Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to some of the products I use and love. When you click these links and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. It won’t cost you anything, but it helps me to run this site. Find out the disclaimer here.
How to stay productive when you’re working from home? Here, I’m sharing the top 9 productivity tips for working from home that – when they all come together, it’s magic.
If you follow me on Instagram, I mentioned a lot about “being productive” and how guilty I am if I’m not productive. Productivity is one of my favorite things ever. It’s so freaking satisfying to check something off my to-do list. That feeling of accomplishment is priceless.
For the past two years, I’ve tried a bunch of different productivity strategies to help me manage my time better and get more things done. Some have worked amazingly. Others, not so much. Workflows and at the end of the day, I feel like a badass rather than an overwhelmed hot mess.
Stop Multitasking
When I worked in the office, I often do 2-3 tasks at once. Well, there’s no such thing as multitasking. You’re basically just switching back and forth between tasks very quickly and that actually slows you down. I feel that. It takes way longer to get something done when you’re not giving the task your undivided attention.
Drop The Perfectionism
When started my blog, I aim to be perfect at everything I did. Then when blogger burnout hit me, I realize that being perfect won’t make you happy. Perfectionism was something I struggled with so much at the 6 months of my blogging career. I prided myself in being ridiculously thorough with everything I did. The result? It took me forever to get anything done. I started knocking out the need for perfectionism and devoted myself to getting things done.
Keep A Master List Of Tasks
It’s impossible to get everything done in one day! I always feel that I have million blogging tasks to do in a day. Putting a million tasks on your daily to-do list will only stress you out and at the end of the day, you’ll feel like you didn’t get anything done. Instead, I suggest keeping a master list of tasks either in your planner or in Notion (which, I seriously can’t live without) and then pull only a few tasks at a time onto your daily to-do list. Your realistic goals and to-do list sets you up for success and leaves you feeling accomplished at the end of the day.
Work When You’re Most Productive
My most productive time is in the morning – around 8-9 am. I really protect that time because I know I can focus and get a lot done really quickly. It’s also important to know when to take a break. My energy usually dips around 1-2 pm. Instead of forcing myself to stay at my desk not really getting much done, I’ll walk around or just take a nap.
Plan Your Day The Night Before
I like to plan my to-do list the night before. Take a look at what have you done today and what you need to do tomorrow morning. Write out your to-do list in your planner allows you to hit the ground running in the morning.
Have An Empowering Morning Routine
For maximum productivity, set up a morning routine that sets you up for success. Wake up slowly, drink a glass of water, eat healthy meals, or do whatever makes you feel good!
Do Your Creative Work First
Every task you complete drains your energy little by little as the day goes on. Make sure to do your creative work first thing in the morning when your energy is at its highest. If you focus on all the little things first, by the time you get to your most important creative work, you have no energy left. I work on content creation first before engaging with others. Blog promotion, blog administration, and engaging on social media come later.
Just Do It Once
This is a simple tip but really effective to avoid blogger burnout. Just touch a task one time and one time only. If you open an email, respond on the spot. If you to schedule your social media, do it at once. Having to come back to a task again wastes your precious time. I often check my email 3-4 times a day and I realized that’s not a good habit so I try to do it once/day now.
Time Block
Time blocking is designating a block of time for one task and giving it your full attention. So instead of answering emails throughout the day, schedule a block of time to clear your inbox. Estimate how long you think it’ll take you to complete a task and set a timer. It’s been a real game-changer in helping me stay fiercely focused on the task at hand.
I’m so obsessed with this little cube!
What’s your productivity tips for working from home?
PIN FOR LATER
Exactly, love these tips! I also wanted to be PERFECT in the beginning of my blog, but then I realized perfection will not take me anywhere because then nothing would be considered perfect and I wouldn’t finish anything. I also nap at 1-2 pm haha a break deserved. Solid advice! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.lifebeginsattwenty.com
Ikr! I used to think that being perfect will make me satisfied, but it does waste my time and effort because I keep feeling it’s not perfect 🙁 Thank you for reading Monique 😀
I just started a job where I’m working from home- so I need to listen to all this advice thank you x
Congrats Eleanor! Keep up the good work 😀
Amazing tips Merry! It really does feel amazing to check things off your to-do list, but it can be hard to do when working from home. These tips are definitely going to help get me on track. I really love the idea of only touching things once. I can see that being a total game changer for me. Thanks for sharing!!
Glad that you found this helpful! Thank you Tiffany 😀
I’ve worked really hard to drop the perfectionism the last few years and I can’t believe how much happier I am. It really makes a big difference.
So great to hear that! Thank you for stoping by Brooke x
I am glad to see people finally talking about how multitasking DOES NOT work. Avoiding procrastination is also possible by implementing many of the solutions you have recommended. great post!
I 100% agree with quitting multitasking and working when you’re most productive! This entire list is amazing! So many excellent tips!
Great tips! I like to check my mail once every day and that’s it. I check for important emails and reply to them for the day. Thank you for sharing these helpful tips!
That’s very good 😀 Thanks for reading Fransic x
Yes!!!!!! These are the right things to do when working at home. I love working at home. I don’t need to waste time of traveling and makeup. Hehehe.
Thank you 😀
I love these tips! Working from home can be difficult, but I found that time blocking and finding the best time to be creative and work are the best things to do. Thanks for sharing!
Alexis| http://cafe-beauty.com
Yeees! So agree with you 😀
Hi Merry,
Excellent productivity tips for us all, thanks.
Doing the most difficult tasks when you are at your most productive (usually early morning for me) is a big help.
And I get a real sense of satisfaction from crossing things off on a ‘To do’ list. Although it’s a pain when you have one of those days where the list actually gets longer! 😉
I totally can relate to that “list actually gets longer” case lol – thank you Richie 😀
Did I need this? Yes indeed! I think the best tip is to drop perfectionism and stop multitasking, I am so bad at it and end up not doing anything. The time block sounds like something I could really use x
Thank you Cristina 😀
Fab tips. I work from home every day, so have had to learn how to stay productive over the last 5 years. I use some of these tips and they’re really helpful! x
Love that! Thank you Jen 😀
Lovely post, Merry! I relate to this so much as I’ve been working from home for over a year now. Thanks so much for sharing xx
Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thank you Lynn 😀
I agree the morning is my most productive as I get sleep in afternoons. Brilliant suggestions!