5 Tips For Working From Home

Happy Tuesday!

Hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during this tough time. SO many changes have happened in the past few weeks. I know a lot of people, including myself, have been struggling with stress and anxiety. But all we can do is stay home, wash our hands, and keep busy.

I’ve been working from home (like the majority of the world right now) and I wanted to share some tips on what’s been working best for me. The hardest part about working from home is all the distractions you will find. Especially if your significant other is working from home too, HI ROR! So to help, I’ve put together 5 tips on working from home that you can start implementing into your WFH life: 

1. Morning Routine

Every morning, before I go into work, I have a specific routine that I like to follow. WFH has not changed that at all. If you want to get the most work done, being a little strict with yourself can go a long way. 
I normally wake up around the same time everyday, hop in the shower and then make myself a healthy breakfast. I absolutely NEED to eat breakfast or I won’t have the energy to work. I’ve also been getting dressed in casual outfits every morning. NO PAJAMAS. I noticed that putting on makeup, doing my hair, and getting dressed has helped me become more productive during my day. I recommend experimenting and finding out what works best in your current situation. A routine that you do every morning will make it easier for you to get into “work mode”.

2. Write Down a To Do List

I cannot stress it enough how important it is to write down a list of everything you have to do in your day. I find it so satisfying to cross off the tasks you had written down once you’ve finished them. You will definitely feel accomplished once your to do list is completed. A to do list also brings structure in your day, especially now that you are working from home. Prioritizing your time will help you remember what you have to do and you can prioritize based on what’s most important. Just remember to focus on one thing at a time. You will be stress free once you’ve completed all your tasks!

3. Create a Work Space

My fiancé and I live in an average size apartment. We have a kitchen, one bedroom, one bathroom, and living room. There isn’t much space for both of us to be working from home but we manage. I see a lot of people with their own home office and trust me, we are not there…YET! 
Everyday has been different. I normally work from our kitchen table and Rory will bounce back between the kitchen table and bedroom. We work great together and rarely distract each other. I’ve been thinking about purchasing a desk. I think it will be a smart decision in the long run. But for now this has been good for us so far. 
I recommend trying not to work from the couch or bed. You will get too comfortable and find yourself scrolling through your phone or watching TV. Try to find a space in your home that you can call your “office” and stick to working there. 

4. Schedule Breaks

When working from home, it is a MUST to take breaks. You can add a few breaks throughout the day to your to do list. Breaks help refreshen your mind and will increase your productivity and creativity. During my breaks, I either eat a snack, go for a walk, or check social media. Social media can easily be a distraction so try not to be on it for more than 5-10 minutes. Breaks are super important because you have to give your body a rest every so often so it can recharge!

5. End of the Day Routine

Your end of the day routine is almost as important as your morning routine. Sending out your last email, closing down your computer, and leaving your work space will help you feel like you’re actually going home from work. 
You don’t want to combine your personal life and work life together. For example, I normally workout after work. I make sure that I don’t workout during the day while working from home. I stick to my end of the day routine. Luckily, there have been a lot of free online workouts that you can do at home. So once 5:30pm hits, I change into my workout clothes and do my at home workout. So whatever you do after work, make sure you keep doing it. Whether it’s working out, making dinner, or hanging out with family friends (FaceTiming for now), stick to that routine! 

If you are now working from home or have been for a while, I would love if you could share some of your tips with me!
Xoxo