Over the past six years of working from home, we’ve discovered some of the best tips and tricks for staying productive and inspired. 

Although working from home can seem like a dream come true, you’re probably realizing it’s not as easy as you might have thought! From sticking to a routine and finding an inspiring space to staying focused and productive, working from home definitely has its perks…and it’s challenges 😉

So, whether you’re new to working from home or are building an online business, here are our six best tips for creating a productive work from home routine…

1. CREATE A MORNING ROUTINE

When working from home, it’s so important that you create a morning routine and be disciplined in sticking to it every single day!

Opening up your computer the minute you wake up can be a huge productivity blocker. Instead, take some time to get in the right mindset by doing things that you love, make you feel good, and generate inspiration. That way, when you sit down for work, you feel like you’re bringing the best version of yourself!

Here are some morning routine ideas:

• Journaling or reading
• Meditation
• Stretching, exercising, or dancing
• Listening to music or a podcast
• Write out your gratitudes and intentions
• Wake up earlier to drink your morning coffee slower
• Step outside and get some fresh air

Personally, when we choose not to be disciplined, we often find ourselves going down a negative rabbit hole. Frustrating bumps in projects can weigh our entire day down (which also weighs down our entire team) if we don’t start our workday off with the right mindset!

Run out of time in the morning? Don’t worry, chica! Make a shortened version of your routine or do it later in the day. Oh the joys and freedom that come with the flexibility of working from home! 😉 

2. GET DRESSED

Although pajamas are the comfiest attire ever, they don’t quite make for the most productive workday. Not getting dressed can make you feel like you’re not truly in work mode and negatively affect your productivity and mindset.

Get up, do your skincare routine, eat breakfast, enjoy your coffee, and get ready for the day! Even if you’re no longer leaving the house, act like you’re still going out the door to your 9-5. 

It’s something that is so simple and straightforward, but will significantly enhance your productivity and focus while working from home!

3. SET UP YOUR WORKSPACE

Where you set up shop while working from home is extremely important for being productive and staying inspired.

Although your bed might be callin’ your name and is the comfiest seat in the house, it should never be used for your workspace. I repeat, as tempting as it is, never ever work from your bed. That is a very strong boundary for us!

So, find an extra room, a little nook, or a space in your place to designate just for working. Right now, our current workspace is at our kitchen table. Since it’s a public space, we make sure to set it up and clean it up every day. That way, when we have dinner, we aren’t eating in our office!

Once you’ve found your space, it’s important that you make it cozy and inspirational. 

Decorate your workspace with your favorite post-it note quotes, drawings from your kids, and anything that you would put in your cubicle at your 9-5. Surround yourself with items that bring you joy, remind you of your purpose, and motivate you to crush your goals.

4. PLAN OUT YOUR DAY

Whether you like to do your planning virtually or on paper, just make sure that you do it to keep yourself on task!

Our biggest tip for when it comes to planning out your day is to write down the three most important priority tasks and then create your schedule around those tasks. This way, once your tasks are complete, you can confidently know that your work is done, shut your laptop, and enjoy the rest of your evening. 

Tools for planning and staying organized:

• Asana: for business tasks
• Full Focus Planner: for personal daily tasks and goals
• Google Calendar: for meetings and blocking out schedules

5. BATCH YOUR TASKS

Batching, or doing all of your similar tasks in one chunk, is a huuuge time-saver! 

So, say you want to write and publish four blog posts each month. In the beginning of the month, write (or batch) all four at one time. That way, you know that it’s done and you don’t have to worry!

Personally, we like to batch all of our weekly Zoom meetings on Tuesdays. This way, we don’t get pulled away from our work throughout the week, and we can be focused, pay attention, and make our meetings as valuable as possible!

Fun fact: It takes about 20 minutes to get fully into a task after being interrupted. 

So, if you’re jumping around and multitasking, you’re not nearly as productive compared to focusing on one task at a time! Just think, every time you switch to a different task, it’s going to take you a good 20 minutes to get focused. 

How much time have you been losing and how much time can you save by sitting down and completing all of your similar tasks at one time??

6. PREP YOUR MEALS

Another area in our lives that we like to apply batching to is with our lunches. 

Lunchtime is super busy for us and if we don’t pay attention to the clock, it’ll be 4pm before we realize that we forgot to eat. So on Mondays, we batch-cook chicken, veggies, and other food so that our fridge is stocked for the rest of the week. That way, all we have to do is heat up our food and enjoy! 

Meal prepping removes a wasted hour each day when we could be working. Plus, we can ensure that we continue to eat healthy, have energy, and feel good about our bodies — which in turn, helps us stay focused, confident, and be productive!

Whether you’ve been working online for two weeks or two years, it’s so important to know what works for you and what doesn’t. 

Find what inspires you, work where you feel passionate, and create a schedule that fits your life! No matter the obstacles that stand in your way while working from home, having a flexible routine in place will keep you motivated, encouraged, and productive! 

Now, go find what brings you joy and make those girl boss dreams happen!