Working at home provides a fabulous opportunity to skip the morning commute and create your own morning routine. However, some people struggle to get started in the morning. Follow these tips to develop a more productive workflow.
Working from home comes with many perks but sleeping in every day can sabotage your productivity. Try to develop a routine by waking up at the same time every day. Having a consistent sleeping schedule stabilizes your internal clock and you awake more refreshed.
Plan to give yourself the time you need to get ready in the morning. Whatever that looks like to you, plan accordingly. It's tempting to roll out of bed and head to the computer to meet a deadline or jump on a business call. However, your mind needs time to become alert to effectively ease into the day. I find that mindfulness meditation helps me begin the day with intention.
Try these great apps for short meditations that can clear your head and get you ready for work:
Many people skip breakfast because they feel sluggish in the morning. Here's the thing. Waking up the digestive system helps get the rest of your body moving in the morning as well. Also, when you work on an empty stomach, you may have difficulty concentrating. And concentration, or FOCUS, is a major key to productivity!
Here are several quick and healthy meals that can fuel your morning.
Even if you don't enjoy working out, it's important to get some kind of physical exercise every day. This helps your mind and body. Go for a short walk or practice low-impact yoga stretches. I find myself getting through entire days sometimes without even walking outside. Give your brain stimulation beyond the four walls of your office by incorporating a daily run or walk into your morning routine.
When you sit down to work, start with a list of goals for the day. If you are a list keeper, this may mean reviewing your list from the previous day to prioritize what you will work on first. Make sure to account for the new stuff that has come in. Strive for work/life integration, instead of work/life balance. Let’s face it, we can’t balance work and life every day, but we can certainly integrate them both.
Avoid screen time early in the morning. Otherwise, you’ll go down that rabbit hole, only putting off important work you know you need to get to. Trust me, the screen will always be there.
Want to find out how to optimize your productivity working from home? Book a consultation with me and let’s do an assessment of where you are, where you want to be, and how to get you there. I’ve got an easy, adaptable tool kit you want to know about!