So you work from home at least half of the time now. Welcome to my world. Here’s how to make it easier to get stuff done and keep your mind sane. I hope these tips help!
1. HAVE A PROPER WORK STATION.
You can’t get anything done in bed or on the couch. Not especially if you have to be taking calls or client meetings, and you have to be serious and in “work mode.” Having an area of your home that’s set for work really makes a difference and sets you in the right mood. Even if it’s the dining table, do it.
2. LIGHT UP A SCENTED CANDLE.
One of the favourite things I do when working at home is to have my scented candle burning right beside my keyboard. It helps to keep me in the right mood for the tasks at hand and also adds a little bit of fun to work. Also, no one else is going to complain about it.
3. PLUG IN TO BACKGROUND MUSIC.
Or sounds. I used to listen to Noisli a lot (they’ve even got a Chrome extension) but now I tune into my favourite playlists on YouTube, like the one below from Sensual Musique.
4. TAKE BREAKS.
You take breaks when you’re in the office, so why shouldn’t you do likewise when you’re working from home? The fun part is that now your breaks don’t have to include travelling time (walking to the cafe 5min away, etc) or annoying colleagues (Tim who is always at the copy machine). You can have Ben & Jerry or Häagen Dazs, or you can even do a 5-min Pilates stretch sesh.
5. WEAR COOL LOUNGEWEAR.
I just spent a little over S$100 getting shorts, tank tops and a denim shorts online (Cotton On had a site-wide 30% off sale). If I’m gonna be working from home more than outdoors, I’d better be looking good for myself. I also got cash back by shopping through Shopback.sg (all online store prices remain the same, you can even find discounts), so yay to more savings!
6. HAVE A MORE RELAXING MORNING ROUTINE.
Now that you don’t have to commute daily, your mornings just got longer. You can wake up at the same time, but now you can have more time for your morning coffee/lemon water. You can meditate for 15min, or have a quiet moment by your home garden. You can read your favourite blogs. You can even have a quick shower or set your daily intentions.
If you want more tips on how you can make staying in better, I wrote a blog post on the little things that make my daily life better.