Note: This blog is from 2020 but with many people still working from home post-COVID, it still applies to working in 2023.
With many people working from home with the COVID-19 virus shutting down offices, it can be hard to adjust to focusing on your work with so much going on. As someone who has worked at home for nearly two years, I understand the struggle!
It took me quite a while to adjust to putting my location out of my brain so I could focus on work just like I was in the office. Because I understand the struggle really is real, I wanted to share some wisdom that will hopefully make the adjustment a bit easier for you in coming days/weeks.
1) Put On Real Clothes – People always joke when they hear that I work from home that they’d work all day in their pajamas. I won’t lie, I do spend a fair amount of time in my pajamas but on days I’m struggling to get motivated I get dressed. I’ve found that just putting on a pair of jeans (my normal work pants of choice) and a shirt can change my attitude from no motivation to knocking out my whole to-do list in one day.
2) Stick To A Routine – Whatever you do, don’t shut off your alarm. I know it can be tempting to get a bit of extra sleep since you don’t have a commute but, at least for me, sticking to a routine is extremely important. Instead of the commute, maybe take a little extra time for your breakfast or check out a YouTube fitness class. Our world is already turned upside down right now, a modified version of your routine can literally be a sanity saver.
3) Online Stopwatch – I’m not endorsed by www.online-stopwatch.com (though I wouldn’t be opposed to it!) but that website keeps me on track. When I’m home I think of 562 things that need to be done around the house, so I find that setting 20 minute increments keeps me focused. Have a household idea pop up in your head? Write down tasks instead of doing them right then. During that 20 minutes I shut down all social media (scary, I know!) and just focus on my task – just like I’m doing for this blog right now. I’ll also set a 10 minute count down for breaks to keep me from wasting the day. You might even find that you get everything done quicker this way!
4) Eat Lunch – My other work-at-home friends and I discuss this all the time – we often forget to eat (and keep ourselves hydrated) during the day. I had this same problem in the office but it’s 10-fold now. I get distracted, take that 10 minute break to do laundry or some other task then look at the clock and it’s already 5 p.m. This is where my phone alarm comes in. I set it to go off at 1 p.m. every day to remind myself to eat and take half hour to step away from my work. I also recommend meal prepping your lunches, so you don’t dread having to cook a meal at lunch time (especially with many restaurants closed – though delivery is still an option!). It’s much easier just to grab and go, basically just like you do at work!
5) Set Up a Work Space – This tip is one that has been extremely important to my productivity. Designating an area to work can save you a lot of wasted time. My personal preference sees me alternating between my office and my dining room table because I get much more done at both those places than I do on the couch. I’ve also learned not to just turn on random TV shows during work hours. I’ll usually get sucked in and then find myself doing more watching than working.
6) Don’t Shut Yourself Off From the World – I’m definitely not saying to go out to a bar and hang out but finding ways to still interact with people is so important – especially if you live alone. I will go days on end without talking face-to-face with anyone other than a “hi” to the people at the gym but even then I’m still sending messages to clients or talking to my editors, ect. It can be easy to become a hermit when working from home but we all know that isn’t great for your mental health. Be sure to find some way to connect to the outside world, even if it is just setting up a Skype (or Zoom or whatever your method of choice is) “date” with a friend for coffee where you can virtually talk face-to-face. Bonus: This usually leads to motivation and ideas that help kick start your brain if you’re feeling a bit in a hole!
Overall, working from home has some amazing benefits but it can also be a struggle, especially in these times. Hopefully this gives you some ideas on how to stay on track over the next few weeks and feel free to leave any ideas in the comments if you have an idea you feel can help others or to email Melissa@PyroisMedia.com even if you just need someone to talk to!
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