Once or twice a week, I have work from home days. These are my admin days where I’m creating menus, writing up grocery lists, tracking my expenses, replying to inquiries, responding to emails, etc.
I’ve never had a job that’s allowed me to work from home. And now that I have that flexibility, I’m realizing that it definitely comes with it’s own set of challenges. And with quite a handful of work from home days under my belt, I now know what works, and what doesn’t.
THE RULES OF WORK FROM HOME DAYS
1. BE DRESSED, AND READY TO WORK BY 9AM
Sure, it’s appealing to sleep in until 10AM, roll out of bed, grab breakfast, stay in your PJ’s and reply to emails. But next thing you know, it’s 2:30PM and you’re not even showered. You now have to do your morning routine in the middle of the workday.
2. ABSOLUTELY NO HOUSEWORK
When I’m home all day, I notice little things that could be done. Like dusting, doing a load of laundry, vacuuming our bedroom carpet, the list goes on for ages. This is a huge distraction, and a terrible idea for getting side-tracked from actual work. Save housework for after work hours.
3. FIGURE OUT YOUR TOP THREE PRIORITIES
You’re not going to be able to get everything done. Things will inevitably roll over to the next day, and that’s OK! If you identify the top 3 important tasks, just ensure those get done first. Or OK, maybe not first, but make sure they are completed before you call it a day.
4. TAKE REGULAR BREAKS
I’ve realized, that I can push myself hard for about 45 — 50 minutes before needing a 10 — 15 minute break. I like to set a timer for myself. It keeps me focused and determined to get things done. Productivity needs breaks. And if you were in an office setting, you know you’d take way more than what’s mentioned above…
5. CREATE A WORK-ZONE
When I’m serious about doing work, I’m parked with my laptop, day-planner, and a pen at the kitchen table. Having a desigated work-zone in your home crucial.
6. GET SOME HUMAN INTERACTION
It can be kind of lonely! So I try to go on at least one coffee run, or a walk around the block so I see another human other than my husband before he leaves for work, or our twin cats.
7. KEEP YOUR WORK SPACE NEAT
I’ve mentioned that the kitchen table works best for me. I try to keep it clean, neat, and my paperwork organized. I eat lunch in the living room, to give myself a feel for a lunch-break. I take my breaks outside of my work-zone.
8. WRITE UP A DAILY TO-DO LIST
Ah, my absolute favorite thing in the world. Writing out a to-do list is critical for staying on track and on task. How on earth could you survive without it?
What are some things that help keep you focused when working from home?