So in light of current events, you may have found yourself working at home. I do the majority of my job from home: editing, communicating with clients, marketing, and all of the other behind the scenes stuff! (15 year old Katelyn would be very disappointed to learn that being a photographer is only about 12% actually taking photographs. Twenty-six year old Katelyn isn’t that thrilled either, but this is the life that she chose.)
I’ve rounded up 7 tips to hopefully help you while you’re working at home more effectively! I wanted to make it a more appealing “5” but I just couldn’t cut any of these out because they are all equally important to me.
1. Maintain a regular work schedule.
Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it! Whether it’s 8-4, 9-5, or whatever those hours are that you find yourself most productive, start and stop working at the same time each day.
2. Get dressed.
It’s super tempting to keep your pajamas on all day (hence why this rule is the one that I probably break the most often) but instead, put on “real clothes” like you would if you were going into the office. They say to dress for the job you want, and that advice works while working at home, too!
3. Don’t get too comfortable.
Resist the urge to grab your laptop and plop onto the couch in front of the TV. Use a dedicated office space, or at the very least, your dining table to work on! It’ll feel a little more formal and you’ll be more likely to take it seriously if you’re not sunken into comfy cushions.
4. Take breaks.
I personally like to focus on work for 50 minutes, and then give myself 10 minutes out of every hour to get up to stretch, make sure I have water, and let my mind wander. It’s more breaks than one would typically get in an office, but it works for me and I am productive AF during those 50 minutes.
5. Block out your time.
If I don’t have a plan, I’ll do a little of one thing, then another, then another, then guess what? At the end of the day, nothing got finished. Use Google Calendar to block out your day! If you know exactly what you’re going to be working on at a given time, you’re more likely to stick to it.
6. “Meet up” with colleagues.
It gets lonely working from home. Get together with your friends who work in the same field! While we’re social distancing, you can accomplish this through Google Hangouts, Zoom calls, or FaceTime!
7. Create boundaries.
Other people in your home? Whether it’s a significant other, children, or roommates, make sure everyone you are sharing a space with understands that while you’re home, you are at work. They should respect your space and make sure they know what is and isn’t okay to do while you’re working.
I hope that this was helpful to you! Remember to allow yourself grace while you’re adjusting to working from home. If you catch your mind wandering or you don’t get to something on your to-do list, there is always tomorrow. Good luck!
