To many, working from home sounds like a dream. You can spend more time with your family and show up to work with no pants! Kidding, of course. But you can dress more comfortably, enjoy a more flexible schedule and forget about that daily commute. But if you’re not being careful, becoming too relaxed in a work-from-home setting can become disastrous and hinder you from successfully working from home.
As someone who works a job, has two internships, is a full-time college student, and has two kids (a newborn and a 5-year old at that!), I feel confident in saying I know what works and what doesn’t! With that, I wanted to share a few tips that have worked for me on how to successfully work from home:
- The Night Before
Try to have a set time to go to bed. Yep, like a bedtime. A good night’s sleep is key to a productive workday! I recommend establishing a nighttime routine. If it can be done at night, try to take care of it then. Examples of this include: Picking out an outfit ahead of time, preparing meals ahead of time, and creating a to-do list for the following day so you can be mentally prepared for what’s ahead.
- The Morning Of
Similarly, it’s a good idea to create a morning routine. Even as a social media marketing agency, we know it’s important to give yourself time away from social media channels. Avoid checking social media first thing in the morning and instead, start checking off that to-do list. If you do like to be on your phone in the morning, play some brain games to help set yourself up for a successful work from home day! Brew that coffee, make some breakfast, and feel your brain start to turn on.
I’m also a huge fan of morning stretches! I find they help get my brain pumping, especially on those mornings when I find myself feeling super groggy.
- Set Up Your Home Base
I recommend avoiding your bed as it can make you sleepy and unproductive. But for those of us without the luxury of a home office, pick an area where you feel comfortable and are free from disturbances. Due to the pandemic, many of us had to make that office-to-home transition very abruptly. We simply didn’t have the time or tools to create a proper workspace, if you didn’t have one already. Your set-up doesn’t need to be fancy, but a small desk and an ergonomic chair are essential items to successfully working from home.
Bring over things you’ll need to make the day productive before you actually start working so you don’t have to keep getting up. Coffee, a couple of snacks, pens; whatever you need, grab it! That said, it’s also important to take breaks and stretch in between tasks to avoid burnout.
- Ambiance
Light a candle and in between those Zoom meetings, play your favorite music! Music helps me to stay in the zone and avoid distractions from outside disturbances.
Also, remember to open up those blinds! You’re staring at a screen for X-amount of hours a day, and your lighting matters. It’s a good idea to invest in a blue light-blocking screen protector or glasses to keep your eyes protected.
- Family
Working from home means more family time, which is great. However, it’s extremely important to establish boundaries with anyone in the home before you get to work. Make sure the kids (and furry friends alike) understand that while you would love to play with them, you’re working and would be glad to entertain them when you’re done!
Lastly, it’s always important to communicate your reality to your employer. Life happens, and that’s okay. Working for a company that understands and values our personal time and space is so important, and something we pride ourselves on at Social High Rise. If you have tips and tricks on how to successfully work from home, let us know in the comment!
Did you know?
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