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I know a lot of us are struggling managing everything going on right now and this weird time that we’re in. I also realize this is a huge change for many people now working from home for the first time. Since I’ve owned my own business and have utilized a home office majority of the time, I wanted to share my top 10 tips for working from home. Hopefully this will help some of you out with the adjustment.

As I am sure many of you are experiencing, the flexibility of working from home is nice and truly something to be grateful for if you’re able to do so more than ever now, but it can also be really hard. These tips for working from home have helped me over the years to stay productive and be efficient even with the distractions that come with working from home. Check them out below and let me know which ones you’ll be incorporating into your routine.

#1 Create a schedule

I put this tip as #1 as I truly believe it is the most important. Just like going into work, you have somewhat of a schedule or routine you follow leading up to it. Do the same thing even when working from home. Having a schedule gives you an outline to your day and keeps you accountable. This could be anything from a 10 minute morning routine, getting in your workout before you start working, etc. Anything but rolling out of bed and getting right onto your laptop will instantly make you feel more productive.

#2 Get dressed

Of course working from home means your uniform options have shifted tremendously and staying in pjs all day is always tempting. My advice here is to simply change out of what you slept in. Whether you opt for athleisure loungewear or decide to fully put on an outfit, that’s up to you. But putting fresh clothes on sets the tone for the day and switch from home life to work life.

#3 Get ready/Self care

Now is the time to take advantage of giving your skin a break from makeup (or maybe just not wearing as much) and doing some sort of self care every day. For me, my skincare routine does the trick for both. I take care of my skin, it makes me feel as if I’ve gotten “ready” and it also relaxes me as a method of self care. I recommend creating some sort of small ritual like this to start your day off fresh.

#4 Designate a workspace

You definitely don’t need to have a home office to effectively work from home, but I do think it’s important to designate a specific space to where you are working. This will help to get yourself into the mindset of work and you want a space that is quiet so you can focus and somewhere you will feel comfortable (but not too comfy) sitting all day. What might help are these noise cancelling head phones, this laptop stand and if you don’t have a desk, this tray table is great.

#5 Entertainment

I definitely prefer to have some background noise while I am working but my tip here is do not turn on the TV while working from home. It’s a distraction and will take your focus away from here. Instead I would opt for podcasts or Spotify has a ton of “work from home” playlists.

#6 Schedule in breaks

Breaks are essential at home, just like they are at the office. Sometimes I get so sucked into work that hours and hours pass by before I stop. Whether it’s a quick 15 minutes just to take your eyes away, or a longer break to eat lunch &/or go for a walk with your kids if they’re home, it’s worth it. Taking some breaks throughout the day will keep your more productive in the long run.

#7 Time batch specific tasks

This is a tool that has become so beneficial to me in all aspects of life, including work. Time batching is essentially applying an increment of time to a task, for example, giving yourself 30 minutes to respond to emails, or 45 minutes for a meeting. Before I implemented this method, I had a tendency to work on multiple things at once and it really became so chaotic. Take the hectic-ness out of your routine and schedule out when and how long to work on a task, sent an alarm, and when the timer goes off, it’s time for the next task. I love this time cube from Amazon and it’s great for kids to use too!

#8 Utilize apps

There are so many great apps that are helpful when working from home! My recommendations below:
Slack: Great for work conversations that aren’t via text message
Asana: Project management and organizing tasks
Loom: Screen sharing/recording & more
Dropbox: For file storage and sharing

#9 Save daily home tasks for later

This is something you can include when you’re creating your daily schedule, but save your chores for after (or before) working. It’s easy to get distracted while being home and seeing all of the items on your home to do list that you want to tackle. but you have to remember that now is not the time. You have to set those boundaries for yourself so you aren’t pulled into a million different directions.

#10 Pick an end time

Just like when you “clock out” at work, decide a realistic end time for your work day at home and stick to it. At times, it is hard for me to unplug as I get sucked into work or work later at night after I’ve been with my kids, but I really have to make it a point to sign off at a certain time. It’s easy to feel like because you’re working from home you need to work 24/7 and be constantly available, but that’s not realistic or healthy. Take the time in the evening to yourself, so you’re fresh for the next morning to start again.

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Home Office Accessories Under $25