6 Work From Home Hacks
I’ve been working from home for 3 years now and I’m never looking back! It has always been a goal of mine to find a job that I can balance my personal life and work life throughout the day without the stress of a “9-5” keeping me from accomplishing as much as possible throughout the day.
For many, it’s tough to separate your work life and your personal life when you’re spending both in the same spaces. Not to mention the additional distraction if you have a spouse who is also working from home!
I want to give you a few tips on how to make your time working from home as productive as possible.
Wake up at the same time as you did before. Most of us had a commute on the way to work that we no longer have if you’re working from home. That's anywhere from 30 minutes - 1 hour that we have back in our day (times 2)! Just thinking about that makes me giddy. So, let's use that extra time wisely rather than sleeping it away. Set your alarm around the same time you used to. I get it, you want to sleep in a little. I don't blame you! Do it within reason, maybe just for a couple days to take advantage of the break and then go back to your normal morning routine (I work out early, shower, get dressed and eat breakfast first thing every morning).
Use your extra time wisely. Since you'll be waking up around the same time - that means you have 30min-hour in your morning and afternoon. Use this time to make yourself better! You could spend extra time in the Word, journal and pray, you could work on tidying up the house, or start the laundry/dishes, make your bed and start your day off winning!
Get ready in the morning. I understand that with working from home you don't want to put on your full business casual/business professional outfit, or heck - even jeans! But It definitely helps when you get up in the morning and fix your hair and put yourself together a bit to get your day started. Getting dressed will help you be more productive because you feel like you are ready for the day just like every other "normal" morning!
Time block your day. Start your work day off by listing out all the things you need to get done and pick your top 3 priorities to focus on for the day. By choosing the top three, you will be able to stay focused throughout the day and will be able to stay on track by making sure the work you're doing lines up with what you want to accomplish.
Schedule breaks! Have to finish your taxes? Do them! Have trash that needs to be taken out, or mail that needs to be picked up? Do it! Lunch time? Take the full hour and eat at the table, rather than at your working space or while standing up. The beauty of working from home is that you can come and go as you please, as long as you get your work done for the day. If you have personal things you'd like to get done - schedule breaks throughout your day to reward yourself for staying focused during your allotted work hours.
Get moving. Imagine the toll it would take being sedentary all day every day - your body will get lethargic and your energy will plummet the more sedentary you are. During your breaks throughout the day, go outside for a brief walk! Or go up and down the stairs a few times after a meeting. Fresh air and good blood flow will help keep your energy levels up throughout the day and will improve your focus!
Did you learn anything you didn't already know?! Let me know if you implement any of these into your schedule :)
