With more and more companies introducing new processes and technologies to allow employees to work from home, the struggle for adjustment is at an all time high. Coming from someone who’s successfully and happily worked from home for over a decade, here are 15 tips for working from home. Let me know what are some helpful tips for you in the comments below!
1. Designate a Work Space
For myself, I have an office desk with all my chargers near by in their specific places, a drawer that has my tools I need throughout the day, a stress relief candle on the corner, and some personalized items that make me happy every time I look at them. It’s crucial to have a designated spot for you to work. It’s a key factor for your mind to know that when you sit down in this chair at this desk, it is work time.
If you’re like me and need a change of scenery after a while of being in the same spot, take to the floor. Grab some comfortable pillows (I love these Bohemian Floor Pillow
2. Invest in a Comfortable Work Station
This doesn’t mean grab a lazy boy chair and melt into the chair that it turns into more of a bed than a chair. I’m talking about a clean, organized, and functional spot where you sitting for hours at a time doesn’t start to show in your lower back and shoulders. I use this Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair for my work desk. I’ve found that this helps my lower back from aching by the end of the day. Plus, it’s fun. Who doesn’t want to have a bouncy ball to gently bop up and down on when trying to think about how to tackle that expense report? Another pro tip is that this chair helps you keep your posture up by keeping your tummy tight, but not in an overly exhausting way.
Another helpful tool for your workspace is a standing desk. When I was first introduced to mine, it took some getting use to. I found though, that it was very helpful for my posture because I wasn’t slumping over my desk when I got sluggish. This Stand Up Desk
There are other ways to make your space welcoming and productive. Find what makes you motivated and happy, and surround your work space with those things. I have some motivational quotes written on Sticky Notes on my wall in front of my desk that remind me to keep my focus on my goals. I have a globe that says “To Travel Is To Live” on my desk as well (a cute one where you can pin on the places you’ve been is the Globe Trekkers Mini White Cork Globe being a happy and gentle reminder that the world is waiting for me to discover it. It’s helpful to me when I feel like I’m drowning in deadlines and numbers to just look up at my quotes, look at my globe, and realign my thought process to look forward to the future moments that I will be on some Spanish beach barefoot with stunning nature around me.
3. Listen To Music
Put on those tunes that make you happy when it’s leisure work. For me, that genre varies. For example, I am literally listening to Justin Bieber’s “Intentions” as I write this piece. Earlier, I was listening to a “Mellow Folk” station on my Alexa
4. Take Walking Meetings
For those conference calls and weekly team meetings, if you don’t have to sit in front of your computer, don’t! Take advantage of only having to be on the phone, and go outside. Get some fresh air while you have your 30-60 minute calls. It’ll refocus your mind for tasks you will need to dive into after your call. Plus, if it’s especially a busy day, you’ll feel like you had a really nice break while also being productive by stepping away from your computer.
5. Meal Prep Meals & Snacks
I was the queen of grazing when I first started working solely from home. Me and food have a very good relationship. Anyone else enjoy long romantic walks to the fridge? I quickly soon found that I thought being home meant I could walk away for my lunch hour, prep for my meal, cook the entire meal, eat it, then go back to work. That would take at least an hour each time. It was time I didn’t need to spend during a work day because now, that would cut into my productivity for that day.
What helped me a ton was prep 5 meals for the week on Sunday for my weekday lunches. I could make snacks quickly by grabbing an apple out of the fridge or making a smoothie quickly, so I didn’t need to prep snacks personally but for some, it helps to prep. I use these containers I found on Amazon (Glass Meal Prep Containers, 
6. Set a Time for Distractions
Yay! Finally! We can be on Til Tok all day or Instagram and not get in trouble with our boss, right?! Wrong. Very wrong. You have to implement some time management skills here. Those platforms are so fun and sometimes a great way for us to unwind from our days, but using them throughout the day multiple times a day is an accelerated path to getting absolutely nothing accomplished. Set times for these distractions. It helps you stay motivated with your work at hand, and gives you something to look forward to. For me, I will check social media once in the morning, and once in the afternoon during a work day. After hours is fair game!
Set yourself up for success and you will be surprised how much more productive you’ll be.
7. Get Dressed
Again, such a super tempting decision to stay in PJs all day – and trust me, I’ve done it, NUMEROUS times. For me though, I’ve found myself the most productive and not only productive in what I accomplish, but at the end of the workday, I am able to get back into comfortable clothes. It’s another refresher for your mind to start to relax and unwind because now you are in your favorite stretchy pants and baggy t-shirt. If you stay in slouchy clothes all day, you really won’t have that opportunity for that transition, so your whole day becomes one big blob of lounging. I’ll get dressed in clothes that are still comfortable, but an outfit that I would go to work in – so jeans and a cute top, but with bunny slippers on instead of my stilettos. It’s called balance.
