Since most of us are currently working from home because of this quarantine that we’re all in, I thought it would be helpful to put together a list of things you can do to stay productive and motivated. I know it can be difficult to work from home at times. Many people thinks it’s easy, but it’s actually much more difficult than it seems! It’s very easy to get distracted and lose focus and concentration, so below are some tips I have to staying motivated and productive while working from home.
Put yourself on a schedule (time blocking)
One of the hardest parts of working from home is staying on track and not getting distracted by everything going on around you. Put yourself on a schedule as if you were working from an office. Time block your day for the things you know you have to get done that day. For example:
- 8am – 9am: emails
- 9am – 11am: work on project
- 11am – 12pm: conference call
- 12pm – 12:30pm: lunch
And so on and so on. Time blocking is so essential to being productive. And be sure to STICK TO IT. If you’re working on emails, don’t do ANYTHING else during that time because then you will get off track and the emails won’t get done. Designate time for that specific task and don’t focus on anything else during that time.
Also, I think this is especially important for those of you who have children. If they are home with you while you’re working, time blocking is so necessary. Set aside a certain time frame for all of your tasks. Write a list of everything you have to do, as well as everything you have to get done for your kids, and then go from there. Time block the hell out of it all until it’s all accounted for and done.
PLAN PLAN PLAN
This directly relates to the first tip above and it’s the most important thing for having a productive day. If you go into your work day not knowing what you have planned, then it’s going to be a mess, you will be stressed, and you will more than likely spend the day doing unproductive things.
I personally have a large dry erase calendar right next to my desk and it has all of my big deadlines on it. I am a full time content creator, so I have many different due dates with brands that have to be met. It really helps to have a monthly calendar in front of me with all of those dates specified so that I can see what’s coming up.
Every Sunday, I spend an hour planning for the week ahead. I write out all of my content that I plan to share (blog posts, IGTVs, story content, etc…) and I break it down by day, then write it on my calendar for the coming week. If you have meetings for work, projects due, calls to make, etc… plan them out a week in advance and put them on your calendar so that you go into the week feeling organized and ready.
If planning a week ahead isn’t realistic for you, then I would highly suggest at least planning your day the night before so that you go into the day ready and knowing everything you have to get done. That in itself will motivate you, keep you on track, and allow you to have a productive work day.
Put your phone away
I know many of us are attached to our phones, myself included. But if you are trying to stick to your schedule and be productive, then the smartest thing for you to do is put your phone away! If you have it in front of you while you’re working on something, chances are you are going to get distracted by scrolling social media, text messages, or calls. And that can easily pull you in for a good hour. For me, a lot of my job is being on my phone, but when I’m working on a blog post or filming a video, I make sure and put my phone in the other room so that I’m not tempted to grab it and start mindlessly scrolling Instagram.
Create an inspiring work space for yourself
The environment you’re in makes such a huge difference to whether or not you’re going to be motivated and inspired to work. Surround yourself with things that make you happy, like motivational sayings, pictures of your family, or fresh flowers. Even just opening the windows and letting in some fresh air and natural light can change your whole mood and get you ready to take on the day in an instant.
Stay clean and organized
I personally cannot get anything done when my apartment is messy, so a huge thing that keeps me motivated and productive is making sure it’s clean and organized before I start my day. This in itself motivates me to want to work. I always say a clean space = a clean mind. If all you see around you is mess and clutter, then it’s highly likely that it’s going to stress you out and distract you, and you won’t have a fully productive day. Even if that means tidying up the night before, try and get your place as neat as possible so that you wake up to a clean, organized space.
Get up and get ready
This is not something that I do every single day. Let’s be honest, most days I like to be comfy and cozy with no makeup lol. But I will say that the days where I do get up and actually put on a little makeup and get dressed, my day is much more productive and I feel more like myself. Even if you are not someone that wears makeup, that’s okay. Maybe throw on a cute pajama set that makes you feel happy and cute. Putting yourself together just a little bit is an instant mood booster and will motivate you to have a productive day.
Don’t sleep in
This is probably one of the hardest things for me and something I am still working on. When you work from home, it’s very easy to just sleep in right up until you have your 8am call. You roll out of bed at 7:50, just in time to brush your teeth and jump on the call. But I promise you, if you make yourself get up at least an hour earlier every day, it will make the biggest difference! If you have an 8am call, wake up at 7, make your coffee or tea, do a quick workout, take a shower, listen to a motivating podcast, get your mind ready to take on the day. If you do this, you will find that you will get SO much more done and you will feel much better throughout the day.
Get moving
I will say that working out in the morning is probably the best thing you can do to start your day in the most positive, inspiring way. There’s just something about working out in the morning that sets up your entire day for success. But if this isn’t possible for you, then at least do something in the evening, even if it’s taking a short walk, doing a quick 20 min workout at home, or just stretching and relaxing your body in some way.
I hope that these tips helped! I know that some of these are hard to do, but it definitely takes effort and a little bit of a lifestyle change. But as you really make it a priority to work these things into your daily habits, it gets easier and easier to do, and you will find that you will be so much more productive and motivated to work and get stuff done. Thank y’all so much for reading, and I hope everyone is staying safe during this crazy time! Sending all of you love!!
