{"id":7533,"date":"2020-11-06T12:41:54","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T20:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/?p=7533"},"modified":"2021-08-31T05:24:12","modified_gmt":"2021-08-31T12:24:12","slug":"how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stay Happy Working From Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over the last decade, jobs in Vancouver and other regions have become increasingly online-accessible, and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated that growth. As a result, today:<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_50 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-69ec0862397a3\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-69ec0862397a3\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home\/#Who_Benefits_From_Working_From_Home\" title=\"Who Benefits From Working From Home?\">Who Benefits From Working From Home?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home\/#The_Best_Way_To_Stay_Happy_While_Working_From_Home_Make_It_Social_Make_It_Part-Time\" title=\"The Best Way To Stay Happy While Working From Home? Make It Social &amp; Make It Part-Time\">The Best Way To Stay Happy While Working From Home? Make It Social &amp; Make It Part-Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home\/#What_To_Do_When_Working_From_Home_Goes_Wrong\" title=\"What To Do When Working From Home Goes Wrong\">What To Do When Working From Home Goes Wrong<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home\/#Expert-_Science-Backed_Strategies_To_Stay_Happy_Doing_Home-Based_Work\" title=\"Expert- &amp; Science-Backed Strategies To Stay Happy Doing Home-Based Work\">Expert- &amp; Science-Backed Strategies To Stay Happy Doing Home-Based Work<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-stay-happy-working-from-home\/#About_the_Author\" title=\"About the Author\">About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<ul>\n<li>68% of Canadian employers have adopted a flexible workplace structure enabling at least some employees to work from home.<\/li>\n<li>About 40% of all jobs in Vancouver are currently full-time remote positions, up from about 8% in 2016 and just 3% in 2011.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Moreover, even before the pandemic, at least 70% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2018\/05\/30\/70-percent-of-people-globally-work-remotely-at-least-once-a-week-iwg-study.html\">Canadians worked from home<\/a> at least one day per week (on par with the rest of the global job market). About half of those positions enabled remote work for at least 2.5 days per workweek.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_Benefits_From_Working_From_Home\"><\/span>Who Benefits From Working From Home?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The growing body of research showing that remote work is often better for both employees and employers has driven the global trend towards home-based work.<\/p>\n<p>For example, 67%-81% of home-based employees have lower stress levels and higher morale \u2014 and also demonstrate improved work engagement, attendance, productivity, and performance \u2014 than they did while working in-office.<\/p>\n<p>Consequently, employers offering at least half-week workshifting can save as much as $11,000 in overhead and lost productivity per employee.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Best_Way_To_Stay_Happy_While_Working_From_Home_Make_It_Social_Make_It_Part-Time\"><\/span>The Best Way To Stay Happy While Working From Home? Make It Social &amp; Make It Part-Time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The ugly truth about workshifting is that a home-anchored workspace is not automatically (or guaranteed to be) an improvement, and Canadians often either love or vehemently hate home-based work.<\/p>\n<p>This is especially true for people who transition to remote work suddenly and\/or without an option to do otherwise. In these cases, cultivating happiness while working from home can be challenging. That is primarily because:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>The isolation of remote work damages their sense of value to and purpose at the company; and<\/li>\n<li>Home workspaces are often distracting and make it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>That is why just 5% of remote workers see themselves still working with their current employer in five years; 95% are planning or already beginning their job search. Plus, it explains why:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Up to 88% of current full-time remote employees long to go back to work outside the house, even if it is only for part of the workweek.<\/li>\n<li>Although 77% of Canadians believe flexible workplace arrangements are the \u201cnew normal,\u201d only 64% hope to continue doing some home-based work in the future.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_To_Do_When_Working_From_Home_Goes_Wrong\"><\/span>What To Do When Working From Home Goes Wrong<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Sometimes, team-based and\/or partially in-person work is not an option or is not sufficient to make people happy doing home-based work for long periods. Nevertheless, job market experts note that people holding remote jobs in Vancouver or elsewhere are not without other options to reach <em>and sustain<\/em> happiness, even when times are tough.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Expert-_Science-Backed_Strategies_To_Stay_Happy_Doing_Home-Based_Work\"><\/span>Expert- &amp; Science-Backed Strategies To Stay Happy Doing Home-Based Work<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>If none of the following actions can keep you feeling happy while working from home, that is a sign it may be time to start your job search for a position with greater in-office time and opportunities for teamwork.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Establish a daily routine that parallels an in-person workday. This includes setting specific working hours, wearing professional clothing while working, limiting access to at-home distractions during the workday, and taking timed breaks.<\/li>\n<li>Prioritize tasks to cultivate a \u201cflow\u201d mindset (minimize disruptive task switching and more easily become absorbed in the work at hand).<\/li>\n<li>Maintain a high-efficiency home-anchored workspace. The boundaries around dedicated workspaces tend to disintegrate over time, so intentionally maintaining a separate physical and mental space just for work is a continuous project.<\/li>\n<li>Manage clients\u2019 (and coworkers\u2019\/managers\u2019) expectations about your working hours and accessibility while at home.<\/li>\n<li>Reach out to coworkers outside of work activities; build a support system and a social connection to the team\/company.<\/li>\n<li>Seek out coworking spaces where doing individual work may not feel so isolating (and things at home will not be distracting).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Recent Posts:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/how-to-find-a-fulfilling-career-in-5-simple-steps\/\">How to Find a Fulfilling Career in 5 Simple Steps<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/10-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-choosing-a-career\/\">10 Questions To Ask Yourself When Choosing A Career<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/8-tips-to-follow-for-a-successful-career-in-2020\/\">8 Tips to Follow for a Successful Career in 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_Author\"><\/span><strong><em>About the Author<\/em><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/\">BCJobs.ca<\/a> is the largest job board in Western Canada. Listen to our weekly <a href=\"http:\/\/podcast.bcjobs.ca\">podcast<\/a> on <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/6ofih9eWrQy6Ou5sKY9Il3\">Spotify<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/?feed=aHR0cDovL3BvZGNhc3QuYmNqb2JzLmNhL3Jzcw&amp;ep=14\">Google Podcast<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/ca\/podcast\/innovators\/id1521513553?ls=1\">Apple Podcast<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/innovators-now\">Stitcher<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over the last decade, jobs in Vancouver and other regions have become increasingly online-accessible, and the 2020 coronavirus pandemic has only accelerated that growth. As a result, today: 68% of Canadian employers have adopted a flexible workplace structure enabling at least some employees to work from home. About 40% of all jobs in Vancouver are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":7539,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[166,149],"tags":[194,619,617,622,618,550,621,620],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7533"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/109"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7533"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8061,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7533\/revisions\/8061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7539"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bcjobs.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}