10 Ways to Enjoy Working at Home, the Estonian Way

Estonians have mastered working from home. They invented Skype after all.

With a strong tech industry and blazing fast internet, “flex time at home” has been widely accepted for a while.

It’s so remote friendly, you don’t even have to live there to be a resident.

Last year, I was lucky enough to go in person and pick up a few tricks.

1. Start off on the right foot.

Move that alarm back 30 minutes at least.

Resist the temptation to check your phone first thing in the morning.

Make sure to turn off your alerts the night before. Especially if your boss isn’t your favorite person.

You don’t need to check anything until 9am. You’re not on the clock yet.

Now you can take your time to eat something healthy and delicious.

You’ll feel better already.

2. Set the right mood.

Music sets the tone for the day and makes everything nicer.

I prefer something soothing that doesn’t put me to sleep.

Chill hop is your friend. This channel will sort you out for a while until it gets repetitive.

Then, you can alternate between classical, afro soul, jazz, bossa nova, dream pop, etc.

Lighting makes a big difference too. In Estonia, where it’s dark and cold half the year, they call this concept “hubane”, or cozy.

They create a festive environment indoors, because it’s too cold to go outside.

This includes Christmas lights, blankets, pillows and candles.

You can find what works for you!

3. Get social.

Since you might not have anyone to collaborate with, you can get a sense of community and interaction elsewhere. Unless you have a cat.

Set aside a few minutes every hour for some water cooler talk on Slack or other messaging app.

But make sure to have a time limit, so you don’t overdo it.

This is especially true for social media.

4. Give yourself a win.

Break larger tasks into smaller milestones that take 30 minutes to an hour.

After you complete one, give yourself a reward, like a cup of tea, and celebrate. You earned it.

Share your success with a like-minded friend for extra validation.

5. Exit the loop.

Everyone gets caught in a loop once in a while.

For me, it’s Reddit and Slack.

When I realize I’ve gone through this cycle twice in 5 minutes, I close my laptop and do a chore, take a walk, meditate, stretch, etc.

6. Enjoy the moment.

Stay positive about your situation.

Focus on how nice it is avoiding long meetings and that annoying coworker who corners you in the bathroom.

Make sure to do this as often as you like. It’s easy to lose sight of the good things in life.

7. See green.

I have to relearn this one every so often, since it’s not a priority in modern society.

It was solidified for me in Estonia, where they don’t do manicured lawns and opt for untamed forest instead.

I took my lunch outside one day and felt refreshed instantly.

Some call this effect, “forest bathing“.

The beach is even better when it’s an option.

Given your current situation, you may or may not have access to a park. There’s usually one nearby with few people where you can decompress.

If not, you can create the same effect at home. Or, look out your window at anything green and calming.

8. Switch it up.

Variety is the spice of life and you can have plenty of it now. I go from working on the bed to the couch, and if I have one, a desk.

I might even try a café for a few hours when it’s an option. This keeps things fresh and interesting.

Coffee shops are extra nice at 9am when everyone is at work.

9. Keep your spine aligned.

After a separated shoulder and mild carpal tunnel from desks that aren’t right for me, I’ve learned a lot about staying healthy in impromptu work spaces.

Pilates and yoga are great for keeping your posture in check and you energized.

I do a quick session once a day to break up the monotony.

Also, make sure you’re comfortable. Screen should be at eye-level with wrists/back straight.

10. Quitting time.

Make sure to stop working at a set time.

Turn off everything and allow yourself to be proud.

You accomplished all your goals and had fun doing it! Now you can just sit back and relax.