As a youth, I find it difficult to work from home and not go to the office. It’s tricky juggling household chores and office work. How can I get better at it and explain to my parents that I’m working and not lazing around? How do I stop feeling stressed and set boundaries when I work from home? 

 

Answered by Karmendra Prakash Shrestha, Junior Project Associate at Happy Minds

 

First, I would like to thank you for asking this question. Acknowledging the presence of a problem is the first step to addressing the problem and asking questions, reaching out for help is a sign of strength.

As companies start becoming more digitalized and online-based, the prevalence of work-from-home (WFH) jobs only increases. The upsurge of WFH jobs is even more emphasized when there are conflicts and crises in a country. WFH jobs offer convenience and safety which on-site jobs may lack.

However, the unique characteristics of WFH jobs that make them attractive also carry inherent disadvantages. One of the reasons why people struggle to work in WFH jobs is because there is a lack of clear distinction between work and home. 

We are greatly influenced by our environment. Each environment has the power to implicitly command us to behave in a certain way. In the case of on-site jobs, there is an inherent distinction between one’s working space and one’s resting space. Everything, the objects, books, people that surround us in on-site jobs implicitly command us to work and everything that surrounds us in our homes commands us to rest and to recover. This distinction is absent or unclear in WFH jobs which makes it difficult for one to work.

This is perhaps more emphasized by the individuals who surround us. People from all generations are slowly understanding the concept of WFH jobs, however, those who are not informed struggle to understand this. Since you are physically at home, your family may assume you are available, which can interrupt your focus.

Another possible reason why one may struggle to work properly in WFH jobs is because of lack of immediate visible accountability. In on-site offices, the people one is surrounded by are present there to work and they expect the same from you as well. This expectation creates fear of being judged negatively. Due to this fear, even if one has impulses to rest and perhaps to procrastinate one might not act upon such impulses. This might not be possible while working from home which further increases the difficulty of working from home.

There are, however, practical ways to manage these challenges. Setting places with their distinct purposes can be especially useful. Dedicate a room or even just a table to use only when you work. Gradually, by associating a specific place to just work, you can train yourself to not be distracted and focus on one’s work.

Using apps or settings in devices that allow (work mode, leisure mode) to set modes can also be a way. Such modes restrict the use of apps for predetermined time which limits screen time and helps one focus on the task at hand.

Third, have an open, patient and respectful conversation with your family members, clearly explaining the nature of your work and what your work demands of you. Communication, which is clear, patient and respectful, can help the other person understand your needs. 

Lastly, before you work, set clear, achievable goals with a specific timeframe and make a commitment that you’ll do nothing else aside from that work. This can help you be accountable to yourself and be clear about your intentions.