How To Stay Productive When Working From Home

In the months before I became a full time entrepreneur, I was tired, burned out and practically dying for something new. At work, I constantly daydreamed about a luxurious life where I worked on my own terms and didn’t have to deal with chaotic commute every morning. All I could think about was how I couldn’t wait to run my own business and work from home. I envisioned myself working from bed, in my PJ’s with no one to answer to but myself. The day I finally quit my job, I breathed a HUGE sigh of relief, said goodbye to the 9-5 life and hello to full time entrepreneurship.

About a month later, as I sat on my bed in my pyjamas just like I had imagined, I realised that it would take a lot more than a daydream to find the discipline to show up for work every day. Since then, I’ve come a long way, and have a much more realistic approach to working from home. Here are some tips that have helped me stay on track along the way!

Create A Schedule

It doesn’t matter whether you use sticky notes, a bullet journal or just a regular piece of paper, it’s SO important that you have a solid idea of the business goals you want to achieve. You’ll need to think about how you’re going to spend each day and the tasks you’ll need to do to get things done. I find that spending a few hours at the start of each month to plan my goals is extremely helpful. Breaking your goals down into weekly and daily tasks will help to guide your business and track your progress. I like to use Notion to track my daily weekly and monthly tasks. It’s completely changed the way I run my business, helping me stay on track and complete my tasks with more efficiency.

It’s also really helpful to keep track of when you work best. Whether that’s in the morning or evening, it can help you save so much time in the long run. I used to wake up super early and spend hours trying to be productive until I realised I worked more efficiently in the evening. So many of us that have worked a traditional job have been forced to be morning people, and tend to stick with that going into entrepreneurship. The key is to remember that you’re in charge, which means that you can work in a way that suits you.

Take Breaks

There’s a general belief that working from home means that you’ll automatically work less, but in reality is quite different! There are no boundaries, which means that YOU decide when you finish work. If you’re anything like me, it can be quite difficult to switch off once you get into work mode. When I first started Sena Studio, I often worked 12 hour days. This (not surprisingly) resulted in me being a tired, burnt out mess. One thing I did learn from those 12 hour days, was that it’s super important to carve out some quality time to relax. I love taking time out during the work day actually live and do things that I enjoy. Taking walks, cooking, enjoying a Netflix break and reading are some of the things that I like to do to break up my work day.

Build A Unique Workspace

Having a space where you can sit down and focus will help you maintain a good level of productivity. If you can, try to work from the same space consistently. A great way to stay motivated is to decorate your space with encouraging images and quotes. This will help you create a unique space that you really enjoy working in.

Despite all the perks of working from home, it can be a lonely experience at times. To avoid spending too much time alone, you can switch it up and try working from a co-working or shared space in your area. I try to balance things out by working at a co-working space at least once a week.

What are some of your tips for working from home? Comment below!