Working remotely or, working from home can be challenging especially if you’re juggling many different roles like being a mom, wife, caregiver, or even a dog mom! Between phone calls, webinars, video conferences, letting the dogs out, cooking, cleaning, texts and emails, the day can seem overwhelming. I feel for you mommas that also have to include other chores like homework via online learning, bathing the kids, and maintaining your sanity. I hope you are indulging in some cocktails or some other type of therapy that helps you maintain a sense of normalcy.
I think many of us are struggling with this new way of life, and I’ve been quarantined since the beginning of March, so I’m going on almost two months. I can’t even name all the distractions let alone the lack of motivation or enthusiasm I feel often. It’s definitely a struggle to be productive. On my best days, I organized my closets, cabinets, and drawers. I’ve done extensive cleaning and binged watched all of my favorite shows like Keeping up With The Kardashians and The Handmaid’s Tale. In the past few days I looked at a ton of articles online at places like Business Insider, Forbes, and Entrepreneur.com about the various ways that we can stay motivated while working remotely.
Set an alarm, do as you would normally do on a usual workday.
I have an automatic alarm that goes off every day at 6:00. I do this for several reasons. One, I am actually in the process of potty training my two rescue puppies and I am trying to keep them on a schedule. Two, I am working from home, so this allows me enough time to get up, shower, and start my day. I always eat breakfast, so this gives me time to cook something good and enjoy a hot cup of coffee before I start my day. Lately, I have been outside in the mornings with the dogs and watching the sun rise which is always relaxing.
Get dressed and get out of those pajamas!
It’s tempting, and I’ll admit, I have had a few days here and there where I have stayed in my pajamas and comfy clothes. It’s nice to not have to leave your house once in a while, but it’s bad for productivity. When you wear pjs all day, it signals to your brain that you should stay in a relaxed state or mood when you should really be dressing to be productive. Get or stay in the habit of wearing actual clothes when working on the computer, it really makes all the difference. If I don’t want to wear slacks, I’ll wear a comfy dress and slides. I do have participate in video webinars so it’s best to look put together. I really like wearing jewelry that I wouldn’t normally wear to work. I may throw on some bigger hoops and rings or wear an eyeshadow that is more intense than my daily shades. Our clothing reflects our personalities, mood, and purpose for the day.
Groom and glam!
To expand on getting out of your pajamas, it’s important to keep up with your grooming habits too. I mean, we should continue to shave at least lol! There are some days where Ill put on some basic makeup and lipstick and comb my hair. I don’t always curl it but at least it’s tamed. Putting on makeup really makes all the difference in how I feel. Usual grooming habits like showering and brushing your teeth should be a part of your routine still. Don’t let it go to the wayside.
Create a daily schedule and to do list!
This is a great time to get those tasks done as you now spend less time with your commute. School is pretty much over and traffic isn’t so bad right now. When I looked back, I realized that I spent at least two hours each day in traffic! That’s 10 more hours in my week that I have to spend on personal goals like blogging, organizing, cleaning, and working on my goals. I also have more time to finish tasks on my to-do list so that when I return to work, my free time didn’t pass by without me handling some important things! I also used my time to work on my vision board and write down some of my business, personal, and financial goals.
Create a menu!
OMG! Has anyone noticed their grocery bill increasing? Have you noticed that you now spend more time in your kitchen more than ever slaving over the stove and oven? With restaurants being closed and the lack of enthusiasm for drive through food, I started cooking a lot more. I honestly don’t even want to think about the rounds of dishwashing and kitchen cleaning I’ve done in the last two months. Creating a menu has made it easier for me to know what I need from the store, prepare multiple means, and it cuts down (a little) on the questions like “whats for breakfast/lunch/dinner?”.
Don’t work in your bedroom and definitely not the living room couch!
I learned this the hard way in undergrad and grad school. Doing any type of work from the bed or couch is a recipe for low productivity. You’re more likely to goof off watching television reruns, news (major eyeroll), and engage in social media more. If I even think about working on my laptop in bed, I know it will result in an unexpected snooze fest.
Limit social media and device screen time.
Reducing the time you spend on social media can have positive effects on your overall wellbeing. It’s a weird time in society right now as COVID-19 has made us more paranoid, anxious, and this can effect our mental, emotional, and physical state. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in watching the news for hours a day which only makes us more nervous. Watching endless TikTok videos doesn’t add to your productivity and decrease the amount of laundry you have to do. Instagram, Facebook, and all the other social media platforms will be there. Two or three hours can pass you by as it’s easy to get lost in recipes, latest gossip, and fashion. This can be a major distraction to your working routine.
Keep moving and stay active. Get away from the workstation.
A change of scenery is always nice and it can also be inspiring. Taking a break from your desk or work space is healthy especially if you’ve created a space in your home where you can get some peace. Don’t feel guilty for taking a break from emails, phone calls, texts, and the television. I love going outside and letting the dogs stretch their legs for a little. We have been so fortunate to have great weather during this time and I intend to enjoy the sun and cool breezes.
I hope you found some of these tips to be beneficial to you. You can always save this post and come back to it later. I hope everyone in your household and family is doing well. This is our new normal and each day is truly a blessing. Stay home, stay safe, and stay well.
Xo, Ree
