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Remember the sticky note collage, desk gadgets, and photos you once hung around your cubicle to bring a pop of color and creativity to your workspace? Or the souvenirs from your latest adventure, foreign postcards, and unique magnets that were great conversation starters for coworkers in passing?
Our desk decor reflected an extension of who we were outside of work. But as we adjust to a rapidly growing remote workforce nationwide, the home office, for many of us, is merely a few steps away from our beds. So, why not glam up your desk space with the rest of the work from home babes?!
Working from home can get old pretty quick, but it’s possible to make it a little less boring. Approach your workday like any other office job.
Yes, we have less face-to-face interaction, fewer smiles to greet us every morning, and no one to chat with over a warm cup of coffee, but there’s just something about having a designated workspace that you can make your own!
It should be clean, motivational, and relaxing, too. I don’t know about you, but I don’t miss looking for my cubicle in the rat maze or the open workstations in a sea of coworkers with no privacy.
I have quite a few work from home favorites to cozy up your home office. I’d also like to share a few tips on the right way to work from home. Hopefully, you haven’t gone mad already (lol).
What is the best way to work from home?
Follow a schedule
There’s nothing worse than an unstructured day. Do yourself (and your family) a favor now and create a weekly schedule to follow.
From the time you wake up to when you lay your head down at night, there should be an activity and/or task assigned to each time slot throughout the day.
Avoid the headaches and chaos that come with a lack of planning by doing this one simple thing. If you’re responsible for little ones, use a large calendar visible to them, so they can practice following the schedule, too.
Create routines
Abandoning a schedule isn’t so easy when routines are in place. It takes 21 days to form a habit and 90 days to keep it 1.
With practice, morning and evening routines will become second nature. Never skip self-care, if you have a nightly skincare routine or an hour you take to read self-help books or meditate then pencil it in.
Be careful not to ditch routines on the weekend. Do you work a full-time job and run a few side hustles? Reserve a few hours to put in work on the weekend.
For the busy moms, children are already used to routines, in fact, they’re better at sticking to them than adults. Take some pointers!
Grab the daily routine planner printable below to get started!
Take a break or two
One drawback of working from home is the tendency to plow through workdays.
Our brains need rest, and our bodies need to move. A hard stop should be in place at the end of the workday, but skipping breakfast, not taking a full-hour for lunch, and working non-stop can lead to a plunge in productivity.
Taking fifteen minute frequent breaks every 90 minutes can assist the brain in processing, understanding, and retaining information2.
Want to skyrocket your productivity while working from home? Relax and take a quick break.
Identify a workspace
The home office will look different for many of us.
If you have to turn a spare bedroom into your office, or claim a small corner in the family room, that’s fine. As long as you don’t remain in bed once it’s time to clock in to work.
Rolling out of bed to retrieve your laptop just to crawl back under the covers with your TV remote is a big no-no!
Lap desks are fine, just refrain from using them in the bedroom unless you have some late night reading to complete at night.
According to Healthline, working from bed affects sleep quality, decreases productivity and energy, and negatively affects quality of life. There are various work from home essentials you can purchase on a small budget.
Check out the full list of home office essentials below!
Set boundaries
Working from home is a luxury for many, and not necessarily the norm for everyone – yet! I lost count of how many family members and friends felt they had round-the-clock access to me when they learned I work from home.
There’s a stigma attached to remote workers. We have the freedom to come and go as we please, or we’re watching Netflix all day.
That’s not the case!
In reality, we’re glued to our computer screens, scheduling calls, checking emails at sunup, and trying to juggle family responsibilities while showing up on time for virtual meetings.
Don’t be afraid to let your employer and loved ones know an appropriate time to access you.
Take a break from social media, put your cell phone in another room during the day, and leave after hour work emails unopened until the morning.
Stop working
Employees who work from home tend to be workaholics.
No, I’m not kidding.
I was notorious for clocking in at eight o’clock in the morning and putting in unpaid overtime into the wee hours of the night from answering emails alone. Don’t do this!
Decide on a time you’ll officially close the laptop.
Here’s a tip – shut down at the same time as your coworkers who have to commute back home.
