Last Updated on May 4, 2020 by ellduclos

11 Tips For Staying Productive & Motivated While Working From Home

It’s no denying that working from home isn’t ALWAYS what it’s cracked up to be. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a luxury to get to work from home and I will forever be grateful, BUT I won’t lie…sometimes I become lonely, unmotivated + even (hate to admit it) stay in my PJs ALL DAY… EEK.

When it comes to working from home, I want to share with you some tips that helped me to become a self motivator who stays focused and on top of my daily hustle.

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HAVE A MORNING ROUTINE & STICK TO IT

This is probably one of the most important tips of all tips! Having a morning routine can help to kick start your day, in a productive and positive way! There are so many things you can add to your morning routine to help make sure that your day is off to a good start.

For example:

• Waking up, & choosing an outfit to wear. (This helps so I am not in PJs all day!) 
• Journaling and self reflection. (To help clear my mind and focus) 
• Having a cup of coffee. (A girl needs her coffee to function…)

Whatever routine you decide to create for yourself, practice it everyday. 

AND one thing I will admit to is (sleeping in). It’s a habit that needs to be broken. Getting yourself onto a routine where you wake up earlier helps to make the most out of your day. I also find that if I wake up early, I am more productive throughout the day.

SO, have a set sleeping schedule, DON’T sleep in, GET dressed everyday, and JOURNAL.

OPEN YOUR BLINDS/CURTAINS

There is nothing more motivating than some sunlight. I don’t know about you but if my space is dark, I feel unmotivated and sleepy! I always feel refreshed and ready to go when my home is bright with some sunlight. Wake up and open those curtains!! SERIOUSLY, DO IT.

STEP OUTSIDE

Sometimes working from home can become overwhelming and again uninspiring.. One thing that I love to do between writing and all that jazz, is to step outside. It’s necessary for me to make sure that I am getting that fresh breath of air. It also helps to liven my mood back up! Give your body that Vitamin D it deserves! Plus – who likes being in the house all day? Small breaks are necessary.

WORK ELSEWHERE

It’s vital to get out of the house! Like I said…SO, a change of scenery is important. If you don’t switch it up you could start to feel down, lonely, or even depressed. Take your laptop, notebooks, whatever it may be, PACK UP and take it to the coffee shop. A change of scenery will spark inspiration and motivation again.

WATCH YOUR EATING

But SERIOUSLY. Between munching throughout the day OR just forgetting to eat in general. It’s usually one or the other for me. I either forget to eat until dinner, or I munch ALL DAY. My eating habits are poor to say the least. Having a meal plan each week can help fix this issue! Plan out your breakfast, lunch & dinners, (meal prep) and you can even set aside healthy snacks in smaller portions too. BUT ALWAYS make time for meals, AND try not too snack just because your home. Keep the food in the kitchen.

CREATE A MOTIVATING SPACE

Having a space in your home that’s specifically made for you to sit and work quietly on your blog can help make working from home a bit easier. Have a simple desk (even if it’s one you find at a yard sale and DIY). Fill your space with images that motivate you, quotes that inspire you, and candles/oils/scents that you love.

Make sure your space is cleared so you have enough room to write/blog/create/work etc. Investing in a comfy chair for your desk can help too!

Here are some thing I have in my “space”:

oil diffuser
essential oils
bulletin board
desk organizer

CREATE AN IDEAS PIN IT BOARD

I am a huge fan of sticky notes & bulletin boards. I always find that it motivates me in a way. One thing that I LOVE to do is have a bulletin board in my office space. Any time an idea comes to mind I will take a colored sticky note, write down my idea & pin it to my bulletin board. At the end of the month I come back to my bulletin board, take all of my ideas & figure out how to utilize them that month!

This is great when you have an idea come to mind and you don’t want to forget it.

Related: How to Start & Launch a Blog

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

This is probably the hardest thing to do when you are working from home but it’s crucial! When it’s time to work…it’s time to work!!!

PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE… even if you have to put your phone in a separate room. Whatever it may be, don’t let it distract you from working!

TURN OFF THE NOISE… Don’t have your tv on while working (this causes distraction). Try not to have music or any noise while working (unless it’s music that helps focus you). I also recommend investing in noise canceling headphones.

WORK LATE OR EARLY HOURS…If you have children, it’s best to work when they are napping, or still asleep. I know this is tough but you will get the most work done while the little ones aren’t distracting. So if that means you have a late night, it might just have to be that way. AND make the most of nap time!

TO DO LISTS + TIMERS

For me, I find that I work better when I am on a timer. When I am being timed, I work harder to get my task done. What I like to do is take out my planner and list out the tasks I have to get done for the day. THEN I will prioritize my tasks from most important to least important.

Once I have my list prioritized I will start with my first task and set a timer that gives me a reasonable amount of time to complete the task. Once the timer is up, if the task is not completed, I will move it to the bottom of my list and work on the next task.

I find this strategy helps me to touch base on all tasks that I need to get done throughout my day without focusing too long on one specific task!

PLAN OUT YOUR MONTH

At the end of each month I will take my planner out and plan out my content for that month. I find that this helps keep me focused & motivated. I am a very visual person, so seeing my month planned out in front of me helps make me want to actually GET IT DONE.

Since I do blog – I will write down blog posts ideas throughout the month (or pin them to my bulletin board like I mentioned above) as they come to me. Once it’s the end of the month I will take out my planner and put those ideas into my planner. (Like a content schedule).

Related: How I Turned My Blog Into A Career In Just 6 Months.

KNOW WHEN TO STOP

This is one thing that I still need to figure out. Working from home is great because you can pick and choose when you want to work! My issue is, I don’t know when to STOP working. I am constantly engaging with social media and my group, I am constantly writing new blog posts. I am ALWAYS on my phone. My boyfriend even tells me to put it down at least once a day. It’s so hard! I love my job, BUT I do need to find that balance between work life, home life, and social life.

You need to give yourself a break. Set a time when you don’t touch your phone or computer at all. Maybe after 8pm is your set “you time” where you UNPLUG. It’s important to put your work aside. Working 24/7 is very unhealthy!

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I hope this gives you some inspiration and motivation! Working from home is a luxury but it’s also not always what it’s cracked up to be! Make sure you are setting boundaries, staying productive, and staying healthy! It’s all about balance.

Let me know in the comments some ways that you stay motivated and productive throughout your work at home days!

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Until next time,

xx

ELL