How to Work From Home and Get Things Done

Working from home can be both a blessing and a curse. For some of you working from home is part of your daily lives. After all, with all the technological advances, it is a pretty cool thing to make your own schedule and work in your pajamas. For others (most part of the population) getting used to this practice might be a little bit daunting. Not knowing how to start can be overwhelming. But don’t panic, we got you with some tips on how to get things done. 

For many years I was used to work in corporate office spaces with lots of cool people around me. Two years ago I made the decision to work from home and decide to start my business. At first, I didn’t know where to start, how to stay organized and productive. And my worst distraction was...you guessed it... tv. During the first year, I learned how to deal with this by creating a routine that made my working life a little bit more focused and productive. But I’m warning you that this is not something that you can accomplish in two days. You have to be consistent and focused on your goals. I gathered some ideas on how you can work from home and set a schedule. 

1. Get dressed as if you're going out

If you stay in your pajamas you’re telling your mind that you’re still in bed. This is one of the most important things you can do when you work from home. It changes your mindset and makes you feel that you're up to something different than staying on the couch. I’m not talking about putting on dress pants and high heels. I’m talking about putting on something comfortable, but decent enough to go outside if you have to. Trust me, this will make your working day more productive. You can also have a good breakfast. No one wants to start working on an empty stomach, especially when the fridge is a couple of steps away. By doing this you will avoid snacking unhealthy stuff. 

2. Set a schedule and stick to it

Of all the tips I’m going to give you this is probably one of the most challenging. To accomplish this you have to figure out what is your daily office schedule and try to recreate it as closely as you can to your new environment.

First, make sure that you designate an area where you can focus and not be interrupted. Bring your cup of coffee with you and start by doing what you normally do when you arrive at the office. That could be checking and replying to emails or meeting with your team. Make a to-do list with timeframes so you can stay on top of things and nothing gets undone. 

3. Include breaks

Believe it or not, this is a very important part of working from home. When you are at the office you have colleagues that you talk to and clients to visit. But when you’re at home time goes by very fast and when you realize it is noon and you haven’t stand up form your chair in three hours. Make sure that you take a break every 1 to 2 hours. Stand up, stretch, drink water, go tho the bathroom or walk around the house. These little breaks will reset your brain and make you think of something else for a couple of minutes.

Try to stay away from social media or the tv, since you’re going to be too distracted for longer periods. Just make sure that you take a couple of minutes to start again. Your body will appreciate it.

4. Don’t sit all-day

There are a couple of stretches you can make from your desk that doesn’t require to be a yoga master. Just stand up, stretch your arms and your back. Take the dogs out for a couple of minutes or text someone. These brakes will make a big difference in your mood and your body is going to be more relaxed. Usually, during this period I stand on my balcony and take some fresh air for a couple of minutes and then go inside. 

5. Stay in close communication with your team

Even though you’re working from home, you’ll probably have a team working under the same circumstances as you. It’s very important to be in close communication with your team discussing updates and special situations that each one has. In some cases, you might need to take upon some of our colleagues' tasks, so you’ll need to know where’s everyone in your team and how each can work to be on schedule and aligned with the goals. Be open to making some changes or modifications to your schedule to fill in for someone else’s work. 

6. Eat a healthy meal an stay hydrated

Being 10 steps from the kitchen is very challenging. Having all your favorite snacks just a couple of feet away from your desk is tempting. To avoid being distracted make sure you have a good breakfast. Set a time when you usually take your lunch and try to cook something fast and healthy. Home-cooked meals are the best option. This is a treat that you deserve to have.

Also, drink a lot of water. Take a reusable water bottle and fill it every once in a while. By staying hydrated you avoid feeling hungry all the time. It tricks your brain into making you less hungry. Also, by having a water bottle you avoid washing a bunch of glasses at the end of the day (and you help the planet, win-win)

7. Work efficiently

Prioritize your tasks, make sure you’re doing the most important stuff first so when it’s the end of the day and you get tired your brain can manage the less challenging tasks. Another thing you can do is set a timer for your tasks. Not having your colleagues or boss in the same working space you might be tempted to work on a specific task for too long. This has happened to me frequently so I tried to set up a timer so you can make sure you don’t spend more time than needed on a task. 

8. Call it a day when you feel accomplished

As it happens in every office, the work never ends. Don’t try to accomplish everything at once. Set up a time to “switch off” and try to stick to it. Make some dinner, relax and plan for the next day. Be flexible with your schedule. Something might change during the day so try to be as flexible as possible and make room for the unexpected. 

9.Have fun

This practice doesn't have to be daunting. After all, not everyone was made for this, but everyone can make it. It’s challenging and can feel lonely sometimes, but it can also be positive because it takes you away from your day to day and places you in a different working environment. You just have to stay organized and communicate closely with your teammates. Be honest when you feel overwhelmed and talk to your boss or colleagues about it. Try to make the most out of it and have fun while doing it. 

In summary...

Working from home can be wonderful in so many ways. The best of it is that you can control your schedule and you can learn from the experience and adjust as needed. Give these ideas a try and let me know about your experience working from home and how you stay organized.