Things that help me stay productive while working from home
Working from home always sounded like the dream. And trust me, it definitely can be. But there were some things I didn’t consider before blending my work life with my home life. And in the last two years, I’ve found some things that work and some that don’t. And as I’m cruising into this work week battling a nasty sinus infection, I figured this would be a good time to share with you my old faithfuls when it comes to finding productivity while working from home.
Things that help me stay productive while working from home.
I set an alarm.
I know. I know. This isn’t a must-do for everyone, but it is for me. My morning hours are my most productive. If I don’t get up early, carry out my morning routine, and sit down at my computer before 8 AM, I feel like I’ve lost the day. It also helps for me to separate work days from weekends. Structure is my friend if you haven’t already picked up on that.
I work in my office.
On weeks like this one where I’m feeling completely under the weather, it’s really tempting for me to take things to the couch or to the bed. But I try to keep some separation. If I’m feeling sick enough that I need to go lay in bed, the work shouldn’t follow. So I treat my work like a real job (because, uhm, it is). I go into my office and work. I don’t eat my breakfast or lunch at my desk. And I physically walk out of my office when I’m not working.
I leave my phone in another room.
I don’t bring my phone into my office whenever I can help it. Because is that thing really even a phone? No, it’s a brick of distraction. I can receive important text messages on my computer, and if that phone is in my office, I’ll find myself scrolling socials. That’s not productive. At least not for me.
I take [coffee] breaks.
If you worked in an office, chances are you’d stop what you’re working on for a moment to catch up with a coworker. Maybe you’d grab a coffee in the break room or take a quick stroll outside. I try to employ intentional breaks. Calendar blocking helps with this.
I calendar block.
I take the time to create a to do list, and then I plan out my week accordingly. Calendar blocking helps me combat the overwhelm, and it helps me keep structure in my days. I don’t think it really matters how much of a self-starter you are if you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing with your time. Calendar blocking helps me stay on task and introduce balance into my day.
I wear one hat at a time.
This one is hard. Trust me. It’s really hard to stay focused on work when there’s laundry piled up in the master bedroom. But I do my best to treat my office like an out-of-the-house office. I don’t do the laundry when I should be working. Now, that doesn’t mean I won’t throw a load in on a [scheduled] break, but it is not my priority. Working during working hours is my priority. It’s a little harder when the dog or cat demand my attention (they’re awfully dramatic, I have no idea where they get that from 🙃), but I do my best to keep my home life out of my work life and vice versa.
I have a few actual products and some software that also help me when it comes to working from home. Would you guys be interested in seeing a post featuring those things? Let me know. What’s something you do to help you stay on task when working from home?
