3 Tips to Make Working From Home Work For You
Working from home takes discipline.
Sometimes being your own boss means being bossy with yourself.
I’ve worked from home as co-owner of Living Pink Communications for 15 years with my husband. Here are the ways I make working from home work for me.
This blog has been updated/adapted from an article that originally appeared on Little Rock Soiree’s Work Wife website.
1: Define Your Work Space
Some people can work from anywhere - from the bedroom (actually in bed on a laptop) to the beach and anywhere in between.
That might work for you, but for me, I need a designated space.
I can occasionally work at a coffee shop or brainstorm with Glenn while on a road trip. But, for the most part, I like having a specific base of operation.
My spare-room-turned-office works perfectly. It feels official. It feels like an office. And it helps create a productive mindset.
Set up your work space — whether it’s a room or a section of the dining room table — and make that place sacred. It will help you stay focused and allow you to separate work from the rest of your life.
2: Establish Your Routine
Working 9 to 5 (admit it…you just sang “what a way to make a living”) is no longer your mantra. YOU set your schedule.
I’m a morning person. I have a routine that takes full advantage of my productivity rhythm. I wake up at 6 a.m., get coffee and start my day. No commute required.
The first hour is spent responding to emails, checking social media and reviewing my tasks for the day. I get the bulk of my more-brain-power-needed tasks done before noon. I’m rubbish by 3 p.m., so I stick to simple tasks or errand-running in the afternoon.
It’s important to know your rhythm to get the most out of your day. If you’re like my husband, don’t force yourself to get up extremely early because you read an article that claimed successful people get up at 5 a.m. Make time work for you.
3: Dress The Part (and brush your teeth)
When I first started working from home, I wore the same thing I slept in for the entire day and sometimes didn’t brush my teeth until 1 p.m. Yuck! I started to feel unproductive, unprofessional and, to be honest, a little unkempt.
Now, I often perform about three “costume changes” per day.
Pajamas -> Office Clothes -> Client Meeting Clothes -> Pajamas
And, I remember to brush my teeth in the morning … usually.
Do something that helps you physically transition into work mode. This doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit or put on a full face of make-up. But it does help to have clothes and rituals that take you from personal to professional.
Bonus tip: Get out and socialize. Isolation can be an issue for those of us who work from home. Schedule lunches with friends to catch-up. Take time to connect with others in the real world, not just on social media.
