Whether you quit your office job to start your own business or are adjusting to working from home after staying home with kids for a decade, it may be a struggle to establish a good work-from-home routine. Fortunately, many of us can relate after spending the last two years adjusting our schedules because of the pandemic. Learning how to be productive while working from home is important for every business owner. Follow these 10 tips for working from home to maximize your time and stay on top of your goals.

10 Tips For Working From Home #1: Get ready for the day

My first tip is to act like you’re going to the office and get ready for the day. By getting dressed in your professional clothes (or at least changing out of pajamas), you’ll be in the right mindset to get work done. If you normally do your makeup and hair before going out for the day, continue that routine for working from home. Throw on some cute earrings, too! Bonus, if you have any zoom calls then you’re already ready. 

10 Tips For Working From Home #2: Have a designated office space

Whether it’s a corner of your bedroom, the basement living room, or a home office, set up your workspace in one designated spot in your home. Avoid laying in your bed while working as it may make you sleepy and not able to focus. Make sure the other members of your family understand where your workspace is and respect your boundaries. Set yourself up with water and any snacks you may need to save time and minimize distractions.

10 Tips For Working From Home #3: Set guidelines with family members

It may be a challenge to work from home with kids or your spouse around, especially during the summer months. Unless you have a nanny, you’re not going to be able to work for 8 hours straight without your kids needing something. An easy solution is to set guidelines with your family members. Inform them of times when you have important meetings and should not be interrupted unless there is an emergency. That could mean closing your office door for 45 minutes during a zoom call, and then opening it when the call is over. 

If your spouse works from home as well, try to stagger your meetings so they’re not at the same time. Leave lists of activities and snack ideas for the kids so they’re not constantly asking you for help. Consider offering them some incentive if they can respect the time you need to get work done. Reward them with a trip to the park after you finish a big project. Thank them for allowing you to do your job efficiently.

10 Tips For Working From Home #4: Be flexible

Learn to be flexible with your time and expectations. It may seem difficult at first to break your work time into smaller chunks throughout the day. Talk with your spouse and see if they could help more with kids in the evenings or on weekends so you can focus on working then. Consider waking up early to get a jump start on your assignments while the house is still quiet. It’s totally fine if your kids need to spend more time on screens or at a friend’s house when you need to focus. Figure out what time of day you are the most productive and save your more difficult tasks for that time.

10 Tips For Working From Home #5: Take breaks

At an office job, you would normally take breaks now and then to let your mind rest. Continue to do so by taking a walk outside or checking in with a family member. Set a reminder on your computer to take at least one break in the morning and one in the afternoon. If you’ve spent hours trying to plan out content for your social media, take a break by listening to a podcast. Just be sure to set a time limit so you don’t get sidetracked.

10 Tips For Working From Home #6: Maintain your sleep schedule

You wouldn’t stay up late binge watching the new Stranger Things season if you have to go into the office the next day. So you shouldn’t stay up late on nights when you need to get an early start working from home either. Continue to try to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Set a reminder on your phone to wind down and read a book instead of looking at a screen before bed. This will help your brain relax and help you fall asleep more easily.

10 Tips For Working From Home #7: Make a to-do list

Sometimes it may be hard to see how much progress you have made when working from home because of the way your workday is broken up. Use a to-do list, content planning sheets, or my planner to help you track your goals. These will help you organize your content and keep track of your schedule. Put those items with the highest priority first and cross things off as you complete them.

10 Tips For Working From Home #8: Limit personal social media use

Obviously, you need to use social media for your business, or you wouldn’t be here! However, make sure you are limiting your personal social media usage. It can easily be a distraction and make you lose track of time. Keep yourself logged into your business page on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok during your working hours. Try to only check your personal page during breaks or in the evenings after your work is completed. If needed, use the Do Not Disturb feature during meetings and set screen time limits for certain apps on your phone to help you manage your time wisely.

10 Tips For Working From Home #9: Prep meals the night before

Cooking lunch each day can be time consuming and detract from your productivity. Try to prepare meals and snacks the night before. Separate leftovers into portion size containers. Brainstorm some quick and easy lunch ideas for yourself and your kids. I even put my older kids in charge of getting lunch ready one day each week.

10 Tips For Working From Home #10: Set a time limit

It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re on a roll. Before you start working for the day, determine what your ending time will be. Set a timer on your phone and wrap things up once it goes off. As you are finishing up, make a list of the tasks that you need to complete the following day. That way you’ll be ready to start first thing in the morning.

Use working from home to your advantage

Working from home has allowed so many people to be their own boss. These tips can help you get started with your work-from-home business. Take advantage of the flexibility and comfort of working from home. You got this!

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