Tips + Tricks to Work From Home Like a Boss

1. SET A START TIME - Have a set start time for work- a time you have to be at your workspace, changed out of PJs, have eaten your breakfast, and be ready to go. Sometimes for me, changing out of my PJs simply means putting on yoga pants & a tank, but just being out of my sleeping gear starts to shift my mind into work mode.

I personally don’t like having an end time because, for me, it’s not about what time I end, I care about having flexibility and looking at how much I've accomplished that day.  Some days I’m so exhausted and have used up all my creative energy so I might stop working earlier...which is fine because there’s other days where inspiration runs rampant and I work into the wee hours of the morning. Do what works for you. So if you love structure or thrive on knowing what time you’re off work, set an end time too!

My work space! I live in an apartment in LA so my kitchen table doubles as my desk. Space may be tight, but I love the feel...looking up at my gallery wall always gives me an extra boost of inspo!

2. DESIGNATE A CREATIVE WORK SPACE Create a safe space in your home that feels like you…a place where your creative or business mind can feel free to run wild. THIS SHOULD NOT BE YOUR BED.  Ok…I admit I have been known to work from my bed on occasion, however, it is not ideal for productivity…or your sleep for that matter.  It’s important to physically separate work and sleep/relaxation so you can separate them easier mentally . So get up, make your bed, head to your inspirational place to work, and get going. 

3. YOU ARE THE BOSS - You are your own manager of your time and productivity…this can be a blessing and a curse. Remember to stay accountable to yourself (and any other people you are working with.) Set mini goals and deadlines to keep yourself on track, check in with yourself, and determine what is working/what is not and make appropriate changes. Be the boss you always wish you had.

4. MAKE A CHECKLIST - Checklists are so important for me. Mind you, I have never been one of those people who loved check lists and I never understood how people made pro / con lists work...so this is surprising for me to say.  However, I see my productivity increase A TON when I have a list of everything I want to get done all in one place to refer back to. I personally like weekly check lists. I tried daily ones, and for me…they felt too stifling.  I like having the freedom to choose what I want to work on daily, while still staying on track for the week. And hey, if you love checking things off, maybe making a checklist every day is right for you!

5. TAKE BREAKS - Make sure you account for breaks / getting outside / lunchtime.

This is important! While it is crucial that you hold yourself accountable and get the work done that you need to…it is also important to give your mind a break and get outside at some point throughout the day! When you work from home you could literally not go outside all day….which can be terrible for productivity, fry your brain, and ya know...drive you stir crazy. So grab some vitamin D, recharge and enjoy at least 30 minutes outside. I personally love taking my dog for a walk...it’s a great way to get outside, get inspired, and enjoy some quality time with my furry best friend! (Just remember to not let these breaks drag out too long.)

Zoe is a big fan of tip #5. She loves her walks!

Extra tip - Sometimes you just need to get out of the house for more than 30 minutes. Maybe you're stuck, frustrated, and your mind is going in circles. At times like these when I feel like I'm not getting anything done at home or that I am getting distracted way too easily, I shake it up. I either head to a cute cafe with unlimited wifi or get out of my own head for a little while by hiking, calling a friend or something of the like.

So alas, there you have it, my secrets to working at home like a boss. Might I just add, this is what works for me. The most important thing though, is to find what works for you.  What is your personal work style?

If I had to say for myself…I think “organized chaos.” And by that, I mean I love having the freedom and flexibility to go where inspiration takes me, while having just enough structure that I can hold myself accountable, get done what I need to, and not stray too far off track. It took some trial and error to figure this out. I always knew I thrived on having the freedom to be creative and that something too structured stifled me. However, without any structure my procrastination gets the best of me and I don’t get nearly enough done.  

Working from home can be amazing. You have no commute, get to work in cozy clothes, and if you have a dog you legit get to snuggle all day.  However, if you haven’t figured out how to work from home effectively it can be a procrastination nightmare.  So adjust these tips to your personal work style and get going!