8. Keep Very Defined Work Hours
This is a topic I constantly struggle with and have to remind myself come the end of my work day that I need to close my laptop and step away. There’s more to my life that day than just my work. It’s time to put myself first, whether that means a workout to feel energized or some wine and a bubble bath. Holding yourself accountable for having your productivity between a start point in your day and an end point will motivate you to prioritize your tasks better because there will come an end to the work day based off your end time you set for yourself.
It’s tough for some days, because an end time may be shortened by a few hours. If that’s the case, take advantage of that time! Some days might go a little over that end time. It’s a good balance, but typically we want to stay between the set work hours.
9. Work When You’re Most Productive
This varies for everyone. For me, I know if I pull out my laptop around 10am, I will be very productive. That’s my sweet spot. I can fluctuate a little before or a little after, but typically 10am is good for me. I’ve tried working late at night. It would take me double the time it would take to accomplish writing an article or editing photos at night than it would in the morning. Know your most productive range, and save your toughest tasks for that time period!
10. Use Laundry as a Timer
One of my favorite ways to use my time is multitasking. If I can get through my “To Do” list accomplishing the same tasks but in half the time – sign me up!! Most washer and dryers have built in timers ranging from 20-60 minutes. Whatever setting you use to get your laundry cleaned/dried, use that as a timer for you to accomplish a project or task! As soon as you hear the buzzer sound, go switch whatever the items are, and then come back to your work to reset and start a new task. It’s a helpful way to keep your day realistic with time management, and allows you to have mini breaks to get up, get blood pumping, and maybe even grab a snack on your way back to work.
11. Communicate Expectations with Family Members
I have worked from home for a majority of my adult-hood, so I established those expectations with my family members years ago, but for those who are adjusting to the new lifestyle, communication is key. If you have a meeting that will require your absolute attention and no background noise, relay that message to those around you. That will give them an opportunity to get outside and go to another part of the house which will not only benefit you in the immediate future, but it will benefit everyone involved since this team-work attitude will bring a sense of ownership and pride in helping each other out with communicating ahead fo time.
12. Stay Social
Remember step #6? Don’t neglect being social or catching up on online interactions, but that also includes in person interactions! With these times specifically, social distancing is a necessity to overcome some tough obstacles the human race is facing. Take the girl’s Sunday brunch online! Create a Google hangouts, or Skype “meeting” where mimosas and laughing uncontrollably with your girlfriends is your only focus. Especially with people (like me!) who carry around a lot of anxiety that creep in unexpectedly, keeping that ongoing socializing with your friends is important. Take this time to reach out to folks that you normally couldn’t reach because your schedules were too busy!
13. Take Clear Breaks
You wouldn’t stay glued to your computer 8 hours a day without ever taking a break, right? I really hope not. Take your breaks! You’re working hard and doing a great job, so treat yourself to stepping outside or making your favorite coffee drink. Breaks are just as important for this who feel like they’re doing a great job, but they’re even more important for those who feel like they are struggling with their work. It’s crucial to check your thoughts and reset. Take a quick walk listening to your favorite mood booster playlist, or call that one friend who will always make you feel better. Your mind and body desperately need those little motivations to keep grinding, so listen and take breaks when needed.
14. Make “To Do” Lists
I know I’ve already said this on this list, but this step is probably my favorite and most used. For me, my “to do” lists are written old school style on a piece of paper with a pen (gasp!). There is something just oh so satisfying about accomplishing something and crossing a line through it. To my psyche, if a line is not drawn through it, the task in question is not accomplished. These lists (like this super cute floral one I’ve been using Daily Tasks List) help me see what needs to be done, and based on what is on the list, I prioritize what I can and group some to multitask (example: put in the laundry while I do my home workout).
15. Go Outside To Reset
I’ve mentioned this throughout these steps, but it’s not on accident. Coming from someone who knows, get your body outside. This could be as intense as going for a hike if you’re lucky enough to live near trails, or go take the dog for a walk and give both of you that fresh air. Being in the same space day in and day out where you work, eat, sleep, workout, etc. will drive you crazy. Being able to keep separate spaces for separate tasks helps not only your mentality to stay fresh and positive, but it helps you physically too. Instead of staying cooped up in the same space, get outside. For those that are just saying, “Laura, I can’t leave my computer.” Okay, I hear you, I’ve been there too. Grab your biggest blanket, some water, and your laptop, and go outside. Lay your blanket in the grass in sunshine or shade, and work from outside. You – and your mind – will thank me.
I hope you enjoyed reading some of my tips for working from home! Let me know what are some tips you would share with folks for working from home!
