Staying motivated while working from home

It’s easy to have structure, communication, laughter, and assistance when working in an office with other people. It’s easy to feel as if you are on an island by yourself at home. Sure, its fun in the beginning to be working in your pajamas and slippers; eating your favorite ice cream and drinking 10 cups of coffee. However, after a while there are consequences.

Weight, isolation, too much thinking, laziness, fatigue, and lack of structure can occur over time if we are not keeping our motivation up. Try these tips to remain sane and motivated while stuck at home:

1. Wake up early and set your alarm clock. Just because you are not commuting to work doesn’t mean you should forgo a shower, eat breakfast and start your day early; when your mind is sharp.
2. Get dressed for goodness sake! You don’t have to live in your pajamas! Put makeup on, brush your hair and wear something with a semblance of work attire.
3. Try to set up a workspace in your home. No matter how big or small you can feng Sui the crap out of a spot in your home that would work as a designated space. Try covering it with a blanket or partition of some kind when you are done so you can separate work from home.
4. Secure a written schedule of some kind that equals a routine. You can even add meal breaks in the written schedule; walking the dog; brushing your teeth. The more on the schedule; the more structure will be a part of your day. You will feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of your day.
5. Move! You don’t have to do P90X or a whole regimen of crossfit but you should move during the day. Plan out 5 squats and two burpees in the morning and night to start. That would equal some pretty sweet exercise to begin with. Try to set alarms on your phone to remove yourself from your desk for 10 minute intervals at least three times per day. Go for a walk outside or even just step outside for some fresh air.
6. Reward yourself! Perhaps you struggle getting work done from home. You need structure. Give yourself something simple such as, “I will do 1 hour of work and then take 10 minutes to enjoy my favorite snack,” or “I will do 2 hours of work and take 30 minutes to watch my favorite show.” This will give you something to look forward to; an end goal.
7. Stop distractions with your phone. Turn off notifications so you are not distracted. Plan out timed breaks where you are allowed to check your social media profiles. Try not to check social media when trying to focus on work.

The freedom of making your own work schedule can be daunting for some; even overwhelming. By implementing some or all of these steps you will feel more motivated and more productive over time.