With all that’s going on right now a lot of people are forced to be working from home. How do you keep motivated when it feels like you’ve lost all your control?
How are you supposed to get into a “work mindset” from your couch? Don’t worry, I have some ideas that will hopefully help you.
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Working from home: 9 tips to help make it easier
Let in some natural light
Yes, open the curtains/blinds and let some sunlight in. Not only will it make things less gloomy but it will also give you some added energy and maybe even some vitamin d.
It also provides the “illusion” of connecting with the outside world even though you are still inside your house.
Get ready every day
I know it is tempting to stay in you’re pajamas while you work from home. The reason that’s a bad idea is because it doesn’t help motivate you. Getting up, having a shower, getting dressed (actual clothes not pajamas), doing your makeup ect. will help get you in the work mindset. Or work mode if you prefer.
Dermalogica has a lot of great skincare products for all different skin types. They are a high end brand (so bigger initial price tag) but the products are so concentrated they last months ;-).
You don’t have to wear a suit, khakis and a polo shirt is perfectly acceptable.
Limit distractions at home
Yes, I am going to be “that person”. Turn your phone off or put blockers for social media sites. (There is apps for this, ie: Moment, Freedom, Break free, Stay on task ect.).
Find a place that is relatively quite so you can focus on your tasks at hand.
Have a designated work from home area
Having a specific area to do your work really helps with productivity. It doesn’t have to be a separate room or home office but a desk would be easier than the kitchen table.
You are also likely to be more motivated at a desk as opposed to your sofa with the tv remote and other distractions.
Try putting on some background music
Spotify is fantastic and FREE. It has loads of songs you can listen too. It even has divided folders for different moods such as happy, or sad, or meditation and yoga music. Different songs from different decades. Find something you can have going in the background that won’t be a distraction.
Stick to a schedule at home
It is so easy to get all “loosey goosey” when you’re not use to working from home. Set times, have designed start and stop times. Give time for breaks and meals. Don’t be a work horse!
Keep in contact with co-workers as much as possible when working from home
If you need information, clarification or a helping hand, lean on your coworkers. You are all in the same boat in unfamiliar waters. Lean on eachother.
Have a to-do list
You don’t want to end up in a situation where you don’t know what you are doing. Don’t give yourself that stress. Write down what needs to be accomplished and check them off as you go.
Take time to step outside
It’s amazing what a little fresh air can do for your concentration and productivity. Things get stressful, take a couple minutes to destress and clear your head.
keep this in mind as you are working from home
Think of yourself and your job as separate entities. You do your job, you are not your job. This may come as a shock but you still have to live your life the best you can.
Let me know down in the comments below how you are holding up and if you have any positive advice for others. What is something new you have learned about yourself while working from home?
Till next time,
Tanya xoxo
Great tips!! We only have 2 laptops so Im currently not getting much work done due to the sprogs needing to use mine for school work so im trying to find other things to be more productive. X
Thanks love! I have 1 laptop and I despise it. Lol. I really need to get a new one. Haha
These are brilliant suggestions! I am not working at the moment, but find background music helps me stay focused especially when blogging 🙂 My favourite Spotify playlist right now is Mood Booster! Having a daily to-do list also helps me stay motivated and productive. Thanks for sharing, hope you are having a good week! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Thanks for reading Bexa! <3
I also like the mood booster playlist! …… and now I have Happy by Pharrell stuck in my head. Lol
Awesome tips. I’m new to working from home so I’ll try some of these. Thanks!
Happy to help Kelsey! Good luck xx
Getting outside is so very important even if you only sit in the yard or go for a quick walk. This helps when you are working at home to relax and come back fresh and ready to work.
Exactly! It gives you the chance to clear your head 🙂
These are great! I’ve gotten away from my to-do list homeschooling my littles while trying to work. Need to get back to it!
xoxo Andi @ Bossmom
I can’t imagine having to homeschool as well, truck on you brave human! I find lists really helpful 😉
Great tips – I’ve especially found that getting dressed properly makes all the difference! It just doesn’t feel right sitting at my work laptop in PJs! Thanks for sharing! x
Haha, I completely agree. It’s almost like it gives you the permission to slack off
I completely agree! I think not being “properly” dressed allows you to feel like you can slack off. Just personal opinion 🙂
Great tips and reminders! I know I need some motivation to get going in the morning and keeping the routine definitely helps.
Thanks Elizabeth! I was always a morning person up until my mid 20s. Now I’m a night owl…..actually more like a permanently exhausted pigeon lol
Hahah! I know that feeling! 😉😀
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These are all great tips! I love sticking to a schedule. Getting dressed every day like you’re going to work helps me feel more productive.
I don’t know how some people do it. Get work done in pjs I mean. They make me want to curl up with a book or something. Lol
Great tips!
Thanks
I’m lucky that I was already working from home, but so many people are having a hard time adjusting, and I think for a lot of jobs, this is going to become the new normal. Great tips – the music in particular always helps me. I have a playlist of medium speed songs that I like but don’t love – that’s what I listen to while I work so that I don’t want to change the song but also don’t get too involved dancing to the music.
That’s a great idea Jasmine! I do the same for when I write :-). Ya… I think a lot of people are going to see a shift in their jobs.
Great tips, I think I have tried most of them
Did they help?
Great post! I love all of these tips. Sometimes the very best option for me to be productive is to leave my phone by my bed, then leave and go work downstairs. The only complaint is when people try to get a hold of me, but it does wonders for me getting things done. I highly recommend, at least every once in a while! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Great tip Savannah, I agree on it’s effectiveness. Less distractions so more work get done
Excellent suggestions. I think it’s so important to get ourselves into a routine, open the curtains and even a window to let in some fresh air!
It really helps bring life into the room, doesn’t it? You’re work space does not have to be gloomy and dark. It deserves some happiness too 🙂
Great tips 🙂 I remember when I was thinking “Oh, if only I could work from home…” and now “Emmm…. where has productivity gone?”
Lol. You’re not alone. I’ve heard people say they just wear pjs all day . It becomes hard to be productive when you’re dressed for bed. :-p
These are some good suggestions for the people doing WFH.
I am doing WFH for my company from almost a month due to this Covid-19. I observed that I am more productive while WFH than working in office.
If you are good at self motivating it makes it easier
Love these tips! I’m currently working from home and I feel like the workload has doubled.. so these tips will help me adjust.
You’re definitely not alone. Make sure to take breaks, eat and at least put your face by an open window. 😉
Ah, it’s always more work at home! It’s like you’re doing multiple things at one time!
Thanks, great post!
🙂
I should try it out soon! Just to feel that everyday i got motivated to work at home! Love that feeling 🌷 Anyway, nice sharing!
Thanks for reading Dini