Working from home can be challenging for the best of people, especially if you are used to working out of the house. It poses challenges that you didn’t even realize were there. Trying to get motivated in your own space is difficult especially with the distractions of the dogs, kids, or the desire to crawl back into bed! Not to mention the fact that staying in your house for too long can make you feel a little stir crazy! I have put together my top tips to help keep you sane while working from home.
Create a Schedule: Figure out a schedule that works for you and stick to it as much as you can. This one can be extremely difficult for some people because of their children, animals, loved ones etc. Try your best to maintain a work-life balance.
Create a Morning Routine: Wake up at the same time every day. Don’t allow yourself to stay in bed all day just because you are working from home. Find what makes you feel motivated. Is this doing a morning workout? Having a cup of coffee? Get ready in the morning just as you would if you were going to work. Do your daily cleansing routine, have a shower, and do your skincare routine. The biggest one is to get dressed and out of your pajamas. This does not mean that you can’t be in a stylish pair of comfy sweats, and of course a bra is optional… but just take the bed routine out of it! Start your work day by checking your emails and replying to any that require immediate attention.
Hydrate: Make sure to always have a glass of water beside you. This one is important. Not having enough water can make you feel sleepy and unmotivated.
Dedicated Workspace: Set up a space in your home that’s dedicated just for work. Not everyone has a home office. In this case, when the computer is sitting at the table, this is work time and when it is on your lap, it is personal time. Working from your couch doesn’t always help keep you productive!
To-Do lists: Make your to-do list for the day. Write down everything that you would like to achieve for the day and check off the list as you go. This will help you stay productive!
Schedule Breaks: Make sure to still schedule in coffee breaks and lunch breaks. I try and schedule in a quick 15-30 minute yoga session in my day. This helps get my body moving and feeling refreshed. There are lots of free or cheap apps online to download. You can also find quick yoga and workout sessions for free on YouTube!
Building Relationships: One of the hardest things about working at home is not being able to socialize with others. Find people that are doing the same things as you! Schedule in time to do weekly video calls with these people to discuss different approaches to take in your business and how you can succeed. This is beneficial not only for your success but also your sanity.
Staying Motivated: While I’m working at home, I sometimes lose my motivation or get easily distracted. I have found a couple things that seem to make those days go by faster! What I like doing is having a nice glass of wine or hot chocolate in the afternoons. Making a fun snack to eat while you’re working is also a fun idea to keep motivated. If you are feeling a bit
overwhelmed, take a break and watch a quick 30 minute Netflix show. Friends is an all-time favourite of mine, as well as Jane the Virgin! Sometimes taking the dogs out for a quick walk can also help you to not feel so trapped in your house.
Reflecting: At the end of your work day, take a minute to relax and reflect on your day. Go over your to do list and see what you completed and what has to be completed the next day. Really give yourself credit, because you are not alone and this isn’t easy. Working from home is tough, I struggle with this often. Be compassionate with yourself and proud of what you completed.
Close the Doors: Once you are done work for the day, close the doors both physically and mentally. Allow this time to spend with your family. This is a good way to draw a boundary from work to home life. This one can be the hardest for people. Do the things that make you happy and forget about work.
Working Moms: Trying to work from home can be difficult at the best of times, let alone working at home with kids. Many people don’t have the help of family or friends. If this is you, figuring out a routine that is the most productive for you and your children is the key to success. If your job permits it, make your schedule around your kids. Your work day might not be a typical 9-5, but that’s okay! Graveyard shifts sometimes work best for night owls.
Start work earlier than you normally would before the kids wake up. Try to get things out of the way in the morning such as emails, prep work and your to-do list. This will help so that you’re not struggling throughout the day. Depending on how old your kids are, give them a solid craft to do that can free up an hour for you to do a power hour of work. You can also try and get some solid work in while the kids are napping or sleeping. At the end of the day, don’t be so hard on yourself! In the craziness of your day, take a moment just for yourself. Have a glass of wine, have a bath and relax.