3 Tips for Working from Home
TRANSCRIPT:
This past week has been tough. I had to post for two of my clients that had to close because they own restaurants. Even with delivery options, it just wasn’t worth it financially. I was scrambling with updates and changes for other clients while silently worrying about those that are seeing half of their normal business.
I hope that you’re one of the fortunate ones that is able to work from home like my sister. If so, I’m sure you’ve noticed by now that your lack of schedule is making the transition harder than you thought it’d be. That’s because our brain likes order and knowing what comes next. When those things are missing, it just kind of wanders and wonders what to do! So I want to offer you some tips.
I’ve had a home-based business since 1998 and have worked from home since 1992. When I started my computer training business, my son was six. But even before that I did medical transcription. He was five months old and would play on the floor while I worked. I did that for several years. He was such a good kid that it was easy for me to work from home. Hopefully, that’s the case with you or you have someone to help you with the kiddos while you work. If not, get creative!
Create your space
The first step is to create a work space that’s free from any distractions, pretty, and in a room where you can close the door if possible. I’d put up all your bills, household to-do lists, and anything else non-work related. Make it feel as close to your normal office as possible.
Get up and show up
You might be tempted to sleep in each day, but that might not be the best idea. Again, your brain is looking for its normal routine. I recommend getting up like you’d normally do if going in to work (unless you don’t have a commute and can sleep in a little bit), follow your normal morning routine including putting on makeup and getting dressed, and then start work at the time you normally would. Of course, getting dressed can mean you change your PJ bottoms to yoga pants, but getting ready signals that it’s time to work!
Note: I can get up, never put on makeup, brush my hair, or change out of my PJ’s and still be productive. But I’ve been doing this for a loooonnnnggg time!
keep regular hours
If you go to work at 8, be at your newly created workspace at 8. If you work until 12, work until 12. Of course, you might have to be flexible if you have kids in the home. But try to focus for 1-4 hours on your work minus any distractions, including Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, and any other temptation. Enjoy your lunch and then get back to work!
You might find that you’re able to get more done faster than at work because the typical office distractions are gone. The key is not to let other distractions form. Here’s what many don’t know—your brain can become addicted to distractions, especially social media, texts, and emails. The brain drops a dollop of dopamine in your system every time you hear an alert on your phone. Over time, you’ll self-interrupt.
Research also shows that multi-tasking and the constant switching between tasks is the number one cause of stress in the workplace. Your brain needs at least 25 minutes to enter the zone. When you’re pulled out of the zone, it takes at least 20 minutes to get back in. This might surprise you because you think you’re a great multi-tasker!The reality is that your brain merely switches between tasks slowing it down and lowering your IQ!
In summary
I love working from home! But I did have to learn to focus. When cell phones became the norm, I really struggled. I still find myself driven to look at my phone for no reason! If I’m in a self-interrupt loop, I’ll put my phone in another room and get to work.
I think for me the most important part of being productive working from home is having a designated workspace. It makes it more legit.