How To Work From Home AND Be Super Organized

UPDATED FEB 2020. Working from home is great, isn’t it? We are allowed a great deal of freedom to get things done as we create a business that is exactly what we want. As rewarding as it is, there are many challenges that come with working from home and it takes a focused, self-motivated individual to succeed. Someone who would search for tips on productivity for example – you’re off to a good start! Here are my top 8 tips on how to work from home AND be super organized. 

How to Work From Home AND be Super Organized

Disclaimer

There are affiliate links included in this post. This means at no extra cost to you, I earn a commission if you book through the link.

1. Use a list

Have a to-do list every day and write your list for the next day the night before.

Don’t leave it to a mental to-do list because then your work and personal lists will merge and get confused.

I attended a conference for work a few years ago and it taught me the quadrant to-do list. I have attached it here as a FREE printable for you.

The idea is you prioritize your tasks from most important to least important and work on them accordingly.

It has helped me so much in the workplace and still helps me in my work-from-home-place where I have a million things going on.

2. Put your phone away

This one gets it’s own bullet point because we are all so phone-obsessed.

Put it away… at least out of arms reach.

This will take away the temptation away to respond to every text that comes through straight away and check social media accounts.

It can wait.

Another trick if you struggle with this is to set a timer for an hour or so where you will work through without checking your phone until the timer goes off.

3. Separate yourself from distractions

Without a boss breathing down your neck it is easy to get distracted – this is why your phone is out of arms reach remember.

Be mindful of other distractions music, pets, kids, books, Internet, housework or binge-watching your favorite show.

For me, my biggest distractions come in the form of two dogs.

They are both cute and love cuddles which is a distracting combination.

I manage it by making sure I take them for a walk every day so they can get their exercise in and I give them chewy toys to keep their minds busy while I work.

This stops them from coming to me all the time for attention.

The rest is up to me to not go to them for cuddles all day. Manage whatever your common distractions are.

4. Allocate your time

Set a schedule to prevent you from trying to do everything at once.

It is so easy to get pulled in all sorts of different directions. You can be in the middle of one task then think ‘oh I will just respond to this comment or work on this or that’. 

Before you know it you have 15 tabs open and haven’t finished any of your tasks.

Just because it is your business and you do everything, doesn’t mean you have to do it all at the same time.

For example, maybe you set up your time to respond to emails from 8-9am. Then work on post creation 9-11am. Work on a long term project 11-noon, etc.

Using a diary can help you organize this and stick to it. I use a Bullet Journal and love it.

Trying to do everything at once will just result in a lot of 7/10 standards of work that could’ve been 10/10 if you devoted your full attention to it.

In case you don’t have a diary here is a FREE printable 2-day planner to get you started.

5. Keep to a routine

Having a structured routine can help you develop a good working mindset.

Everyone’s work from home situation is different so set that up however it works for you.

Some work part-time so it might be 3 full days where you can set yourself a start and end time and work through.

Others may work in a few hours a day, every day and work around other routines like babies nap time.

Having set work times around your other tasks stops you from starting to work on your blog then stopping because you remember that you are due to clean the bathrooms, get some groceries, etc.

Create a structure in your day and stick to it. Setting alarms for start and finish time is a good way to help.

6. Prepare yourself

Don’t work in pajamas.

If you look lazy, you will feel lazy and consequently, you work lazy.

Instead, wake up, eat, take a shower, brush your hair and get dressed into actual clothes.

Wear something you would wear if you were going to a coffee shop to work on your blog/project.

Have you ever bought new workout clothes and felt a boost to go to the gym? It’s the same principle.

If you put some effort into getting ready for the day you will feel more like a boss and be ready to slay the day.

7. Set a break schedule

I know you have a lot to do, but you do need to take breaks.

Personally, I have always preferred to take regular short breaks throughout the day. It helps keep my brain awake.

Perhaps you work better with a one hour break at midday to step away from everything and refresh.

Use whatever works for you and suits your situation, but make sure to take a break so that you don’t burn out.

This is especially important for us as creators because your work will show your attitude or your ‘vibe’ at the time you create it.

I don’t think many of us to have our quality of work show as that of a tired-red-eye-zombie!

8. Get ahead of yourself

Set yourself up so that you are always posting ahead of time.

Draft and schedule next week or month’s post so that you are always ahead of yourself.

For the most part, I like to have next month’s posts drafted and uploaded to the website the month prior.

This gives me a lot more time to work on other tasks and helps when life gets in the way of your blog schedule.

Other posts you might be interested in

• How To Start A Successful Blog And Get Your Side Hustle Started

• Embarrassing Blogging Mistakes – My 8 Biggest Fails As A Travel Blogger

• My Guide On How To Manage Stress (In A High Stress World)

If you found this useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!