How do you work from home effectively? Your home may be full of distractions like kids, spouses, laundry and dishes, but these helpful work-from-home tips will keep you productive and sane!
I've been working from home in some capacity since 2009, which is a long time! Three of those years I worked in corporate America, and the rest of the time I've worked for myself.
Except for the first two years, I've had my kids home with me. It wasn't until recently that both of them went to school full time. So if you suddenly find yourself working from home with kids, I've been there!
In the summers I work from home with my whole family around, since my husband is a teacher. So I've experienced a wide range of scenarios.
Working from home is a privilege and a great blessing. It means I can be flexible with my family's needs. Yet it also brings some very real challenges.
It's easy to get distracted by chores, other home responsibilities or family members who are home too. Here are some of the tips I've picked up over the years for staying productive while working at home.
12 Tips for Working at Home & Being Productive
1. Have a Morning Routine.
A good morning routine starts with a bedtime routine. So start with an early (enough) bedtime, 7-9 hours before you want to get up. Turn off screens an hour before bed and find ways to wind down, like a warm bath, hot tea, a good book and essential oils.
Then get up when your alarm goes off, and plan to do something for yourself before getting the kids ready for the day and sitting down at my desk. I like to do my daily devotions, write in my gratitude journal, drink a cup of coffee and get dressed before my kids get up.
You may be tempted to work long after the family goes to bed, stay up late and then sleep in. But in essence you're giving your work the leftovers of your day. If you keep a regular bedtime, go to bed early and wake up early, you'll be giving yourself, and then your work, the BEST part of your day with the most energy.
2. Have a Dedicated Work Space (preferably with a door).
If you don't have a traditional office space in your home, it could be the guest bedroom or a corner of your bedroom. But it's preferable to have a space you don't have to re-enter after your work is done. A separate work space in your home helps you separate home life from work life, even though they happen under the same roof.
In our current house, I have a beautiful home office, which is part of the reason we bought the house in the first place. I intentionally don't go in there on weekends unless I've planned to work then. And I don't go back in at night after the kids are in bed, unless I absolutely have to!
3. Set Office Hours.
Working from home with kids can be tricky and sometimes needs to be super flexible. But if you can, set work hours for yourself, and in turn you'll protect your personal time too. Make a schedule that includes hours set aside to be “off duty” at home and “on duty” at work.
When my kids were little, my office hours were before they got up, during nap times and after they went to bed. Now that they're in school, I work while they're there.
In the summers, when my whole family is home, my husband and I sit down and decide what my hours will be, so he knows up front that he'll have the kids and I won't be able to help.
4. Time Block.
Time blocking is basically having an organized schedule for what you'll accomplish each day. It helps you see what you need to do and when you need to do it, and it keeps you on task. I've written a whole post with a FREE time blocking printable in this post (scroll to the bottom).
5. Set Your Top 3.
Every night before I “clock out” for the day, I write my top 3 priorities for the next day in my daily planner. That way, when I sit down at my desk the next morning, I don't have to try to remember what I need to do first.
6. Get some Exercise.
It's important to move at least 20 minutes a day, but I try to aim for 30. I currently fit my exercise into one of my work breaks. It's working for me now, but I'd really like to exercise first thing in the morning and then take a quick walk on a break during the day.
Leave the house, if you can, and get some fresh air!
When you only have to walk down the hall to get to your office, it's important to make moving a priority every day. Set a goal to be active for at least 30 minutes daily.
7. Make a Point to See People.
As of this writing, we're supposed to be social distancing from others. But at any other time, it's important to get out and see people.
Join a mastermind, either in person or on Zoom or Google Hangouts. Go to a gym class. Set aside one day a week to meet a friend for lunch. Otherwise, working from home can get very lonely.
8. Do something other than work when you wake up.
I mentioned this when I shared about my morning routine, but I think it's important to do something for YOU when you first wake up, not work. Write in a journal, paint a picture, meditate, read a book or the Bible, work out or take a walk. The possibilities are endless, but do something for YOU that's unrelated to your other roles or duties.
9. Find your sweet spot & prioritize work accordingly.
Notice trends in your productivity and do your most important work (your “Top 3”) during your most productive time. Put your phone on silent and turn off notifications during that time so you aren't tempted by distractions.
10. Eat a Real Lunch and Drink Lots of Water.
It's easy to dive into work and forget to take care of yourself during the day. You'll be tempted to “work through lunch.” But make yourself stop for at least 30 minutes and eat real food. I like to stand at my kitchen island to eat lunch, because I sit for so much of the rest of my day.
And don't forget to drink water! I aim to drink 3 large Yeti tumblers full of water each day.
11. Get Dressed for the Job.
It may be tempting to live and work in your pajamas, but it's important to feel put together. Some people advocate dressing as if you're going to the office, but I prefer comfy jeans or nice joggers with a nice sweatshirt or t-shirt. I put on some blush, mascara and lip gloss, and I'm ready to tackle my to-do list!
12. Invest in quality headphones.
I have the hardest time concentrating on work when other people are home and I can hear what they're doing. So I invested in some AirPods a couple of years ago. Best decision ever!
I also have to wear headphones when I'm working at a coffee shop with other conversations going on around me. I love this “deep focus” playlist on Spotify that I listen to when I need to get work done and drown out background noise.
Bonus Tip: Give Yourself Grace.
If you're new to working from home, give yourself grace to do what's best for your mental health. Don't worry about strictly sticking to a schedule at first.
Try different things, keep what works and toss what doesn't. What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. Do what needs to get done and go easy on yourself as you learn your new normal!
I hope those tips help you find your groove working from home. Do you have any other tips you'd share for working at home? I'd love to hear them in the comments!
