By Sabela Burleson
Working from home is most of our new normals and while it’s full of possibility (hello, office sweats and new four-legged coworkers!), it also can lead to distractions and disruptions. Today, we are sharing seven ways that we are staying focused, productive and on-task to continue delivering for our clients and partners.
Start a Morning Routine
We all have a little extra time in the morning since the commute to your home office is definitely less than a 20 minute drive now, so use that to your advantage and begin a morning routine. This can range anywhere from meditating, journaling, taking an online workout class or creating a skincare regimen. Establishing and sticking to a morning routine will help you get in the right mindset to conquer the day. Don’t forget your morning coffee in that list!
Make Your Bed
It sounds simple, but making your bed in the morning sets the stage for a productive day and GETS YOU OUT OF BED (and keeps you out of bed)! It signifies your first accomplishment of the day, encouraging you to continue the pattern throughout your work. According to U.S. Navy Admiral William H. McRaven, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
Set Your Space
Designating a space in your home devoted to work helps to increase productivity and avoid distractions. Our VP of Business Development & Events David Watts keeps his home office set up for work and doesn’t move his laptop downstairs or to any other part of the house. Additionally, this will set the tone for your significant other, roommate or family member and let them know that you are “at the office.”
Break Time
Just because you are at home does not mean that you shouldn’t take a break. Schedule your breaks and truly step away from work for that time. Take a walk, play with your pet or even unload the dishwasher. These small rests will help reset your mind to spark creativity and keep the flow of a regular work day.
Stay Healthy
Just because you are stuck inside, doesn’t mean you can’t get your fitness on. Take the time to move! Schedule an hour in your calendar to take a walk around the block, try out an online fitness class or create your own at-home workouts. Don’t forget to hydrate. Keeping a full water bottle close by will remind you to drink plenty of water. It may be tempting to reach for that chocolate or chips, but a healthy snack like a rice cake topped with almond butter or Greek yogurt with honey will keep your energy up.
Time Management Wine Time
Create a schedule and stick to it! This will increase productivity and stimulate creativity. Another great way to manage your time is the pomodoro technique or time blocking. Simply choose a task and set a timer for 25 minutes to focus on it and then when the timer goes off, take a five minute break. This allows you to work with time instead of against it.
After a long day, it’s important to turn it off, transition into your personal life and enjoy your evenings. Distinguishing work time from free time will help to keep your work and home lives separate (even if you can see your home office from the living room). Everyone in our office has their own way of winding down, so grab a glass of wine, open a book, binge watch Netflix, or whatever makes you feel calm and happy and have a great night.