5 Ways To Be Productive When Working From Home
For almost 7 years now, I have had at least 2 jobs - my 9 to 5 and this blog, which I call my 5 to 9. I work a full day and come home to work for a few hours, and spend a good deal of my weekend working as well. Being productive when working from home can be very difficult, considering there are lots of comfortable spaces (netflix from the bed, anyone?) and any attempts to sit up and work from my couch are thwarted by a warm throw blanket and my kitten. My home is full of distractions, as I'm pretty sure yours are too.
So how am I able to maintain a blog while I work full-time? Here are some of my tips for being productive when you work from home:
SUNLIGHT IS YOUR FRIEND.
Whenever my space permits, I like to put my computer near the window. Getting sunlight is proven to jolt energy, and honestly I just like to look out of the window for inspiration. In my home right now, my desk is against the wall because our windows are floor to ceiling; for those in a situation where you're knocking your head against the wall (literally), I recommend sunlight lamps/bulbs. Instant mood boost!
DECORATE.
What are some of the things that make you the happiest? For me, it's fashion so I'm putting fashion-centric illustrations on my wall above my workspace. I also have motivational quotes to keep me going, and lots of gold because it's my favorite. Lots and lots of people like to place a vase of fresh flowers as well, to both bring the outside in and for visual delight. I personally prefer candles. I know when I light one that I mean business.
ORGANIZATION IS KEY.
Being organized, both physically and electronically, has saved my life. I keep a ton of notebooks around me for when I have ideas, and I use Google Drive like you wouldn't believe. I have my editorials broken out by seasons, which are then broken down by months which I then prioritize by week and day. I always have my free-flowing running list of ideas tab open as well. Pinterest has also helped tremendously with keeping track of visual inspirations. Being physically organized is critical - I like to be able to reach for something when I need it. I have a mail sorter on my desk, magazine files, a cabinet for receipts and paystubs, so on and so forth.
SCHEDULE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE.
I live and die by my Google Calendar. I have multiple calendars set up - one for social obligations, one for my FT work obligations, one for financial payments, and one for getting blog work done. I even have a calendar schedule for when to send emails and text messages and make phone calls (hi Grandma!) . I have my calendar linked to my phone so I can check in on my day while I commute to work. I send emails from the train without shame. I'm basically a machine, haha. I felt pretty obnoxious at first, but I have no problem sending a friend a calendar invite to catch up over dinner! And while I'm certainly human and forget to do things sometimes, I'm a lot less likely to forget when it's on my calendar.
MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS LEVEL.
Your posture can make or break your workflow. Be sure to pick the right chair and make sure your screen is eye level. When I first started putting my space together I kept saying I wanted a couch or accent chair, but I realized I'd be lounging too much and now I'm looking for something a bit sturdier. There are a ton of ergonomic chairs in the market that help you sit up and tall to get your blood flowing and your brain ticking. I also have a laptop stand that keeps my screen eye-level. Looking down on an angle kills your neck and having your hands on the desk all day will fast-track you to carpel tunnel syndrome. (I occasionally feel pulling in the muscles in my hands and let me tell you, it is not fun).
Extra tip: TAKE BREAKS AND ENJOY YOURSELF :)
Do you have any other productivity tips you'd like to share? Please do!