My 'employment' journey since I finished University has been up and down, but has recently taken me into being Self Employed. I'm still not working 'full time', but it means that my jobs are all over the place, routine is tricky and it involves a lot of working from home.
Working from home sounds like working in bed, wearing pyjamas and finishing early, right?
Nope.
Not if you want to get anything done - I've learnt the hard way.
1. 'Bed Office' ain't a thang.
Emails from bed sounds like a great idea, but in reality you'll nap, get distracted and probably feel pretty slobby by the time you get up! Working at a desk is way better for you productivity levels and better for your posture too.
2. You gotta put some clothes on.
You don't have to be wearing your best outfit or tight skinny jeans whilst crammed up against your desk, but I've found getting dressed, putting on some make up and making myself feel a little more human, made me feel way more prepared to get shit done.
3. Routine and structure are key.
I have to plan my days out and write a to do list or I find it's already 12pm and all I've done is checked my emails and watched some YouTube videos. I like to have one giant to do list, then each day I'll pick the tasks I need to get done to create a more realistic list. It's also good to have an idea of how your week is going to pan out. If it looks like it'll be five days of solidly working from home, plan to work from a coffee shop one afternoon or plan a workout one lunch time - it'll break your day up and stop you from feeling like you're going crazy looking at the same four walls!
4. Treat yo' self.
A clean, tidy workspace, a nice smelling candle and a cup of tea are just a few little delights that make my day a bit brighter and jobs a little easier.
5. Find things that get you motivated.
It turns out creating a playlist called 'Yaaaaas' complete with Britney Spears' Greatest Hits, old school Miley and sassy Little Mix is the key to feeling like the ultimate Girl Boss, ready to tackle all the emails and make a start on everything you've been putting off for weeks. When I need to focus a little more, I'm really enjoying listening to Podcasts.
bonus 6.
You WILL think about packing it all in and just getting a full time job with a salary to make your life much easier at least 3 times a day. But you won't, because if you're working for yourself, chances are you're doing so to do something you love.
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This freelance life is still all very new to me and every week brings a new challenge to work out what works best for me, but I'm enjoying learning and finding my feet.
What are your top tips for working from home?
I cannot get anything done from bed, I just end up watching a movie or procrastinating! x
ReplyDeleteAriadna || RAWR BOWS
I just get sucked into YouTube videos and before I know it hours have passed!
DeleteNice post. I'll have to remember these tips. Just left the corporate world and this post is perfect timing.
ReplyDeleteAh I'm so glad, I hope it helps! xx
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