National Work From Home Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

National Work-from-Home Day is observed on the last Thursday of June, which is June 29 this year. It is an opportunity to recognise the technological and cultural advancements that enable us to be as productive outside the office as we are in it. Years ago, working from home was limited to certain occupations or reserved as a perk for employees, while the rest of us endured the daily commute. Now, however, nearly any office task can be performed from home without sacrificing productivity. Today, we celebrate these accomplishments while wearing pyjamas.

The background of National Work From Home Day

The history of working from home should arguably be renamed the history of working, because for the vast majority of human history, the majority of work was performed in and around the home. From the earliest hunter-gatherers to the home-based shops of mediaeval Europe, labouring at home was more common than unusual. Before the Renaissance, when mixed-use storefronts gave way to more centralised administrative buildings for government and institutions, the concept of going to an office for work did not even exist.

However, the Industrial Revolution of the nineteenth century profoundly altered the way we labour. People were no longer able to do their work within the confines of their homes due to the advent of factories with sophisticated and heavy machinery for producing products such as textiles. This created the model of skilled workers working outside the household, which would eventually evolve into the office-style work model we are familiar with today.

The creative arts — painters, musicians, writers, etc. — and multi-level marketing jobs that became prominent in the 1950s and 1960s were the only occupations permitted to work from home for the majority of the 20th century.

In the background, however, the technology was steadily evolving to the point where working from home was technologically advanced and as productive as working in an office. From roughly the 1980s to the present day, technology has gradually increased the number of remote work opportunities. Personal computers, fax machines, mobile phones, the internet, video conferencing, and collaborative documents have all contributed to changes in the culture and capability of remote work.

In the coming months, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on remote work is analysed, many cultural barriers to remote work may be diminished or eliminated, revealing a renaissance in remote work professions (pants options, of course).

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Activities on National Work from Home Day

No Clothing, No Footwear, No Problem

If you have already chosen to observe National Work From Home Day by working from home, why not go one step further and disregard the office dress code entirely? Want to type while wearing denim cutoffs and an ancient band T-shirt? Try your best. Who are we to condemn you for preferring pyjamas? Relax, because you’re already at home.

Wow, That Couch Looks Soothing!

Your home office may have the newest ergonomic chairs from Sweden, but they are no match for your settee. Place your laptop on a pillow on your lap and get to work.

Prepare a Homemade Gourmet Lunch

At the office, lunch typically consists of greasy takeaway or a limp sandwich consumed at your workstation. At home, however, you have access to a variety of foods and culinary supplies. Why not take advantage of them? Spend some time (recesses are beneficial) and prepare a delicious meal from scratch. You will feel much better about your dietary decisions and return to your desk feeling revitalised and prepared.

5 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF HOME-BASED WORK

It is irrelevant what it is as long as you adhere to it. Routines increase productivity and alleviate concerns about never leaving the office.

We may have never felt so isolated in our lives, but that is no reason to let those professional relationships wither. Set up a virtual happy hour, have snacks or lunches delivered, maintain watercooler conversation on Slack or Basecamp, and celebrate both personal and professional achievements.

Even if your office is your kitchen table, there is no reason for the office to take over your home. As with a regimen, it is essential to establish boundaries between your work and personal lives. Put the laptop away, abandon your home office, and perhaps mute your Slack messages at the end of the workday.

When working in an office and your children are in school, it is easy to neglect how difficult it is to balance both responsibilities. Creating rules and routines for your children will help reduce the number and frequency of interruptions now that everyone is home (and the children are likely restless).

It is easy to overlook the significance of simple conversation with your coworker in resetting your brain’s productivity levels. Take meaningful breaks when working from home, particularly when working alone. Take a walk, perform some moderate exercise, and then read for a few minutes. Engage in activities that provide your brain with the necessary break to maintain high productivity.

NATIONAL WORK FROM HOME DAY DATES