10 WAYS TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE WHEN WORKING FROM HOME

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Working from home is cushy, I’m not going to lie. I can wear anything I want, have unlimited snack breaks and my commute from my bedroom to my office is more than manageable (the only bad joke in this post, I promise!).

One of the cons, however, is that it can be really hard to get stuff done. You just have so much freedom and flexibility. When I first started working from home I really wanted to be as structured and organized as possible because I knew that if I wasn’t I would get lazy af. Along the way, I’ve adjusted my routine and made some tweaks here and there to make my work day even more productive. I wanted to share my top 10 tips for becoming more productive when working from home with you!

#1: HAVE AN OFFICE SPACE

No, I don’t mean break the bank renting out an office space or anything crazy like that. I mean finding an area, no matter how small, in your home that can be designated exclusively for work. I’m lucky that I was able to work out a sweet deal with my landlord and rent out the other room in my tiny apartment when my roommate moved out last year. I turned the room into my office (and kind of second closet…#priorities) and it’s probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Every morning after I wake up and get ready it’s really nice to mentally and physically shift into a workspace. When I’m in my room my brain knows it’s time to sleep or relax but when I’m in my office I feel motivated and ready to tackle my never-ending to do list.

However, you definitely don’t need an entire room to create an amazing office space! Move your desk into a corner in your living room, get some cute office supplies that you can place on your kitchen table when you’re working, etc. Whatever works for you and your home! Just be sure to make it a separate space from your bedroom if possible. Bedrooms can be filled with lots of distractions (aka your bed) which will make it impossible to focus.

I decorated mine with chic elements that both express my love for fashion as well as serve a functional purpose. Some of my favorite items are below:

#2: ACTUALLY GET READY

I know what you’re thinking: pjs. Yes, you certainly have the option of staying in your pjs all day long but I really don’t recommend it. It might feel comfy and fun in the beginning but if you make it an everyday thing you may start to feel…not so cute.

I’m not saying you should get all glammed up every day (unless you want to) but there’s something about getting dressed in a comfy but cute work outfit, brushing your hair (and your teeth please) and getting presentable that creates a nice transition into the work part of your day. Picking out an outfit I love, even when I’m not going anywhere, makes me feel like a boss. I feel like a business owner. I feel like my best self.

I don’t necessarily wear make up every day. Most days I don’t unless I’m going somewhere later in the day or I feel like playing around. I like to let my skin breathe and typically will put a facemask (or two) on in the morning while I’m working.

Just like working from your bed can feel a little too relaxed for working, wearing your pjs can make you feel like you’d rather be snuggled up under the covers binge watching Stranger Things. Save the pjs for the occasional sick day and check out some of my favorite work from home pieces below:

#3: SIMPLIFY YOUR TO DO LIST

If you’re anything like me there is no end in sight when it comes to your to do list. I can’t say that I’ve ever had a moment where I’ve thought “yeah…not much to do today“. While to do lists always make me feel super organized they also can feel pretty daunting at times.

Something I’ve started doing is simplifying my to do list to my “top 5”. I’ve read a lot of articles about the top 3/top 5 strategies and I decided to give them a try.

I always have a “master list” that has literally everything I need to do in the near future all with due dates and timelines. I am constantly updating this monthly and while it’s great to have everything I need to do all in one place looking at that list stresses me out like no body’s biz. So instead, when I’m planning my week I’ll pick the top 5 priorities for each day based on what is due when and I limit myself to scheduling just those five tasks. I try to pick 3 smaller, less time-intensive tasks and two larger tasks that require more time and attention.

This works a lot better for me than my epic to do list ever did and I end my day feeling so much more productive. Before I would feel like a total failure because I was trying to cram way too much into one day. It’s important to keep time frames in mind and be realistic about how long each task is actually going to take you when planning this out.

