Friday Five // Work From Home Essentials
If there’s anything that working from home has taught me over the past few years, it’s that having a routine and creating a space for yourself is a must have. If you’ve suddenly found yourself without your usual desk setup and are struggling to figure out a way to get it all done, read on. I’m sharing my essentials for successfully navigating the at-home chaos while feeling accomplished and ready to tackle those work to-do-lists.
NO. 1 DRESS THE PART
It's so tempting during these WFH days to just lounge all day and night in my pajamas. But the truth is that I'm a million times more productive when I look and feel like I'm "ready" for the day (even if it's just a casual outfit with a pair of house shoes on). It's amazing how something as simple as getting dressed can make such a difference.
NO. 2 CREATE A ROUTINE
The first thing I do every morning is make the bed. It might seem like a small thing, but it really helps me to get a fresh start to the day with a feeling of accomplishment. Once that's in order, I can gather my thoughts and turn to the work at hand. Plus, there's nothing better than getting into a crisply-made bed at night, wouldn't you say?
NO. 3 PRIORITIZE INSPIRATION
A must have whenever you create a workspace is to surround yourself with things that fuel your creativity. Maybe it's a photo of your kids, a chic paper calendar, or in my case, a collection of color palettes and fabrics for my upcoming projects. Whatever your combo, make sure you have an area like a pin board to fill up - you'll be working like a champ in no time.
NO. 4 GET IN THE ZONE
Whenever you work from home, it can be hard to escape the seemingly never-ending chaos of kids' activities and housework. What you need to get in the right mindset is a space all to yourself. It doesn't have to be fancy - it can be as simple as a setup on one side of your dining table - but it absolutely must be your personal spot where you can comfortably sit for an extended period of time.
NO. 5 BE SELFISH
Finally, an essential part of working from home is prioritizing YOU. Especially in these times, it is so hard to remember that, but I promise that a quick walk in the fresh air or perusing a novel in a quiet corner of your backyard can work wonders. If you can take just a few minutes each day to step away from work and home life to hit that "reset" button, everyone will be happier and better off.
Working from home is a challenge, there’s no doubt about that. And with the current events making us all feel anxious and uncertain, it makes it even harder to concentrate. Hang in there, though. With a little creativity and a few tweaks to your space, you just may find that those gears of innovation will eventually start moving again.