Use the extra time to your advantage to prep or warm up dinner, complete homework help, or prep for your evening routine. Let all work calls go to voicemail, switch your status to offline.
Get some fresh air
Cabin fever sucks!
I’m sure many of us have experienced it at least once or twice throughout the pandemic.
A short walk, trips to the grocery store, and exercising daily combats this for me. But nothing can ever take the place of ‘happy hour’ or spending time with close friends and family after a long workday.
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean your social life can’t thrive.
Plan one or two nights a week you’ll spend outside the house, if the weather permits. Weekends should be fun-filled days you take to relax and take part in activities you enjoy!
Use Your PTO (Paid Time Off)
Even if your job doesn’t feel like work and you can muster up enough energy to answer phone calls and take part in meetings, use your paid time off to take a day off and reset.
As women, we’re so used to working on autopilot that we can’t tell when we’re almost on ‘E’. How can you perform on a tank that’s half empty?
You don’t have to wait until the holidays to take time for yourself or vacation season in the warmer months. A day here and there to recharge and refocus is a must if you work from home or not.
Treat yourself and unplug. Don’t step foot into your office until it’s time to work again.
What do you get someone working from home?
- Erin Condren Planner
- Desk lamp
- Comfy ergonomics chair
- Noise Cancelling Headphones or White Noise
- Office Desk
- Desk Coffee Warmer
- Seat Cushion
- Under Desk Elliptical
- Desk Organizer
- Productivity Notepads
- Essential Oil Diffuser & Humidifier
- Desk Alarm Clock
- Heated Throw Blanket
- Echo Bluetooth Speaker
Check out my work from home essentials Amazon faves!
Work From Home Gifts For Her 2020
Forget the microwave for once. Keep your coffee warm and cute all morning with these insulated mugs and no spill lids.
Sometimes, work calls for late nights and early mornings. Relax in bed with your Macbook and treat yourself to breakfast the next day.
Not a fan of the same, bland ergonomic chairs? Here’s one that stands out from the crowd. Its salmon color can blend in with any chic, office aesthetic look you’re going for.
Home office ergonomics is sort of a big deal! Get the set up you need with a moniitor stand and keep your desk clutter-free.
Tired of things not staying put on your desk? Need more protection from ink and beverage spills?
The Knodel desk pad is waterproof, serves as a barrier for protection, and will keep your gadgets and notes in place. And its another pop of color that can liven up your space!
You may have spotted your favorite Instagram influencer with a Flexipot desk. This one converts into a stand up desk and is light-weight and portable. Customize the way you work in one swift motion.
Bobolee Ipad Case With Keyboard
Who needs a laptop with this keyboard cover case built perfectly for the Apple ipad? There’s even a slot for the Apple pencil. Readjust the positions to your liking.
Acetaken Overhead Video Stand Mount
For the busy mom and boss babes who want to take their social media game to another level, it’s time to get more overhead videos in your life.
This one comes with its own remote so you can remain hands-free while filming your content.
Jelly Comb Store Bluetooth Keyboard
I love a well organized desk at the end of the workday, but this rose gold wire desk organizer is more than that – its a statement piece!
Beats Noise Cancelling Headphones
Listen to your favorite podcast or playlist while you knock those tasks off your to-do list without any interruption.
You’ll be highly productive without all the noise to distract you. Turn it down with these noise cancelling headphones.
Eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated. Am I the only who loses count? I’ve been struggling to increase my h2o intake and stumbled across Hidrate Spark.
The smart bluetooth water bottle that tracks hydration levels and glows when you need to drink.
Aromatherapy Essential Oils + Oil Diffuser
Breville Pro Coffee Expresso Machine
The Yedi Air Fryer is great for those crazy work days where you just need to grab lunch on the go.
Instead of pulling up to your favorite fast food restaurant, opt for the healthier choice and cook at home. Throw a salmon in the oven or sweet potato fries and they’ll be ready in a jiffy.
NordicTrack Commercial Studio Cycle
Take your pick of the gift ideas above and put a smile on her face!
Download the 31 Day Simple Living Challenge now available in the FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY!
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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