Working from home can be hard to get used to. If you’re looking to nail the work-from-home life, here are a few helpful tips.
Create the Perfect Workspace
For many people, going into the office is an important part of the workday. Being out of the house helps you feel ready to tackle what you need to get done. If that’s you, creating the perfect workspace at home will help you adjust to your new work environment. Creating a designated space will help you stay focused and when you leave that space at the end of the workday, your brain knows it can relax.
Choose a room for your office that’s away from other people. It might be a corner of the basement or a spare bedroom. Try to pick an area that has plenty of natural light to help you stay focused and productive. You can decorate your space with plants or photos, just like your old office.
Stock Up on Awesome Supplies
When you work from home, there’s no supply closet for you to raid. If you run out of pens or paper, you’re out of luck. Make sure your home office is stocked with the best office supplies. Buy the best fountain pen, a mountain of sticky notes, and anything else you use on a regular basis. If your job requires you to send mail, you may want to purchase bulk envelopes and stamps. Having everything you need means you’ll never struggle to get work done. Your favorite fountain pen may even motivate you.
Get in a Daily Workout
Since your commute time is no nonexistent, take some time in the morning to workout. When you wake up, drink water with lemon and take an endurance supplement. A daily endurance supplement will increase your athletic performance. You’ll have the energy to complete endurance training in the morning and still have a productive day in your home office.
A supplement is perfect for runners, triathletes, and anyone looking to increase their energy production. After tackling your morning workout, you’ll be ready to tackle the rest of your day. You’ll feel more energetic and motivated after crushing your endurance exercise.
Keep Yourself Accountable
Your kids are your only coworkers now, and they’re not going to keep you accountable. You’ll have to make sure you’re staying on top of your tasks and getting done what you need to when you work from home. Create a list of the tasks you need to get done for the day. Group any similar tasks so you can get them done at the same time.
You might spend the morning answering emails and the afternoon making phone calls. Make a schedule for your week and determine what you’ll get done when. Even though you’ll need to keep yourself accountable now, you should still check in with coworkers. Start an email thread and ask how everyone is doing. Little check-ins will help you and others stay accountable.
Take Breaks as Needed
Even though it’s important to stay on task and get things done, it’s just as important to take breaks. When you work at home, you feel pressured to make every second count. If you step away to put laundry in the washer, you feel like you’re stealing time from work. It’s important to remember that just because your work environment has changed, the need for breaks hasn’t.
Every 50 to 90 minutes take a short break. 15 to 20 minutes is the perfect amount of time to step back from your work and allow your brain to recharge. Since you’re already home, use these extra minutes to get other things done. Start a load of laundry or dishes or check on your kids. Breaks will improve your ability to focus and taking them doesn’t mean you’re not working.
Working from home can be extremely rewarding. You’re in charge of the schedule and the wardrobe. Stay motivated and energized and you’ll have a successful 9 to 5 every day.
