ENTREPRENEUR LIFE HACKS
5 Ways to Nail Work From Home During Lockdown
by Mel Fee
THE BLOG
Our online business tips
Hey, I’m Mel Fee
Brand and Marketing Strategist
for female entrepreneurs
Sooo, you’ve already done 10 push-ups over your WiFi router, 5 journeys between the desk and the fridge, 2 laundries and now contemplating opening the living room window and screaming into the void.
Yep, lockdown life is HARD even for those used to working from home. Or is it just me?
Even though I work with my clients online, I miss the days I could just grab my laptop and plot some kick-ass marketing strategies from a local cafe – or from a different country.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoy quiet time at home, but I do get most of my energy and inspiration from people and the ‘outside world’. I love going to the shops to see cool things, smell, touch and absorb alllll the newest trends.
Working and living constantly in the same space deprived from my ‘energetic adventures’ and with barely any face-to-face interaction hasn’t been easy.
So I’ve worked on some hacks to make the work from home life less draining and more inspiring.
I hope it’ll help you keep your sanity during Covid lockdown #27 as well as help you nail the WFH lifestyle in the new normal.
Here are some tips you can implement to establish a routine and develop successful working habits (+ keep your sanity )
1 - Create a morning routine
This start with a good night sleep. I know you just want to binge watch this new series (and that glass of wine is not going to finish itself on its own) but watching Netflix til’ the wee hours is the recipe for a non-stop snoozing sesh in the morning.
I don’t know about you but I need a solid 8 hours night to be at the peak of my abilities every day – and experts say it helps your skin regenerate so, can’t really argue with that.
In the morning, and yes I can already hear the screams from here, but don’t snooze, just get up. Seriously, you’re training your body and mind to procrastinate without even realising. Stop your alarm, take 5 minutes to get up, and that’s extra time for journaling, your morning mantra or a quick walk.
2 - Optimise your day
Although I would recommend to prepare next day’s objectives the night before, you can also start each day with a quick to-do-list. Don’t overwhelm yourself writing all the things that need to get done the entire week. Focus on today. Just write 3 to 7 things MAX and prioritise them.
Fun fact, your brain can’t actually process more than 7 elements at a time before entering into overwhelm mode (that’s why you spend 20 minutes choosing ONE plate when the menu’s too long).
Morning gal’? Get up early and get things done. Night owl? Organise your social life so you make the most of your ‘hyper-focused’ evenings.
Regardless of your preference, my best tip is to always do the most difficult thing FIRST each day. That way you’re not overthinking about it all day and you’re way more focused doing the other tasks.
3 - Give yourself a break
There’s a power formula stating that you should take a break every 50 minutes because it’s how long your brain can focus for.
Now I know it’s easier said than done, but if you feel out of juice, just take some fresh air, call a friend or listen to some music. You’ll be way more productive after a break or a power nap than staring at a computer non-stop for the sake of it.
4- Create a designated work space
Living in a big and ridiculously expensive city like London, safe to say having a dedicated home office is luxury. If like me you’re working from a spot in your apartment or house, make sure it’s separate from the space you sleep in. It’s hard enough not to overlap between work time and personal time without having to throw day-time vs sleep time into the mix. Again, your brain picks up on these cues and will either associate your bed with work (hello restless sleep) or your work with sleep (yawns during zoom calls). I personally work from my kitchen. Glam right? Even though it sounds a bit ridiculous, it does feel like I’m ‘going to work’ as I eat in my living room and mentally associate my kitchen table with my home office. Choose a spot that works for you!
5 - Sign off for the day
There is sometimes a very fine line between work and personal life for entrepreneurs like us.
I used to stretch my days and eat at 10pm if I got carried away on a project, but I am a lot stricter with myself now. I set time boundaries every evening so my work doesn’t take over my ‘me-time’ or affect my personal relationships.
Not only does it help me create a better work-life balance but it also helps maximise my productivity during the day. I know I got to meet my deadline.
When I sign off, I usually physically leave my office/kitchen and go exercise outside, mix some music or catch up with some friends.
Whatever you choose to do, develop a routine that marks the end of your day, it does make a world of difference!
What are your work from home hacks? What does your office spot look like? Let us know @themightybunch.com
