How to work from home
There’s a lot of crazy happening in our world right now, and so many people are working from home not only for the first time, but also for the foreseeable future. I wrote this post with the hope of bringing some peace to your day-to-day with suggestions for how to work from home successfully. Here you’ll find my 6 quick tips for creating a productive work environment in your home, as well as a free printable worksheet to help you create your new routine and write it down to display as a reminder. Working from home can be fun and enjoyable and I’m confident you can master it with a few small adjustments!
Tip 1: Designate a workspace
Find a space in your house to set aside for your “office”. The goal here is to separate your work area from where you eat/play/relax as much as possible. You shouldn’t have to set up a brand new workspace each day, so if possible, I would avoid making your bed/couch the “workspace”. Maybe you convert your kitchen table to a desk, and then have meals “picnic style” in the living room or outside. Or how about that empty corner of your bedroom where the laundry piles up? Bring a chair and side table into that corner and set up shop (after moving the laundry, of course). Can you clear off the top of a dresser or bookshelf and use it as a standing desk? Get creative! Even if you have a studio apartment, I’m confident you can find a cozy corner for your workspace.
Tip 2: Create a routine
Over the last several years of working from home, I have tried every routine under the sun. I’ve switched up when I workout, when my “power hours” are, meal times, when I wake up, when I stop working…you get the idea. It takes a lot of trial and error to find something that works for you. I’m a morning person, and so my routine may work for some of you, but for others, it will look completely different. Below is my current daily routine, which you’ll find is not 8 solid hours of work time. It’s important to remember that 8 hours working at an office does not equal 8 hours working from home. You don’t have those impromptu meetings, distractions, chats about the weather, etc. When working from home, I call my most productive work time “power hours”. This is when I’m going to be glued to my desk accomplishing as much as possible, without distraction. From my past experience in a corporate work environment, what I could get done in 4 hours there could easily be accomplished in 2 hours (or less) at home.
MY CURRENT ROUTINE:
I’ve created a printable pdf worksheet for you to download (at the bottom of this post) that will help you draft up your own routine. The second page of the pdf has a big word bank full of ideas to help get you started. I recommend writing in pencil, as I can guarantee you will want to change a few things as you try it out!
Tip 3: Get dressed
This was a game changer for me. I used to stay in pjs or workout clothes for most of the day, which left me feeling frumpy, unmotivated and lazy. Each day I’m in activewear for the first part of the morning until I finish my workout, and then after showering I put on a real outfit*. Nothing fancy or uncomfortable, but it’s amazing how a shower, mascara, jeans and a t-shirt can really improve your productivity. I’m usually in fun socks or slippers though - balance is key!
*If you need some work from home outfit inspiration, be sure to follow me on the free LiketoKnow.it app! I post my daily #workfromhomevibes outfits there throughout the week.
Tip 4: Get moving
One of the biggest perks of working from home is the freedom to get up and move whenever you feel like it! Working out not your thing? No problem! Go for a walk. Stretch for a few minutes. Do a yoga video on YouTube. Walk a few laps around your house. Have a 3 minute dance party. Movement is key for blood flow, clearing your head and helping you focus. Several companies are offering free trials of their online workout programs right now (Barre3, Obé Fitness, CorePower Yoga) and I’ve seen several trainers and fitness instructors doing free workouts via Instagram Live. Here’s a few of my favorite free resources to help you add in some movement at home:
Lauren Gliesberg (I’ve been doing her at-home weights workouts for years and love them)
Tip 5: Reward yourself
You know that chore chart your parents had for you as a kid? And those rewards you’d try to earn by doing things around the house? Believe it or not - that same strategy works on adults. I break up my “power hours” by adding in little rewards. I’ll say things to myself like, “one hour of uninterrupted work, and then you can go get a piece of dark chocolate”. It sounds silly, and you’ll have to find rewards that work for you (it’s usually always sweets for me…), but it really helps motivate me to get work done!
Tip 6: Reset often
Having a “moment” where you feel: unproductive, distracted, restless, frustrated, or stir crazy? RESET. And reset as often as needed. This will also look different for everyone, so find what works for you. Throw a load of laundry in. Clean up the kitchen. Make some tea or coffee. Walk to the end of your street and back. Light a candle. Tidy up your workspace. Anything to give your eyes a rest from your screen and reset your mind. Try to avoid getting on social media during a reset - I often feel that it drives me deeper into my stir craziness. Be sure to have grace with yourself, as we all have our “moments”. In fact, I’m going to take a quick “reset” right now before I finish this post and start some laundry. :)
I hope these tips bring encouragement to your day in the midst of such a weird time. Below you’ll see a preview of the worksheet I created for you. Print one out for yourself, and maybe even your roommate, spouse, or kiddos! I’m confident this will be a valuable and fun exercise for everyone in your house. And if you don’t have a printer, use it as a guide to write out your new routine on a piece of paper or sticky note!
