When I first started working from home, it was pajamas all day, wrapped up in a blanket with a cup of coffee and having breakfast in bed..
As dreamy as that sounds, it didn’t last too long.
I noticed if I’d stay in bed all day or kept my “comfy” clothes nothing got done…
I started taking the steps to getting fully ready and taking small breaks here and there.. It has helped out a lot with my time management, as well as keeping my brain clear of being a cluttered mess.
Getting Dressed
I’d be lying if I said that staying in my pajamas all day wasn’t on the top of my pro’s list when I first started working from home. (Because it totally was.) Get ready like you would if you worked in an office. As hard as it is, it’s so important to get dressed and be presentable. Trust me, I don’t do an entire face of makeup every morning but I do, do enough to look presentable. I promise you, your day will be much more productive.
Set Hours
My hours are from 9 – 5 (6ish) depending what time Matt gets home from work! If I have meetings or photos to shoot during the day, I might work little later to catch up on some e-mails. But for the most part I have set hours. I do this because if you allow yourself to work until midnight you’re going to get drained and run down.
Take Breaks for Meals
This was a haaaard one to step away from. As simple as it seems to sit down with your plate of food and stuff your face while you work, it is extremely important to take the break from work to eat. Eating while you’re working will cause distractions, and you won’t be able to put the right amount of effort into your work as you should.
Making Lists by Hour & Sticking to Them
Writing a to-do list will help you stay mentally organized. Plus, there is a real satisfying feeling when you check something off a list!
Eliminate Distractions as Much as Possible
So, evvvvverything is technology now, and everything happens so quick. If you have a set task, you need to do (like writing this blog post) clear your mind and your space from all social media and e-mails. This will help you be more time efficient and get more done in less time.
Use Your Flexibility to Your Advantage
I know I mentioned to set hours. As long as you manage to get your to-do list done, it’s always nice to run some errands before everyone else gets out of work and your local grocery store complete chaos!
Get Out of the Freaking House
There were a couple weeks (especially in the winter) when I would be cooped up in the house for a week straight and you guys, it made me go mental. I’m very much a people person so even though I love working from home, I do miss people interaction. Even if it’s just simply working at Starbucks for a few hours, you’re around other humans. It’s sort of fun to switch it up a bit too!
If you work from home or are transitioning to work from home did these tips help? If you work from home, do you have any helpful tips to share?
Image Above Via
These are some great tips. As someone who also works from home, I can attest to how important it is to get out of the house every now and then to keep from going stir crazy!
– Liz
http://www.LizLizo.com
Thanks Liz! So glad you understand! Do you usually just take a break and leave the house or do you actually go work somewhere else?
This is so great. I’ve been working from home for a few months now, and it’s good to have these reminders! xo
Annie
Thanks Annie! If you have some tips that I didn’t mention I’d love to hear what you do to stay focused! Also, I read your A Day in the Life post this morning and loved it!
Working from home tends to get frustrating if you’re continuously dealing with loneliness and solitude. Like you explained in the last part, winter period can be really frustrating. Getting out of the house and maintaining a healthy work/life balance is necessary, and socializing is a must!