A Guide for Productivity and Working From Home

It’s official. I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve been quarantined. If I’m being honest, I sometimes still feel surprised that this is the world we’re currently living in. It’s truly wild, but this is our reality, and we all have to make the most of it, wherever we are.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have been on this #WFH train for a looooong time. I’ve developed healthy habits and schedules to follow and stick to as a way to stay productive and so I don’t fall behind on my work. However, I know that there are so many people out there who aren’t used to this and are having a hard time adjusting to this new normal, which is why I’ve created this guide on productivity and working from home. Whether you’re one of the lucky ones still holding down a job during this crisis, or if you’re someone who’s suddenly found themselves in the entangling predicament on how to fill the long days, use this guide to keep yourself sane during quarantine.

Below is my bible for ultimate productivity. This includes all of my tips for increasing productivity and working from home. These are the tried and true rules I stick to in my life, and are universally beneficial.

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Stick to a schedule

I can’t stress enough how important this one is. Schedules are vital in keeping yourself productive and sane. Doing things sporadically gives you more of a chance to fall behind, and you may even find yourself doing things like sleeping in longer or going to bed later, throwing your entire body clock off. Sticking to a schedule not only keeps you from staying up until odd hours of the night or sleeping in all morning, it helps retain some sense of normalcy and gives you a reason to wake up every morning. I’ve always been someone whose body clock and sleeping schedule gets thrown off so easily, I also used to be a bit of a night-owl, though I did enjoy waking up early. (I guess I was a morning person and a night-owl?) When I was able to wrestle, I was bartending at a night club on the weekends to make money, so I wouldn’t get home until 2:30 in the morning, and by the time I unwound and got into bed it’d usually be nearing 4:00; so it’s unsurprising that my sleeping schedule was a mess. After my car accident, I trained my body to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. Now that my body clock is programmed that way, I must say my days are so much more fulfilling. I feel like I’m way more productive.

I’ve learned that getting up with the entire world does something subconsciously to our brains and compels us to do something productive with our lives. I believe this stems from us not wanting to sit around and twiddle our thumbs for the entire day. Sticking to a schedule will allow you to either: A) stay on track with work and finish at a normal time; or: B) prompt you to find something to fill your time—whether it be learning a new hobby, reading a new book, cleaning, cooking, etc.—it doesn’t matter! Sticking to a schedule will also give you a sense of accomplishment, ultimately making you feel better about yourself and helping you stay grounded during all of this.

Aim to start + finish working around the same time daily

Going off of what I mentioned above, making sure you start and finish whatever work you have to get done for the day around the same time will not only allow you to retain some sense of normalcy, you’ll be able to focus on and put all of your energy into whatever tasks you need to. On the mornings I workout, I always aim to start working between ten and eleven, and I’ll usually finish my day between five and six. I’ll stop for a quick lunch break usually between one-thirty and two-thirty.

If you’re working from home, stick to a schedule and block off the time for a normal work day, factoring in the time for quick breaks and lunch. If you’re trying to fill your time with productivity, still carve out time slots like you would if you were working and use that time to focus on whatever tasks or hobbies you need/want to get done. I personally have been loving brushing up on my video editing and makeup skills; things don’t directly affect the blog, per se, but that are allowing me to step out of my regular schedule and work on new and exciting hobbies and projects. They’re also skills I will be able to incorporate down the road into my blog.

Try to maintain the normal flow of weekdays + weekends

Maintaining the normal flow of weekdays and weekends is huge for not losing track of time. Although that may sound easier said than done at this particular moment, hear me out.

Everyone needs breaks. If you continue pushing yourself and never taking any time off, you’re going to hit a wall and crumble. It happens to everyone eventually, so it’s important that you allow yourself breaks and keep the flow of a normal work week and weekend. If you’re used to working Monday-Friday and having the weekends free, stick to that!

In my situation, I work a little every day because of what I’m trying to build, but I reserve Saturdays for more of a break. If I have a lot of work to get done, I’ll typically work in the morning and maybe until lunch, then I’ll take the rest of the night off. If I don’t have as much going on or feel like mentally I need a break, then I’ll just take the whole day off. Mine and my boyfriend’s date night is always Saturday, too, which also allows me to shut my brain off and think of nothing else and live in the moment. What I’m trying to say is, no matter what the situation is, I still make sure to give myself a break, and you should too. Although every situation is different, make sure you keep the flow of your normal working schedule for your own sanity. Do what’s best for you and your life.

Limit your time on social media

As much as it pains me to say this because all of the promoting I do for my blog is through social media, limiting your time on these platforms is crucial. It’s so easy to go down the rabbit hole once you’re on, and before you know it you’ve wasted nearly an hour doing only God knows what. I always get so irritated with myself when I do this because half of the time it’s not even for anything that benefits me or my life, it’s solely because I got caught up in something stupid and that something held my attention.

To avoid falling into this, try going on the social medias you enjoy the most and look up content from there, rather than mindlessly scrolling or reading random stories way out of the realm of your basic interests.

Set goals for yourself

This is especially important if you’re not working ATM. Try to set a goal for yourself every single day—it doesn’t have to be anything astronomical or challenging, so long as it’s something you can accomplish. I’m a huge planner, so every night I set a goal or goals for myself for the following day. I’ll usually ask myself: “okay, what do I have to do get done tomorrow, and what else do I really want to do?” I go from there. Having goals for myself doesn’t just keep me focused, it forces me to hold myself accountable. Rather than push the task at hand aside if I’m tired or having an off day, I now have to make myself do it no matter what. We all have rough days, but life doesn’t stop for anyone, and it’s important that we keep up. Setting goals for both my work and other interests keeps me focused, and it will keep you focused, too.

Take breaks for yourself + call friends or family members

For me, the hardest thing of this whole thing has been the lack of contact with my family. Before, I’d see my family at least once a week, and that includes relatives, too! This is the longest I’ve ever gone without seeing them. It sucks and it’s hard, but I know it’s the smartest and best thing to do right now.

Since I haven’t been able to see them, I’ve made sure to take the time to call or FaceTime them. The same goes for friends. Whatever you do, try to maintain some form of contact with the ones you love the most. Any sort of interaction over the phone is a great reprieve from this craziness.

Also, make sure you set aside time for yourself by taking walks, reading, etc. Just because you’re home all day doesn’t mean that you have to let your “me time” slack. Anything that gives you any sense of escape is perfect. My poison is always getting lost in a good book curled up on the couch or out on the deck if it’s sunny and warm.

Step out of your comfort zone

Now’s as good a time as ever to finally try out whatever hobby or skill you’ve been putting off for so long. With ample time and quarantine, stepping out of your comfort zone will make your life more exciting again. Take advantage of the time. Use the internet or YouTube for research and dive in! You’ll thank yourself later.

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All of the tips listed above make up my guide to staying productive from home. I apply these daily for maximum productivity creatively and work-wise. What do you think? Sound off in the comments below!