5 Tips for Working from Home and Being Productive
Last week I shared how I’ve been adjusting to life in quarantine and working from home. I’ve been working remotely for the last three weeks which has given me the chance to figure out what works best for me in this new situation. I will say that the first week I was so out of sorts that I was super unproductive, gained 5 pounds, and had an unpredictable/inconsistent sleep schedule. In the last two weeks I’ve figured out what works best for me and I thought I’d share!
Here are my 5 tips for being productive and staying sane while working from home.
#1: CONTINUE TO GET “READY” FOR THE DAY
When working from home first became a possibility, I was looking forward to not having to get ready every day (getting dressed, putting on makeup, etc.). In practice, I realized that by not getting ready each day I wasn’t giving my mind time to get into the groove of things. This left me super scatterbrained, distracted, and therefore less productive. By getting ready each morning, I continue my normal routine and allow my mind to get ready for the workday as well.
#2: MAKE A DAILY TO-DO LIST AND PRIORITIZE
This was a ritual that was already in my daily arsenal before working remotely and I’ve carried it into working from home. Each day I write a to-do list of all my tasks and then I go back, prioritize and highlight the most important ones. This keeps me on track and also helps me to not forget deadlines.
#3: CREATE A COMFORTABLE WORKSPACE (OR SPACES)
Coincidentally a few months ago I purchased a desk and placed it in my room. I wanted to give myself an alternative place to work since I enjoy working in my bed. This worked out perfectly because now that I’m working from home full time, I have two set up places to work: my desk and my bed. My desk has my monitor and all my supplies, while my bed offers a more comfortable set up.
I’ve also purchased the necessary items to comfortably work from my bed. I have a few sit up pillows and a lap desk. This makes sure my back is supported and I stay comfortable all day long.
#4: SET BOUNDARIES WITH WORK
This has probably been the hardest tip for me. Since my desk (and therefore everything I need to work) is in my bedroom, there is nothing stopping me from working at any time. Pair that with being super busy at work, I’d started to work 9-10 hours each day. This left me exhausted, unmotivated, and uninspired. Once I realized this, I began to set up boundaries on when I started and stopped working each day. Now I don’t sign on until 8:30/9 AM and I sign off no later than 6 PM. This gives me enough of a break to rest, work on other projects, and come back energized for the next day.
#5: FIND TIME TO MOVE YOUR BODY AND EAT WELL
With the close of gyms, I’ve found it a lot harder to work out. So as a way to substitute going to the gym 3-4 times a week, I’ve started going on walks and doing at-home workouts. My favorite thing is looking up workouts on Instagram and YouTube and getting a workout in that way. It’s quick, free, and gives you that additional productivity boost.
So there you have it, these are my 5 tips for working from home and being productive. Let me know how working from home has been for you and if you have any additional tips for being productive! Thanks for supporting the blog!
