by Katie Mientka
The Challenges. The Solutions.
Do distractions from family and friends, technical issues, lack of suitable space, and the looming specter of a sink full of dirty dishes make it difficult to be productive when working from home? We can’t help with the dishes, but we can give you some tips for crushing your to-do lists.
Here’s the good – and perhaps surprising – news: we can be productive when working from home, especially in our creative field. You may just need to make a few adjustments to your schedule, routine, and space.
5 TIPS FOR BEING PRODUCTIVE WHEN WORKING FROM HOME:
GET UP, GET DRESSED, GET READY
Heather Yurovsky, career coach and founder of Shatter & Shine, says, “Don’t underestimate the power of putting on clothes suitable for public viewing. It makes you feel human [and] confident and helps draw the line between being at work and being at home.”
So, get ready for work: whatever your normal routine – do it. That half hour or so is not time wasted; think of it like your commute to work.
GO TO THE “OFFICE”
Not all of us have the luxury of a home office but we can carve out a dedicated workspace. Resist the temptation to “spread out” all over the house: going from dining room table to couch to bed to living room floor may seem like the height of convenience, but it makes it much more difficult to maintain the lines between work and home. We can already hear the distractions clamoring for your attention!
EAT THE FROG
Mark Twain once wrote, “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”
Yum?
Turns out it is pretty useful advice for those of us working.
GET OUT OF THERE
Sometimes the best way to be productive when working from home is to get the heck out of there. It can be helpful to take advantage of a coworking solution. At Hub & Spoke in Fishers, Indiana, for instance, you can access dedicated, lockable offices and open workspaces, a conference room, collaboration space, high-speed internet, networking events, and more.
Another great option is to join Home Artisans of Indiana. This is a community of like-minded home improvement professionals that will enrich your days, allow for engagement in your field, and help you develop strong, meaningful relationships with peers.
KNOW WHEN TO CLOCK-OUT
You are not at work all the time, nor should that be the expectation to which anyone – including you – holds you. Clock out. Take time to enjoy your family and friends, to volunteer, to exercise, to make healthy meals, to sleep… to live your life. Take a vacation or personal day, while you’re at it. These are forms of compensation we expect in the workplace; expect nothing less when that workplace is your home.
Working from home is both wonderful and challenging. To connect with others in your field who are experiencing the same trials, tribulations, and triumphs, visit homeartisans.com.
