I’ve been working from home for 10 years, 3 of which have been full-time, and over that time I’ve come to realize some hacks for being productive and get the most done from home.
When I was freelancing + working full-time in an office, I was very productive at home because I didn’t want to be working all my free hours. I would ‘reward’ myself with going to happy hour after finishing work or getting to watch tv after I finished a project (more on that below). This way of working was really easy for a while, but since working from home full-time, it’s definitely more of a challenge.
Here are my 6 tips for working from home and getting things done -
Have dedicated office space
This is my #1 tip and one I didn’t follow until a year into working from home exclusively. Having a dedicated place where you get work done is SO helpful for staying on task and being organized. All my files live in their dedicated filing rack, my pencils/pens/notebooks/etc. all live on my desk and in their spot. When I worked from my couch for a year, I had a box with all my “office” stuff that I would dig through every time I needed something. Talk about a time waster!
Over the last two years, the layout of my desk has changed and when I moved it into its own room I really became more productive and energized. I highly recommend having a spot you work from daily. Also - make sure it’s a place where you DON’T do other things.
Get dressed
This is one I don’t follow all that often, but when I do - I get SO much more done! It’s weird how clothes can affect your mood, positively and negatively. I’ve learned to get some comfy clothes that also make me feel like I’m in work mode and ready to take on the day. I’ve found some great casual, but comfy clothes that make me feel put together without being a total scrub all day, and it makes the world of difference!
Take breaks
Go for a walk, meet a friend for lunch, get up and walk around every once in a while. It’s good to get your blood flowing, and sometimes when we’re working from home, we forget to take a break! I always thought that it would be easier to take breaks at home, but I’ve found it to be much harder. There have been many days that I just want to keep going because “I”m almost done,” then suddenly it’s 4 p.m. and I never even finished my cup of tea from the morning. Don’t lie, you’ve been there too.
Breaks help productivity and give you clarity. My favorite thing to do for a break is to go for a walk and listen to a podcast or music. I typically like to listen to something completely not work-related so that I’m ready to dive back into projects when I’m back at my desk. Another way I’ll take a break? Doing a chore around the house. Sometimes just getting out from in front of a screen and cleaning dishes can help make you more productive.
Time block your day
Time blocking is my #1 rule for being productive. My calendar looks like I have a full day of meetings, but it’s really all my projects divided up throughout my day. I find having my schedule laid out like this, plus using a list system for checking off tasks - I am able to stay productive and have fantastic time-management.
It’s also really helpful for tracking time when you’re invoicing or working on a retainer. I use a separate tool for time tracking and then compare it with my time-blocking for future projects. It’s become extremely helpful in multiple aspects of my business and my life!
Reward yourself with milestones
This goes back to my days when I was freelancing on the side of working full-time but it really does help me! I like to set “rewards” for myself so I stay on task and don’t mess around on Instagram or Facebook too long. It’s easy to dive into a project you’re passionate about and work the day away, but what about the projects that aren’t something you really enjoy doing? For those, I follow a 1-hour on/10-mins off rule. If I can stay on track and focused for 1 hour of this project, I’ll let myself dive into some internet articles or watch Instagram stories for 10 minutes.
Set office hours
This goes right with time-blocking and is a huge help for not working around the clock. One of the disadvantages of working at home is you’re technically always at work. It's so easy just to hop on your computer and think, "Oh, this will only take me 5 mins...I’ll respond now."
It’s important to learn work/life boundaries so that you don’t burn out. Even though your work hours might be flexible, you should set a tentative work schedule so there is also accountability that you aren’t working when you’re not supposed to and vice versa.