#4: SET A SCHEDULE (AND STICK TO IT)

One rookie mistake of working from home is to think that you don’t need a set schedule. You can absolutely have a schedule that is outside of the typical 9-5 but you need to have something set up. If you wake up and go to bed at a different time every day and get started on your work day “whenever” you’re going to feel a lot more unorganized and stressed.

I wake up every day at 8am and have my coffee, meditate, journal and then I get ready and start my work day by 9am. I’ve personally been trying to go to bed earlier every night so I can start getting up at 7am but I haven’t been super successful so far (your girls loves to sleep). I also usually wrap up my work day at around 6:30 because at that point I am essentially useless mentally and really need (and deserve) to rest for the night. This creates consistency in my schedule and makes planning ahead and executing tasks way easier.

I also have a loose schedule I follow throughout the day. I check emails and social media in the morning, check in with clients, check my analytics and other admin tasks until lunch time. Then I usually do some writing and editing in the afternoon. Some days I have shoots and client calls. I always end the day with checking emails one last time and winding down before closing my laptop and enjoying my evening.

I plan out every task I complete for every day not only in my physical planner but also on my google calendar so I can get alerts and reminders and stay on track with my schedule. This really holds me accountable to finishing my most important tasks of the day and allows me to prepare for any upcoming events or tasks throughout the week.

#5: DISTRACTIONS HAVE GOT TO GO

Listen. I get it. I am obsessed with my phone. It’s so tempting to check snapchat or respond to a few texts while I’m working, which can seem harmless. That is until I’m watching the 15th beauty tutorial in a row and am wondering why the sun is going down already. You have to set boundaries for yourself if you want to get anything done.

When I start working my phone is turned on silent, back side facing up and I do not touch it unless I need it for something work-related. If I’m feeling especially distracted that day I’ll even put it in my room so I don’t have it right in front of me (my laziness always beats out my desire to scroll through Instagram). After I’m done checking emails I’ll close the app on my computer so I don’t get distracted by the notifications all day and then just check it again midday and once before I stop working.

If you’re a big snacker then bring a snack to your desk (see #7) so you don’t keep getting up. Same with your water/tea/coffee. Get set up 100% so you have no excuse to get up.

It requires discipline but you’ll feel ten times more productive and satisfied with your day if you can eliminate these distractions!

#6: TRY THE POMODORO TECHNIQUE

If you’ve been following me for awhile you may have heard me reference this hack before but I recommend it to people all the time when they’re struggling with productivity. The Pomodoro Technique is a productivity strategy where you work for 25 minutes straight without any breaks and then you take a 5 minute break. So essentially you just set a timer and every 25 minutes you get a 5 minute break to get a snack, stretch, refill your coffee cup, or whatever it is you want to do. After you do this four times you can take a longer break for a meal or to just relax.

This totally changed the game for me because I felt like I was constantly getting distracted and making excuses for why I needed to get up. Or I would work for three hours straight without a break and would feel totally burnt out. The timer kind of allows me to get competitive with myself and see if I can finish my task before it goes off, which is great motivation.

I also use my 5 minute breaks to complete chores on some days. I personally get very irritable and uninspired if my surroundings are unorganized or dirty but I don’t always have time to do a deep clean in the middle of the day. So I use some of my breaks to do the dishes, clean my bathroom, put away laundry, etc. I always have a chore to do list on my fridge and I use that to reference throughout the day. Obviously, some of those breaks are used for snacking or scrolling through Instagram but it’s nice to feel like my home is being maintained throughout the day as well.

#7: STAY HEALTHY (MENTALLY & PHYSICALLY)

The problem with working from home is that you typically aren’t being very active. I work at my desk with my laptop all day and don’t really move around unless I’m doing a shoot that day or running errands. It’s important to me that I feel good and part of that is not eating hot cheetos for lunch every day (isn’t that the dream?).

When I’m grocery shopping I’m constantly stocking up on healthy snacks (carrots and hummus, avocados, hard boiled eggs, etc.) that I can munch on while I work. I love chips and chocolate and anything covered in cheese so if I kept that stuff readily available in my home there’s no way I would choose healthier options over them. Healthy snacks will give you fuel throughout the day and satisfy any cravings.

