Currently, I’m a full-time student of “remote learning” otherwise known as online classes due to coronavirus concerns. Making the transition from fully in-person learning with a very specific and busy schedule to absolutely no schedule. Now, I am in charge of when I go to sleep and wake up, taking breaks for meals, and getting everything done on time. I’ve found a few tips that really have helped me create a routine that’s not too routine.
Change your clothes when you get up
The transition from bed to doing work while still in the clothes I slept in is not easy for me. Even changing from my pjs to leggings and a sweatshirt helps. The act of getting up and changing clothes is a really great mental start to the day.
Work with the flow of motivation
Some people are more productive at night, some are more in the morning. For me, once the sun goes down my productivity hits the floor so I need to be up by 9am and try to get everything done by 4. However, I know there’s a lot of people out there that are more of a 1pm to 8pm or even later.
Also, try to choose to do what you’re motivated to do as much as possible. Sometimes things are urgent, but if you’ve got a list of 3 things today, pick what you want to do first. The act of finishing something propels me to do those tasks that I’m not as excited about. Sometimes, I feel like I want to do an extra hour that day and I know there’s a good chance I won’t want to do as much the next day so I just go with the flow.
Take an actual lunch break
If I try to do a working lunch, it becomes me failing to actually eat and it takes forever. Trying to multitask these two just makes me feel like I haven’t had a break. Taking a 45 minute or 1 hour lunch when you’re hungry can help break up the day.
Create a routine that’s not a real Routine
For me, this means getting up at the same time, taking an hour to exercise every day, and aiming to finish everything on my list. However, the time and type of exercise changes with how I feel and the structure of my day (meetings, live classes). I do my work in a different area of the house throughout the day and I mix up my tasks for the day. For me, it’s important to not get bored because it leads to a lot of procrastination.
Make a list and stick to it
This will help you stay motivated as you tick things off but it also keeps you focused. As soon as you finish that list, you’re done for the day! I usually have about 4 main tasks and 2 or 3 quick/easy/optional tasks on my list. This also really lets me relax in the evenings by separating my “work day” from my home time. Once the list is done, I don’t have to do any more work and can do whatever I enjoy.
I hope you enjoyed this post and got a new idea for your working at home schedule!