The Secrets To Rocking The Work From Home Life Like A Pro

When everybody went into lockdown in March 2020 for the Covid-19 pandemic, life changed for many. Drastically. The big question on everybody’s mind was how they would be rocking the work from home life while keeping their sanity. All of a sudden everybody was Googling “work from home tips” because life outside of the home had ground to a halt.

Anybody who could do their work from home was forced to do remote work.

Fast forward to 2022 and life is starting to resume “back to normal”. Kids are back in schools (thank goodness!), and employers are for the most part OK with people choosing to either work from home or come into the office for a certain number of days.

Many who didn’t have to work in public have become used to Zoom or Google Meetings video chats.

We’ve figured out routines, and made decisions.

We’re seeing a big push from many employees to continue working from home. But it still comes with challenges, especially if you’ve decided to homeschool your child.

This post is also important for moms who’ve decided to stay-at-home and turn a blog into a business. It can get insanely busy balancing being a mom and a blogger who aspires to run a full-time blogging business.

So how can you go rocking the work-from-home life and still keep yourself sane each day?

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Simple Tips For Rocking The Work From Home Life

Notice how I say work from home LIFE? Because you still have to have one and deal with the craziness that surrounds you.

Even if you’re single, all of a sudden, you’re in your own space at home, doing work. And you’re using your kitchen to make food (it gets messy), not going out to grab a lunch you eat at your desk.

You’re using your bathroom more (and it gets messy).

The coffee machine, French press or pour-over carafe is getting a workout (and it’s a mess or needs de-calcifying).

So you may not have a child that’s interrupting you every second, but there’s stuff to be done around the house as well. Otherwise, you’ll not be able to work from home effectively. You’ll be in a messy work from home hell.

So without further ado, my tried, tested and true work-from-home tips on how to rock the work-from-home lifestyle like a champ.

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1 // Stick To Your Old Routines

One of the key secrets to rocking the work from home life is to keep to your routines.

If during the Covid-19 lockdown you woke up at 6 a.m. to get ready for work, continue to do so now. Take a shower and get dressed, even if it’s in a fresh pair of comfy loungewear. Have your breakfast.

In addition to this take some time to catch up on the news, or do a little prayer if you’re spiritual. You may even want to read a chapter of your book while sipping on coffee.

After all, your commute to your “office” is steps away so you have a little bit extra time to yourself. RELISH THIS!

Throughout the day continue to do what you’ve always done. Do a coffee break. Have lunch, and a mid-afternoon snack, if that’s your routine.

| Related: How To Get Back Into A Productive Routine When You’ve Fallen Off Of One

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2 // Have A To-Do List For The Day And Keep It Realistic

Your list may be long but if you want to rock the work-from-home life, you need to balance it all out.

So, try doing this:

• Prioritize to have maximum two big goals that can be accomplished in one day on the top of your list
• Create a list of three to four easy and quick activities that you can do in an hour. Get them completed first thing in the morning.
• If something isn’t done by the end of your business day, leave it to tomorrow. Remember work-life balance means you stop… unless something is on deadline.

You can work from home effectively if you’re organized and on top of your to-do lists.

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3 // Wear Comfies… But Not Your PJs

Many experts agree on this point and add it to their work from home tips: get out of your pyjamas. They are not your day clothes. Nor are they your work clothes.

You’ll be tempted to get out of bed and just roll into your workspace area. However, you need to delineate your daily home life with your work life.

So get a shower and change into comfortable day clothes. It can be a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt or sweater… as long as it’s not your pyjamas.

Why?

Mentally you’re in work mode when you’re in your day wear. It’s all about putting on a different persona when you’re in work mode.

Not only this, but after a few hours pyjamas get grungy. You start to feel uncomfortable and perhaps stinky. This all makes focusing on productive work a bit more difficult.

If you still want to be casual and comfortable, try these clothes:

• Your favourite pair of comfortable jeans and a t-shirt that you’d wear on casual Fridays in the office
• Jeggings for women, and cargo khaki pants for the guys
• Layers – tank top with a sweater. T-shirt and cardigan.

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4 // Keep Your Work Space Just That – Your Designated Workspace

We have one room that is our “office”. It has a few bookcases full of our books, stationery and crafting supplies and our computers set up on a large desk.

There’s no mistaking the purpose of this room. It’s a full-on workspace.

If we need to have a quiet space for a call or video chat, we can close the door.

Our son knows not to barge in to ask Mommy or Daddy when it’s closed.

This workspace also contains all our notebooks, papers and anything else we need for our work.

So if something is missing, it’s bound to be there. It won’t be missing in the kitchen at the dinner table or on a shelf or cabinet. This makes it much easier for us to stay somewhat organized and sane during this time.

One of the best work from home tips is to de-clutter and organize your workspace so that it’s perfect for the work you do.

Get it done and you’ll be more productive and happier in your workspace.

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5 // Take Breaks Throughout The Day

The work-from-home life means you can easily take breaks throughout the day without your boss looking over your shoulder.

Morning coffee or tea break, lunch and an afternoon break are a must for a few reasons:

• You keep yourself hydrated and powered up with food throughout the day to stay on top of your productivity levels
• They force you to get up and move around
• You get away from the work and take a little work-life balance mental break

I always leave my phone in the “office” so that nobody can reach me with work-related stuff. It can wait for 15 to 30 minutes.

TIP: If you can go out for a brief walk in your neighbourhood, do so. Even a quick 15-minute walk around the block will do wonders for you. If you can’t, walk on your treadmill or do a short workout video to get yourself moving.

Related: How To Stay Committed To Doing 30 Minutes Of Activity A Day – A Fitness Challenge

6 // Keep In Touch With Your Fellow Employees The Smart Way

If there isn’t a formal way to message each other on a regular basis, consider using some of the many messenger-like tools available to you.

• Slack
• Skype
• Facebook Messenger
• Google Hangouts

At times the best way to communicate is to talk. Generation X and Baby Boomers are no strangers to picking up the phone and giving somebody a call… Millennials not so much. They hide behind texts.

However, I truly advise younger professionals to call.

You can get so much more done with a quick phone call at times than by spending more time typing things out in an email or via chat.

Not only will you get our answers faster, but you’ll also have a chance to hear somebody’s voice and feel connected.

7 // Shut Down And Have A Life

Step away from your work. I repeat… step away from your work.

It will be there waiting for you tomorrow.

You’ll rock the working from home life by actually having a life beyond your work.

If this means enjoying a nice glass of wine. Do it.

Or perhaps you have a quick shower to refresh yourself.

Start making a nice dinner for yourself. Connect with your family. Catch up on news or watch your favourite show.

Do whatever you enjoy doing for yourself!

If you’re in your 40s, like me, you know that midlife happiness is doing things a bit differently.

You have more time after all… you don’t have a commute! So enjoy doing what you love and leave your work until the next morning.

| Related: 60+ Fun And Productive Things To Do On A Rainy Day Or In Self-Isolation – Adult Edition

Work From Home Effectively The Smart Way

These are seven simple work-from-home tips that can help you effectively work and get results… without feeling overwhelmed.

It took me a bit of time to adjust to working from home long-term, but once I did, I actually have grown to prefer it.

Beyond 2022, I suspect we’ll see fewer people working within office spaces. Instead, employers will want you to work from your home office part of the time, for not only your safety but their own as well. Facebook and Google announced that they will have their employees working from home.

I think this will continue to be the trend for many other workplaces.

So invest in your office space at home. Organize it to make work from home effective and fruitful!

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QUESTION: What is the biggest challenge for you with the work from home life? What are some of your best work from home tips?

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