrounds? There are tons of free, fun backgrounds to choose from, whether your taste leans towards Game of Thrones or Finding Nemo. Not only is this a great conversation starter that will give your coworkers a chuckle, but it’s also a good way to obscure anything you might not want visible in your home. Just be careful – you’ve heard about the person who turned themselves into a potato and couldn’t turn it off. Don’t be that person.
About HiringThing
HiringThing is a modern recruiting and employee onboarding platform as a service that creates seamless talent experiences. Our white label solutions and open API enable HR technology and service providers to offer hiring and onboarding to their clients. Approachable and adaptable, the HiringThing HR platform empowers anyone, anywhere to build their dream team.
