I’ve been working from home for years now, and can’t really imagine going into an office because I’m so used to my house. And though the flexibility is so awesome, working from home has its challenges. With so many things around to temp you it’s easy to get off task.
With the current situation I am sure most of you are now working from home, since this is nothing new to me I thought I would share some
hacks for improving your “office” days at home.
GET DRESSED COMFORTABLY
I know there are rules (or “studies” or whatever) about putting on real clothes or an actual outfit when working from home, but it’s not for me. If I don’t have to go anywhere for a few hours, I’m just not going to be in jeans. Instead, I’ll put on lounge-wear. Sometimes, if I know I have a workout in the next few hours, I’ll throw on workout clothes instead. The moral is, change out of pajamas and feel somewhat pulled together, but you don’t have to be uncomfortable. This gets you ready for the day and in work mode, but still feeling good.
CREATE A WORK FLOW ROUTINE
Working from home has tons of perks, but it’s so easy to get off track and spend your day catching up on household chores rather than actually getting career-work done. To help put structure in your day, create a routine for yourself. Decide what time you want to be sitting down checking emails and getting started on your work and stick to it. Write a list of to-dos and an allotted amount of time for each task, even use a calendar– all of a sudden your day will be ten times more productive.
HAVE A DEDICATED WORKSPACE
Having a desk or an office really gets you in the “get stuff done” mindset. Creating a space for working at home can also give you a sense of accountability. If you notice it’s mid-morning and you haven’t made it to your desk yet, you know you better get in gear. And even if you don’t have an office, dedicate a special spot to work. Maybe it’s your kitchen table, or a small table you’ve added to the living room to serve as your desk. And make it cute – add personal touches that make it inviting and inspiring, even if just a cute computer background or photo! No couches or beds allowed
CLEAN SWEEP
This can be done in any part of your home, but I make it a point to hit my desk at the end of each day. Take 2 minutes and clean up your desk. Take coffee mugs back to the sink, wipe it down, put things away, etc. – set yourself up for an easy, clutter-free morning to follow. You’ll be so much more effective!
LEARN TO UNPUG
One of the downsides of working from home is you never “go home” because…you already are. This can make it super hard to know when to shut down the laptop and stop looking at emails. Being plugged in really hard on a person, so make yourself a schedule where you unplug at a certain time and stick to it – you need to recharge. Phones count too. I need to get better at this, 100%!
GET OUTSIDE
Even though you are home and the world seems to be a scary place right now, the fresh air can do you good. Even if you get out for a walk around your neighborhood, get out for a cup of coffee of your deck. Or go for a hike in nature, Get out there and soak in the fresh air. You will be amazed how good you will feel after.
MOVE YOUR BODY
I think this is so important for me anyways, working out is such a huge part of my daily routine and I could not imagine a day without it. Even if you are working from home it is so easy to do a quick online workout, there are so many good ones out there. I recently got a peloton bike and have been using it every day.
These are just a few things I implement everyday as I work from home to ensure that I am successful in all my day-to-day work. I hope as you guys spend the next weeks working from home take some of these tips and they help you in having only good days ahead.
I would love to hear what your tips are from working from home, please leave them in the comments below….