One of my favorite parts about my day job is the flexibility to work remotely. I actually like the office setting, so I usually go in once or twice a week, but the other days I’m on my own working from home or on the go.
So many people ask if I’m more productive at home or in the office. The truth is both on different days. Some days home has distractions like a pile of laundry; some days the office has distractions like chatty coworkers. And in case you were wondering, the chattiest of coworkers is, of course, me.
But I can’t just shrug my shoulders and not be productive, so I’ve found tricks along the way to stay as focused as possible.
Five Work From Home Tips
Have a dedicated work space
I think this may be the biggest one for me. When I was planning out my apartment décor, I wanted to make sure I had an actual desk and organized for focus. My desk faces a window so that my back is to the room. This may seem odd, but it means I’m not looking at a kitchen that could use cleaning, a pile of clothes that could use folding, or a cat that could use snuggling.
I also made sure there wasn’t a TV visible to my work space because having a show on for background noise can quickly turn in to a 8-hour binge of my favorite show.
Separation of church and state
A question I get all the time is how I balance my Etsy shop and blog with my day job. The best way to describe it is separation of church and state. I have a separate computer for day job and side hustle, so during normal business hours, I keep the side hustle computer shut safely in a drawer. If I’m really busy, I may decide to do some blog work on my lunch break, but then the day job computer goes away during that time.
Keep essentials within reach
The worst thing for productivity is getting totally in a focused groove and then being distracted by my environment. I always keep a blanket on my chair in case I get cold and a full glass of water in case I get thirsty. And any office supply one could dream of. I do try to get up every hour or so to stretch, but I don’t want that to be because I am uncomfortable or need something that’s out of reach.
Find alternative work spaces
Somedays I feel antsy and just need to get away from a typical desk. It’s weird, but my favorite place to really power through a check list is at a coffee shop. I actually find that the background noise, coupled with zero life distractions helps me hone in. Some days I’ll sit on my patio for some fresh air too. And on the side hustle side, about 80% of Bumble and Bustle happens from this bar. 🙂
The one thing I haven’t tried yet, but would love to, is going to a coworking space. I think that the human interaction would be nice in a more comfortable setting.
Take Breaks When Needed
Sometimes when I work from home I’ll find myself staring off into space and just totally unmotivated. Being able to recognize these moments – and get out of them – is so important to having an overall productive day. This means that every once in a while, I’ll take 15 minutes to meditate or take a walk around the block. Am I away from the computer? Yes. But the refreshed feeling I’ll have when I get back to my desk will be worth it.
Do you ever work remotely? If so, what tips do you have?
Photos in this post are by the amazing Sarah Chobanian. Find her at www.sarahchobanian.com or @beautyintheye on Insta!
I agree with all of these! For my work I’m either traveling or working from home. I go into the office MAYBE 5 times a year. You’re number one is my number one as well! When I started working from home (coming from going into the office 5-6 days a week) I didn’t have a dedicated work space so it became me, my laptop, my couch, and my TV. Not productive!
Can a request a possible future blog post/list? I’ve been meaning to ask you on Instagram… Do you have a list of best coffee shops/bars/coworking spaces that you work from you could share? Or maybe just tips about working from them? I’m so intimidated to bring my work outside either my house or my office, but I could really use the change of scenery and routine. 🙂
I love this idea! I’ll test out some coworking spaces and share what I like and don’t like. I’m a big fan of side hustling from the bar, but wouldn’t take my day job work there! 😂 Maybe I can cover what I look for in a non-home space too! My local Starbucks doesn’t have a bathroom so it’s really hard to work there. And comfortable seating is a must! And outlets! You got the ideas flowing now …
Yes! The local coffee place a block from me has great coffee but limited outlets and very uncomfortable seating. Tried working there once and that was it. Thank you!!!!
💗