My View ::: Working from Home

With my current job, I'm working from home about 40% of the time, but after two years of working from home 100%, I've learned a few tricks on how to not completely lose your mind if you get the opportunity to do it.

And, most of the time, it really is an opportunity to work from home. Not only do you get to stay within the comfort of your own home, you can manage your house SO much better. Plus - I have found that working from home really reduces my work anxiety. There is much less urgency from day to day, and I definitely appreciate that perk.

But, there are some hard aspect to being home, alone, all day long. It takes a lot of self-motivation to stay on task and get things done - and sometimes the couch just looks way too comfortable. 

I found that the best way to feel productive as a person - and as an employee - working from my home I have to follow these "rules" 

Workout first thing

Being home and sitting all day can make me feel very unproductive and grungy. Getting a workout in before 9am makes all the difference in my day (even the days I go into the office). It gets my body energized to work and if I take a class - it's about as social as my day is gonna get.

Get Dressed

It's very easy to stay in those said workout clothes, but it does me no good. After my workout, I need to shower, slab a little make-up on, and put on something. I don't wear office clothes if I don't have any meetings, but putting something together helps. 

This is pretty much my work-from-home uniform.

No TV

Not even as background. It's too easy to sit down in front of it, and the presence of TV makes me feeling like I'm not at work - even though I'm on the clock. My mom shared this secret with me (and the get dressed tip) when she started having babies, and it works for me too. 

Sit at a desk or table

I don't like sitting in our guest room all day, so I normally set up shop at our dining room table. 

 

I like to have everything that I will need for the entire day there. Having my little work station set up in the morning and then put away at night also helps keep me on task. 

Pandora all day

I keep my Pandora going all day - because otherwise, it's just too damn quiet. Jason Mraz is my go-to station, but then after work, I like to switch it to Darius Rucker to have a glass of wine outside or prepare dinner to. 

Take outside breaks

Roscoe reaps the benefits of this one, but every two hours or so, I've gotta get out of the house.

 

 24 hours starts to feel very long if I'm trapped in our small condo all day, so lots of outside breaks help keep the day moving. We just go around the block but when I come back inside, I normally get a good 30-60 minute jolt of productivity. 

Set Timers

When I am really struggling to sit and work - which happens more than I wish it did - I will set timers for myself. I won't let myself stop working for 45 minutes, and then I'll get away from the computer and try and do something; walk the dog, run to CVS, fold clothes, water plants, whatever. It just breaks up the day, and I consider that time spent equal to the distractions that come up in an office - so it all breaks even

 

When you stop, really stop. 

When my day is done, I need all working materials out of my line of vision. My computer and work stuff need to be packed away so that I get my "home" back too. And then pour a drink. 

There are all pretty obvious - and easy to do tips, but when I break ANY of them, I can tell the difference in my mood, my work, and my week. Hope they help if you find yourself in the confines of your house all day.