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Laura
Hi! I'm Laura, a 23-year-old millennial girl discovering who I am by sharing my life experiences on my blog. You'll find me writing about me discovering my personal style, my growing wanderlust or giving any sort of style, uni or mental health advice.

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styleandsushi@outlook.com

From July 2012 all items marked with a (*) are gifted items or PR samples. Posts on this blog may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. Please read my disclaimer for more details.

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TIPS FOR HAVING PRODUCTIVE WORK FROM HOME DAY


And just like that it’s the end of March. March really threw us all a curveball, huh? We’re basically all working from home at the moment and even though not much is changing for my personal situation, I too have struggled with the recent changes to protect others and ourselves. So I can only imagine what it must feel like for people who are used to going to an office every day. And I feel lucky to say I am lucky enough and privileged to have a job where I can work from home during these times, because there are so many people who still have to go to their physical job to keep the economy running in these weird times.
Like I said before, not much is actually changing for me as I work from home anyway, and while I actually enjoy working from home I just could not seem to get it all together these first two weeks of being stuck at home. This week I am focussing on getting back into my routine. I thought I would share some of my tips to get some sort of schedule back into my day to be productive again. These are just some tips I have learnt from working from home this past year.

Wake up and get up

One of the most tempting things to do when you work from home is to stay in bed just a little longer than if you were to go into the office. Whether it’s because you just want to, because it’s an actual fridge inside your room and thinking of getting out of your warm bed into the cold air does not sound appealing – that’s specific, oh hi it’s my morning struggle -, or because you have not gotten much sleep. One of the most important things is to wake up and get up anyway. I personally only slept 3 hours this night because I was stressing about things and then binge watched something on Netflix as a distraction. While I was waking up this morning I really wanted to just roll over and go back to sleep again. Instead I am glad I somehow got the willpower to still get up at my normal wakeup time to keep my weekday routine going.

Get dressed

The second thing that I would find essential in your work-from-home-routine is to get dressed. It’s already an accomplishment that you have made it out of the bed this morning. I can assure you, you will feel more human and alive if you also get dressed in the morning. I personally don’t have anything against wearing jeans in and around the house as I actually find my jeans to be super comfortable to wear now that I have had them a while. But on other days I would wear smart trousers with an elasticated waistband or something like that to bring me extra comfort while I am at home all day. Personally I find that if I wear a complete tracksuit when working from home I find myself being less productive than if I wear my ‘normal’ clothes. Sometimes I just cannot be bothered with jeans and would wear my joggers or leggings around the house but keep the top part look pulled together. It doesn’t have to be super over the top, but just getting dressed in the morning already makes a huge difference in your productivity. I will be sharing a couple of my ‘work from home’ looks later this week on the blog if you would like some inspiration.

Find a separate corner for your ‘at home office’

Another super tempting thing is to go back in bed once you are dressed and ready to tackle your workday. I for one am not at all productive when I am working from bed. I know this from past experiences. If I work or used to study from bed I will always put Netflix on and get under my duvet. That’s the first cue for my disaster, because the second one is me going for a never ending nap. That’s why at this time it’s super important to have a little corner that will become your office at home. I am lucky enough to have quite a large space for myself at home while still living with my parents. I have a bedroom and another room that could function as an office. However we are currently redoing that room and I cannot for the live of me concentrate there while it still reeks of pain. So for the time being my desk is in my bedroom to work from. But you could also make a little work corner at your dining table if you don’t have enough space inside of your house. The most important thing is that you have a separate space where you can start up in the morning and then disconnect at the end of the day.

Create a weekly task list

One of the most overwhelming and demotivating things to see is an extremely long task list every single day. It’s why I actually like to set myself a weekly task list instead. This way I can fill in my days, as I like to. I for example know that I have to do some work for my client’s website and their newsletter this week and it needs to be ready by the end of the week. Instead of planning it all on one day, I will write it down alongside my other tasks I need to finish such as my emails, taking photos or writing for the blog and any household choirs I might need to finish that week.
I know myself and I know I am less productive on Thursdays and Fridays compared to the start of the week. So usually I get my ‘serious’ work done on the first couple of days of the week. Sometimes this means that Monday is my ‘blog’ day and Tuesday is my ‘work’ day. Other days I might mix it up and do a bit of both during the day. The ‘fun’ tasks such as taking photos for work or the blog or household choirs are usually planned at the end of my week. Or some days I just don’t feel like working at all and take a break from it all. It’s a little bit of a mind game but it gives you a bit more freedom in what you want to or feel like doing every day of the week. You are productive anyway, as long as you’re slowly making your way through your to-do list, you’re doing just fine!

Distinguish weekends and weekdays

Working from home makes it more tempting to finish that deadline during the weekend. I don’t think you should actually do it though. Make a clear difference in what is a working day and what isn’t for you. If your boss texts you during your weekend, you are not obliged to reply. It’s your weekend. Take that time for you. I am not actually one to preach about this as I often find myself doing work during the weekend. But if I do work on the weekend, I will have made sure to have at least one day off during the week instead. Set those boundaries for yourself so your work is more manageable for you to do. And on those days that you are not working, plan to do fun things, such as baking or an evening of films and series. Also try to have your social gatherings on FaceTime instead of going out to also make it feel more like you’re still hanging out with your friends. My friends and I are planning on doing a game night soon and I have FaceTimed, called and WhatsApped so many of my friends already in these past three weeks we have been told to stay inside. The digital world is important, now more than ever before, so make sure to also get some quality time with everyone you love via video calls, normal calls, texts and every other social platform.

Open a window

At some point during the day you will start to feel sleepy. I remember feeling that way too while was still interning in several different offices. This was usually my queue to get a coffee. Some fresh air usually does wonders for me now though. While opening a window is actually harder than you think in an office, it is easy to do so at home. I find that opening a window brings in some fresh air to help me prevent to feel tired and it gives you a bit more focus. I also find it helps if I am feeling claustrophobic from being inside for so long. As soon as I open a window I don’t feel like that anymore.

Take 5-minute break every hour

I have the attention span of a goldfish. I need to take 5-minute breaks at least once every hour. Not only because I can’t seem to be doing tasks for longer than an hour, but also because my at home office isn’t ideal. It’s not particularly comfortable to sit on a wooden desk chair for hours and hours. So I need those 5-minute breaks every hour to get something to drink, give my eyes a rest and stretch my back and shoulders for a bit. Then I get back to work. Sometimes I might actually be super productive and work for two or three hours straight, but I then also make sure to step away from my computer for a little bit to give my eyes a rest, stretch and just look at something else than a computer screen all day.

Go out for a breathe of fresh air

And finally I would say it is important to get some fresh air in general. Don’t think it’s enough to just open your window, because I still get antsy to go outside when there’s fresh air coming in and I have been behind my desk for too long. Actually try to go outside for a walk if your government allows you to. Or go to the supermarket to do some groceries. Or just hang your head out of your window for a couple of minutes. Fresh air does miracles for your concentration levels and it’s also a great way to get a little bit of exercise in. Whether you go grocery shopping by foot or by bike, it’s a little breathe of fresh air in this time where your home can feel quite cramped and claustrophobic.

Stay safe and be kind to yourself and others!

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