Working from home sounds like the dream. I promise it is not as glamorous as one might think. Waking up late, working in your PJs, taking long lunches in town with friends are all a lie. It has taken me a long time to figure out the best schedule and tools to keep me focused. I’m going to share five tips on working from home that have helped me be more successful.
5 Tips on Working From Home
- Wake up 30 minutes early.
- Get dressed and eat breakfast.
- Schedule your day.
- Put on your blinders.
- Move around.
Wake Up 30 Minutes Early
This tip comes from Mel Robin’s 5 Second Rule approach of being more productive. Starting your day off 30 minutes before you’re needed by your kids, partner, pet or other obligations will give you the time necessary to get in the right mindset to start your day. There are many things you can do during that 30 minutes. Changing things every few days might also be helpful. The Miracle Morning has some great ideas and this graphic on Pinterest has helped me decide some mornings when I was dragging. The number one rule is to not get on your phone for social media or emails and stay away from the news.
Get Dressed and Eat Breakfast
There are always days when you can work in your PJs. For best results, take a shower or at least wash your face before putting new yoga pants on. When you wear actual clothes that make you feel good you sit up straighter and are more productive. Eating breakfast is also important giving your brain fuel to do it’s best. Making a smart breakfast choice and turning that time into a special ritual is a great way to start off on the right foot.
Schedule Your Day
As an entrepreneur you do not have a boss telling you what needs to get done. You make your own calendar and planning ahead is key in making sure your days are most productive. For you, it might be helpful to plan out every hour or to time yourself for a while to see how long it takes you to do certain tasks. After a while you’ll see a pattern of how long it takes to write, plan, photograph, shop, network, pitch, and all the other tasks that come along with owning your own business.
For me, I know that if I start my day with emails, I’ll get bogged down doing other people’s ‘to-do list’. I save emails for the end of the day knowing that I will reply to those most important to me and if some aren’t answered I can leave them for tomorrow. I used to have a big problem with not having a zero inbox but I’ve come to learn that I was a slave to everyone’s requests. They may not have a time limit on the requests so I don’t need to treat them like they’re emergencies.
Put On Your Blinders
When you work at home, it is difficult to separate work and life. I am that person that feels anxious when I see a mess around me. When I first began working from home, 4 years ago, I would use house work as a way to procrastinate. The house and yard to-do list is never ending. When my office is in order I’m able to close my door, open my window, light a candle and just focus on my work, not worried about the dishes from breakfast or the laundry sitting in the hamper.
I’m not saying you can’t throw in a load at breakfast and switch it at lunch but don’t take the time to then put it away and then clean up the kitchen and and and and. If you want to work house work into your schedule you could always take an hour lunch giving yourself a half hour to eat while listening to a podcast and finishing up the podcast with a few chores. I recommend staying away from the TV during work hours. Just don’t do it.
Move Around
Sitting at a desk for long periods is terrible for our bodies. Try batching your work into hour to hour and a half segments so you have the chance to get up and move in between tasks. This can be as simple as standing up to stretch and get more water to doing a 10 min exercise or even taking your dog for a walk. If you take a walk every day that you work from home, I believe you will see improvements in you mental state.
- Fresh air is good for your digestive system.
- Fresh air helps improve blood pressure and heart rate.
- Fresh air makes you happier (Vitamin D = serotonin).
- Fresh air strengthens your immune system.
- Fresh air cleans your lungs.
Every other Friday I work from a coffee shop just to be around people because as an extrovert, that is how I charge my battery. What are some other tools you use to stay focused while working at home?
All photos are courtesy of the amazing photographers at Upslash.
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