Stuck at home in the snow (and the pandemic)? Working from home in winter can be wonderful and awful – every positive and negative aspect of a home office becomes more extreme at this dark, cold time of year.
I personally have struggled with winter for years, even when I used to work in a corporate office. (Just see my 2019 article on tips to enjoy winter in non-pandemic times!) But I’ve been challenging myself every year to approach this season in a new way, and in Winter 2021 more than ever.
So, here are my top 9 tips for accepting – and maybe even enjoying – working from home in winter.
1. Consider working from home in winter as a time for planting seeds
In content marketing, there’s a piece of wisdom that says everything you do now will see it’s effects 3 months down the line. So embrace tucking up next to your laptop this winter, and see this as a fertile time for your year’s business goals. Put in focused, calm effort now when there’s less to distract you, so you can celebrate and take time off later when everything’s excitingly in motion!
Here’s one example: as a small business owner, you could start employing SEO best practices on your blog this winter (which should see its results on Google 3 months from now).
Another example is to go into major content creation mode. The energy of winter is perfect for focused, solitary projects, like batching your blog posts or filming a season’s worth of YouTube videos. Again, there are less distractions, so your mind can start focusing and implementing those ideas that were sparked in you last fall.
Trust me, your spring self will thank you!
2. Outdoor winter activities
3. Sunlight
So, nothing matches the boost we get from real sunlight on our skin (just make sure you wear sunscreen, even in winter!), but in especially cold and dark locations, like close to the North Pole where there are days without any sun at all, sunlamps and Vitamin D supplements can be really life-changing.
4. Protect your health
- Get your flu shot – and as soon as you can, your Covid-19 vaccine! They’ll save you from unpleasant illness, and literally save the lives of the elderly, and the immunocompromised.
- Get enough sleep.
- Take breaks.
- Check your blood work with your doctor, and augment your diet and/or add supplements to ensure you’re being properly nourished.
- And if you do get sick, if it’s AT ALL possible, take those sick days! They’re your right, they help you recover faster, and they protect others from getting sick too.
5. Wear thermals. For real.
As a Canadian, I knew about thermals, of course. But no one my age ever actually wore them.
Well, ever since discovering Fashion Mumblr I’ve been convinced that genuinely thin, cute, and good quality thermals do exist. And they’re critical if you want to embrace winter! I now have 6 different long-sleeved thermal shirts from Marks & Spencer, and 4 pairs of thermal leggings from both that shop and Calzedonia which I’d thoroughly recommend.
6. Heat up your bones regularly
- Have a hot bath with your snuggly bathrobe and slippers prepared, especially a couple of hours before bed so you get the sleep-related benefits
- Get your heart rate up and sweat while doing cardio exercise.
- If you’re so lucky, enjoy your hot tub or sauna! Enjoying it is the least you can do for us folks without them.
7. Invest in outerwear, and WEAR A HAT
And regardless of what the people around you do *ahem, Spaniards* – wear a hat, scarf and gloves! Protect your body heat, protect yourself.
8. Bring life indoors
Green plants and fresh flowers remind us that spring is just around the corner. Plus they provide us with mental and respiratory benefits when working from home in winter!
For example, I have a money plant situated right beside me here as I write, on my desk. There are plenty of shops that’ll deliver flowers and potted plants to your door too, even if you’re in lockdown. And afterward, your plant will give you a little living thing to nourish and focus on. (Just like those metaphorical seeds you planted in your business from Tip 1!)
9. Ask for help
Want another way to stay connected while working from home this winter? Join the Intrepid Emma newsletter (and get a freebie on repurposing content for your business too!)