I also make it a habit to challenge myself to drink 8 glasses of water a day. I have my coffee in the morning (necessary) and after that, I switch to water. I track this on a piece of paper and some days I get 8 in and some days I don’t. The important part is that I’m consciously making the decision to stay hydrated. Some days I’ll have tea in the afternoon which is a tastier option if you want to mix it up.

Something new I’ve been trying for the past week is using essential oils and a diffuser. My dad uses one (and so does everyone else on Instagram) and it has totally improved his overall mood. He gave me his old one and a few oils to try and I’m OBSESSED. Usually, throughout the day I start to feel sleepy and less motivated. I’m definitely a morning person so as soon as the afternoon rolls around I just want to nap and be lazy. I also have days where I feel super overwhelmed and stressed. I decided to give the oils a try and I can honestly say I have been way more productive and energized since I started using them.

I don’t feel low energy and tired in the afternoons anymore and am just generally in a better mood throughout the day. I use lavender at night which has also really helped with my attempt at going to bed earlier. They’re worth the hype!

#8: GET MOVING!

I am not an exercise girl. Anyone who knows me personally can testify to this. I hate running, gyms intimidate me and I find it difficult to motivate myself at home. However, I knew that if I didn’t find a way to get active at least a few times throughout the week I would start to feel really sluggish and gross. At my old job I was constantly on my feet and moving around which kept me really active, but sitting at a desk all day doesn’t exactly have the same effect.

If you’re like me and hate the idea of exercising I would start by experimenting and seeing which types you can either enjoy (best case scenario) or at the very least tolerate. For me that’s yoga. I find it challenging but after I’m finished I always feel good and it’s so good for my grandma back. You also basically get to take a nap at the end which is my kind of workout.

I also do home exercises for 15 minutes before I shower at the end of the day which feels super manageable for me. I do squats, crunches, and some weights. It’s not a lot but it’s something and it’s definitely helped me stay in decent shape since switching to a more sedentary job.

Eventually, I want to invest in a trainer so I can have someone to hold me accountable and also have a professional teach me how to work out the right way for my body and goals. But you don’t have to do that in the beginning (or at all), I think the key thing is to get moving any way you can!

#9: PICK ONE DAY A WEEK TO WORK OUTSIDE THE HOME

People ask me all the time if I get stir crazy or bored working alone at home. The short answer is no. However, I know that I am probably in the minority so I would recommend picking one day a week to get out of the house. Whether it’s at a coffee shop, a friend’s house, a restaurant, whatever. Give yourself a day where you can actually leave and be around other people.

I almost never do this because I am apparently secretly very anti-social and enjoy being alone (lol) but from time to time I’ll be in the mood to treat myself to a latte and a pastry and I’ll try a new coffee shop and work from there. It’s always a fun way to mix things up. You might benefit from this if you really love being around others in the workplace. You can even do this every day if you find yourself becoming more productive as a result.

#10: PLAN TO BE SOCIAL

While I don’t often have the desire to work outside of my home, I do find myself craving social interaction with my friends and family. When you’re an entrepreneur your whole life can feel like a full-time job. The line between work and personal can feel blurred and you can begin to feel like your entire life is revolving around your business.

I think it’s really important to make time for yourself to be social and do the things that bring you joy because when you feel that sense of balance in your life that’s when you’ll be at your best. When you feel deprived of the experiences you desire and overworked your content will suffer.

I make brunch or dinner plans with a friend at least once a week, invite friends to go to yoga with me, make happy hour dates and even just bring over a bottle of wine to a friend’s house so we can catch up on her couch. I visit my parents once a week and I’m constantly communicating with my loved ones via text and phone calls throughout the day. This gives me something to look forward to every week and makes me feel like I actually have a life beyond my the four little walls of my office.

Do you work from home? How do you stay productive? Tell me in the comments!

Xoxo,

She