Have you ever felt like your home-based business is running you instead of the other way around? Since 2014, I've been navigating the highs and lows of working from home, and I can tell you, it's both a blessing and a challenge. The freedom to set my own schedule is incredible, but creating boundaries and staying on task can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. If you've ever struggled with feeling overwhelmed or unproductive in your home business, you're not alone.
Over the years, I’ve learned a few strategies that have helped me maintain productivity and balance. I hope these tips will inspire you to find what works best for you as you navigate the world of working from home. One of the hardest days for me is when I stray from my planner or try to tackle everything simultaneously. It’s a recipe for chaos and burnout.
Through trial and error, I’ve discovered a few key practices that have made a significant difference in my productivity and mental well-being. These tips are simple but powerful, and I’m excited to share them with you. Whether you’re a seasoned home-based entrepreneur or just starting, I believe these insights can help you create a more structured and fulfilling work-from-home experience.
Through trial and error, I’ve discovered a few key practices that have made a significant difference in my productivity and mental well-being. These tips are simple but powerful, and I’m excited to share them with you. Whether you’re a seasoned home-based entrepreneur or just starting, I believe these insights can help you create a more structured and fulfilling work-from-home experience.
1. Create a Time Blocking Schedule - It's a simple tip with a major impact! When you time block your day you have a much easier time sticking to your schedule. I love to work my business from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and again from 1:30-4:00 pm. What happens in between those times? I work on a cleaning project, prep a meal, meet a friend for lunch, run errands, or go to the park with my dogs. This helps me to stay on task and feel very productive, but to also have that work/life balance we women entrepreneurs crave.
2. Create a Dedicated Work Space - This one is really important. Before I had an actual office in our home I was doing everything from our dining room table. Not ideal. The clutter that my job brought to the table made me super frazzled. I had paperwork, notebooks, my laptop, and my iPad scattered all over the table. Then, if someone came over or we hosted friends for dinner all that stuff got swooped up and stashed in a closet. SO not organized! We turned one of our guest bedrooms into my office and I loved creating this space as my own. All my work stays in my office now and doesn't clutter my dining room table. This also helps keep you focused and you aren't worried about your kitchen not being cleaned or sweeping the floors.
2. Create a Dedicated Work Space - This one is really important. Before I had an actual office in our home I was doing everything from our dining room table. Not ideal. The clutter that my job brought to the table made me super frazzled. I had paperwork, notebooks, my laptop, and my iPad scattered all over the table. Then, if someone came over or we hosted friends for dinner all that stuff got swooped up and stashed in a closet. SO not organized! We turned one of our guest bedrooms into my office and I loved creating this space as my own. All my work stays in my office now and doesn't clutter my dining room table. This also helps keep you focused and you aren't worried about your kitchen not being cleaned or sweeping the floors.3. Practice the 10 or 20 Minute Rule - If you have kids maybe working 2 to 3 hours straight isn't ideal for you. I know on the days when I am rushed for time, practicing this rule is very helpful. Set your timer for 10, 15, or 20 minutes and focus on the task that you would like to accomplish. It's amazing how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time if you only focus on that one thing.
4. Practice Self-Care - To be honest, not much gets accomplished if I am eating poorly and not getting enough sleep. Choosing healthy food options, exercising, having a morning routine, and going to be on time - all contribute to my self-care and having a productive day. Is every day perfect? Not at all. Knowing what helps you have a smooth running day will be so beneficial to you though.
5. Put on Actual Clothes - This might just be a personal opinion, but I know when I dress for work I feel successful and empowered. No, I do not wear dress pants or a fancy dress to work. I do change out of my comfy clothes though. What we wear tends to give off certain vibes. When I wear comfy clothes or I don't change out of my pajamas I tend to be a little more sluggish. When I wear jeans and cute a top I feel more productive. With that being said, I have totally rocked a cute pair of leggings with a sweater while working. Dress in a way that makes you feel productive and not in a way where you want to take a nap all day long or you feel stiff and uncomfortable.
There are so many more tips on how to work from home successfully - you can find lots of ideas over on Pinterest or doing a quick Google search. These are just a few that have really helped me. And when in doubt, just drink more coffee! A book that I highly recommend to kickstart your morning and have a successful day is The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.
Ready to start your day with focus and intention? Download my free guide, Creating an Intentional Morning Routine. This guide is designed specifically for Christian women entrepreneurs to help you feel more focused and refreshed as you begin your day. Click [here] to get your free guide now!
There are so many more tips on how to work from home successfully - you can find lots of ideas over on Pinterest or doing a quick Google search. These are just a few that have really helped me. And when in doubt, just drink more coffee! A book that I highly recommend to kickstart your morning and have a successful day is The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod.
Ready to start your day with focus and intention? Download my free guide, Creating an Intentional Morning Routine. This guide is designed specifically for Christian women entrepreneurs to help you feel more focused and refreshed as you begin your day. Click [here] to get your free guide now!
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