For 15 years, in one way or another, I have been working from home. I have 10 tips for working from home to share to help you with the transition. I’ve spent years at my dining room table or on my couch with my laptop. Working from home is not for everyone, but these days many of us are being forced into a new era of Zoom video meetings, webinars, and instant messaging.
10 Tips for Working From Home
Routine and good habits will save you
One of my first tips for working from home is to find a morning routine that grounds you and helps you find a place of positivity to keep you motivated as you move through your day. My routine consists of getting up before everyone in my house, feeding and hanging out with my dog and two cats, a large cup of coffee, coloring, and listening to my business coach’s morning intent on Facebook.
Shower and get dressed
I KNOW that it sounds amazing to work in your pajamas all day. And at first, it truly is awesome. But it gets old, trust me. Plus, sitting around in your robe without brushing your teeth is not great for your productivity.
Even if you change out of your pajamas into yoga pants and a hoodie (my official work uniform), just CHANGE!.
Also, showers are important. I don’t think I need to explain myself here. Social distancing does not mean don’t take care of basic hygiene!
Take breaks, move your body, and s t r e t c h
Working from home is very sedentary for most of us. Do not sit at your desk for hours at a time. Get up every 30 minutes, take a deep breath, stretch, go for a walk, refill your water bottle. Whatever works for you….but GET UP!
Meal plan
I know the kitchen is just downstairs. But even though you are at home, you are really at work. When you work at home, lunch is not the best time to try a new recipe or finally break in your InstantPot. Have your lunches and snacks planned ahead of time and ready to go to save time. Meal planning is a lifesaver!
Plus, wouldn’t you rather spend your lunchtime chillin’ with a taco salad on your back deck than gathering ingredients, chopping, cooking, etc.? One of my next tips for working from home is all about maximizing your time beyond enjoying lunch.
Set “office hours” and respect them
Depending on the field you work in, this can be the most challenging thing to do. But if you set your work hours and honor them, your clients and coworkers will too.
My office hours are 9 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday, because that’s what works best for my family, my brain, and my energy levels. I am busy before 9 and I am useless after 4.
Figure out the work hours that suit you and your situation…and then stick to them!
Time Blocking.
Time blocking is LIFE CHANGING, you guys. I’m not even kidding right now. Every morning, I grab my notebook and time block my day. On the left side, I make a line for each hour of the day. On the right side, I write down what I will do in each hour. I cross things out as I go. If you are really crafty, color code that shit!
This habit will keep you on track, organized, and focused. Plus, I love looking back at the end of the day to see everything I accomplished.
Use timers and alarms!
“Alexa, set a timer for 1 hour.” Girl, do NOT think for a minute that you will have more time to work just because you are home. Trust me. When you work at home, time has a way of disappearing when you aren’t looking. Need to do a load of laundry or call your mom? No worries! But set a timer to remind you to get back on track!
Put the phone down and close your laptop.
You are not 7-11…you are not open 24/7/365. Remember those office hours you are going to set? When it’s closing time, STOP WORKING. I mean it!
Reward yourself at the end of each day
Working from home is hard. Being disciplined enough to ignore the dirty dishes, Netflix, or a gorgeous sunny day is not easy! Make sure you treat yourself at the end of each day for a job well done. Maybe it’s a walk with your dog, a leisurely phone call with your BFF, or a perfect cup of tea. It’s up to you. But find something to reward yourself. Plus, this gives you something to look forward to and it’s a positive item to add to your to-do list!
Find your working from home community
So many of us are working from home now…some of us are seasoned work from home-ers, some of you are like, “What’s a Zoom meeting?”
Schedule a time to chat via text, video conference, or talk on the phone with your coworkers, friends in your field, or accountability partner. You NEED a human connection. Your cat does not count.
Below I’ve listed some great apps I love to use for working from home. Be sure to check them out!
- Social Strategy Squad – small group coaching for female entrepreneurs
- Zoom – video conferencing
- Marco Polo – texting and video chat
- Slack – messaging and chat
- Spotify – music to keep you focused!
Want to dive a little deeper? Need more tips for working from home?
Have a question or tip about working from home? Shoot me an email or comment below. Also, if you want to hear any more tips like these and other topics that impact working from home and small business then follow me on my Facebook page.
Need some help with some of the tasks you are working on from home? Then let’s talk about me helping you!
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