This one goes out to all of my friends who are working from home. Whether you’ve been working remotely because of the “you-know-what” or because you were finally able to ditch your 9-5. Whatever your situation is, working from home isn’t as easy as it seems on the surface. I’ve been working from home as a full-time intimate wedding & elopement photographer – and educator – for years at this point. Yet I still hear, “It must be so nice working from home.” And while that’s true (I freaking love it), it’s not without challenges. Sound familiar? In the 4+ years I’ve been doing the dang thing, I’ve learned so much valuable information. I’m so excited to be sharing 7 work from home tips for entrepreneurs. Let’s dive in!
TIP # 1 – Get Ready for the Day
Look, it can be so easy to roll out of bed first thing in the morning, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and plop down on the couch to start your workday. But trust me… this isn’t the most efficient, effective way to be using your time.
When you work from home, it feels like there’s almost no point in getting ready for the day, right!? Who wants to work in jeans all day when you could be in your pajamas? But believe it or not, by wearing your pajamas all day, your brain is in “relaxation mode”. Your brain is literally thinking it’s time to snuggle up on your couch or even take an afternoon nap back in bed.
I urge you to get dressed in the morning! I’m not saying you need wear slacks and a blouse, but at least put on some different sweatpants or leggings than you wore to bed. Brush your hair and your teeth, and you’re ready for a successful start to your day!
TIP # 2 – Establish a Workspace
Fun fact: my husband and I live in a 1-bedroom apartment; I don’t have an office! I do have a desk, though. Which trust me, my friend, it’s a game changer! Just like getting out of your pajamas, it’s so important to work at a space dedicated just to your work. Even if you only have a counter; pull up a stool and dive in.
Being in a dedicated space not only keeps me from getting distracted from turning the TV on, it establishes a natural divide from work and “play”.
TIP # 3 – Put Your Phone in a Different Room
I am the first to admit that I am an aimless scroller. It’s way too easy to just open your phone out of habit and scroll through Instagram or TikTok. My biggest tip to avoid this perpetual distraction?
Put your phone in a different room! Even if you work from your phone, there are plenty of tasks that you can do on your computer in lieu of your phone. I’m also guilty of thinking “oh well this is for work!” even if I’m catching up on my friends’ latest IG Stories. So turn your volume up so you don’t miss a phone call, and put your phone away.
TIP # 4 – Set Aside Designated “Deep” Workdays
Whether it’s once a week or once a month, set aside some time where you’re able to really dig deep into your work. For example: maybe the first Tuesday of every month, you write all of the captions for your Instagram posts. Not only will you be at peace knowing that task is done, but you will have uninterrupted time to complete that task!
Pro-Tip – Close all of your tabs on your computer while completing each “deep” task. Don’t take any meetings on these days. This is your chance to do “all” the things!
TIP # 5 – Take Breaks
No matter how much work is at hand, set a timer as a reminder to get up. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down in the morning and before I know it… my husband is home… 7 hours later 😅 Since we got our puppy, Moss, I’ve gotten so much better at taking breaks – even if just to take him on a little walk or potty. Whether you have a pet or not, set a timer on your phone (that’s in another room) for 45 minutes. For those 45 minutes, focus on your task at hand and work as hard as you can. In the back of your mind, you’ll know that a break is just on the horizon.
TIP # 6 – Set Office Hours
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I could shout it from the rooftops. Just because you work from home, doesn’t mean you need to be accessible 24/7!! You do not. Make your office hours known to your clients; put them in your email signature. Just as your clients will respect your office hours, you should to! This helps establish a health work-life balance which is a must when working as an entrepreneur especially!
TIP # 7 – Create a To-Do List
Whether you’re more of a pen & paper person or a digital person, put it allllll down. My mind is constantly moving – from work ideas to personal tasks. I’m a huge fan of doing a brain dump whenever I feel like I have 1,000 things on my mind. As soon as a thought pops into my mind, I put it on my list knowing that I will go back to it when I have time.
There we have it, friends; 7 work from home tips for entrepreneurs. I’d love to hear if you have any additional tips that have shifted your productivity while working from home. Shoot me a DM over on Instagram (@morganelizabethphotos).
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