1433: Tips For Staying Sane When Working From Home by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner on Telecommuting

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_00]: This is Optimal Work Daily.

[00:00:03] [SPEAKER_00]: Tips for staying sane when working from home by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of MakingSenseOfSense.com

[00:00:10] [SPEAKER_00]: Many often dream about working from home and being location independent.

[00:00:14] [SPEAKER_00]: You can create your own schedule, wear pajamas, this is a huge positive right?

[00:00:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Be in control and so on.

[00:00:21] [SPEAKER_00]: Being able to work from home and or be location independent can be a great thing.

[00:00:26] [SPEAKER_00]: I know this because I've been working from home for a few years now and I truly

[00:00:29] [SPEAKER_00]: love it. I'm actually typing this in my RV while traveling around the country.

[00:00:34] [SPEAKER_00]: However, even with that being said, there are many things a person needs to keep in mind if

[00:00:39] [SPEAKER_00]: they want to work from home or on the road while traveling etc.

[00:00:43] [SPEAKER_00]: And that is why I am publishing this post today about my top work from home tips.

[00:00:48] [SPEAKER_00]: I know several people who have tried working from home only to find that they have a hard

[00:00:52] [SPEAKER_00]: time getting anything done. While I'm not one of those people, I love working from home,

[00:00:57] [SPEAKER_00]: I know there are certain things that may hold you back if you're not careful.

[00:01:01] [SPEAKER_00]: This is why it's important to realize that working from home doesn't mean you're retired.

[00:01:05] [SPEAKER_00]: You still have work that needs to be completed and you still have to earn a living.

[00:01:09] [SPEAKER_00]: Cutting out your commute, being able to wear your pajamas on certain days,

[00:01:12] [SPEAKER_00]: and being your own boss all may seem like great positives,

[00:01:15] [SPEAKER_00]: but you have to remember that you still have a job.

[00:01:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Here are my work from home tips and some of the many ways you can stay sane.

[00:01:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Stick to a work schedule.

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_00]: For the first of my work from home tips, I highly recommend creating some sort of work schedule.

[00:01:32] [SPEAKER_00]: Even if you can have the most flexible schedule in the world,

[00:01:35] [SPEAKER_00]: it's usually wise to still have somewhat of a work schedule.

[00:01:38] [SPEAKER_00]: This way you can get mentally into the work zone each day and have fewer distractions.

[00:01:44] [SPEAKER_00]: Have a dedicated work area.

[00:01:46] [SPEAKER_00]: Similar to sticking to a work schedule, having a dedicated work area can help you work better

[00:01:51] [SPEAKER_00]: due to the fact that you will be in a spot in your home that is used just for work.

[00:01:55] [SPEAKER_00]: This can help you separate work and life, be more organized, and get in the zone each day.

[00:02:02] [SPEAKER_00]: Exercise regularly.

[00:02:04] [SPEAKER_00]: When working from home it can be quite easy to sit in one spot all day long.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_00]: Unlike with going to work where you may have to walk into work,

[00:02:12] [SPEAKER_00]: walk to someone's desk, and so on, you may find yourself getting a lot less movement

[00:02:16] [SPEAKER_00]: in your day when you work from home. By exercising regularly you can stay healthy,

[00:02:21] [SPEAKER_00]: refresh yourself, and clear your mind.

[00:02:24] [SPEAKER_00]: Hire help if you need it.

[00:02:26] [SPEAKER_00]: Outsourcing work can help you focus more on tasks that you need to complete,

[00:02:30] [SPEAKER_00]: find experts who can do certain tasks better than you, such as accounting or legal work,

[00:02:36] [SPEAKER_00]: manage a better work-life balance, and more.

[00:02:38] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have to only hire help for your work either.

[00:02:41] [SPEAKER_00]: You can hire help for both work and home life.

[00:02:44] [SPEAKER_00]: This could mean finding a virtual assistant, a nanny, a housekeeper, and so on.

[00:02:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Cut out distractions.

[00:02:51] [SPEAKER_00]: While social media and TV may be great at times, you have to be careful so that it's

[00:02:56] [SPEAKER_00]: not impacting your work in a negative way.

[00:02:59] [SPEAKER_00]: Working from home means that no one is watching over your shoulder,

[00:03:02] [SPEAKER_00]: which may lead to you being more distracted.

[00:03:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Due to this, it's always a good idea to cut out things such as social media,

[00:03:09] [SPEAKER_00]: TV, and so on while you are working so that you can be more efficient with your time.

[00:03:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Socialize with others.

[00:03:16] [SPEAKER_00]: Working from home can sometimes make a person feel a little lonely.

[00:03:19] [SPEAKER_00]: You don't have the normal socialization that you may receive when you go into an office,

[00:03:23] [SPEAKER_00]: which may make a person feel like they are cut off from the world.

[00:03:27] [SPEAKER_00]: There are still many ways to socialize with others.

[00:03:29] [SPEAKER_00]: You could join a club, hang out with friends, call co-workers,

[00:03:33] [SPEAKER_00]: or even work in a shared space with small business owners.

[00:03:37] [SPEAKER_00]: Don't run errands for others all day long.

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_00]: There's a common myth that people who work from home don't actually do anything all day.

[00:03:44] [SPEAKER_00]: This sometimes leads to friends and family members asking for

[00:03:47] [SPEAKER_00]: favors from those who work from home.

[00:03:49] [SPEAKER_00]: Many of my online work friends are constantly asked to babysit,

[00:03:53] [SPEAKER_00]: run errands, and so on from others.

[00:03:56] [SPEAKER_00]: While the occasional favor may not be so bad, of course,

[00:03:59] [SPEAKER_00]: usually favors of those who work from home start with,

[00:04:02] [SPEAKER_00]: I know you have nothing to do today, so will you?

[00:04:05] [SPEAKER_00]: If you have the time, and you want to, by all means say yes to every favor.

[00:04:09] [SPEAKER_00]: But I believe you need to be realistic,

[00:04:11] [SPEAKER_00]: and this is one of my important work from home tips.

[00:04:14] [SPEAKER_00]: Running errands all day for others can prevent you from completing work,

[00:04:18] [SPEAKER_00]: and it can also cost you money.

[00:04:20] [SPEAKER_00]: Take breaks.

[00:04:22] [SPEAKER_00]: This may not apply to all work from home jobs,

[00:04:25] [SPEAKER_00]: but for many, working from home means that you may have somewhat of a flexible schedule.

[00:04:29] [SPEAKER_00]: So as long as you get your work done,

[00:04:31] [SPEAKER_00]: you can most likely take any breaks that you think you deserve or need.

[00:04:35] [SPEAKER_00]: This is something I highly recommend everyone who works from home do.

[00:04:39] [SPEAKER_00]: A break can help you feel more refreshed so that you can work better.

[00:04:42] [SPEAKER_00]: Whenever I am feeling stuck with work,

[00:04:45] [SPEAKER_00]: I always take a break and that almost always helps.

[00:04:48] [SPEAKER_00]: Have fun.

[00:04:50] [SPEAKER_00]: In the end, you need to remember to have fun,

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_00]: and this is one of my top work from home tips.

[00:04:55] [SPEAKER_00]: Spend more time with your family, be successful with your career choice,

[00:04:59] [SPEAKER_00]: do things that you've always wanted to do, and more.

[00:05:06] [SPEAKER_00]: You just listened to the post titled Tips for Staying Sane When Working From Home

[00:05:10] [SPEAKER_00]: by Michelle Schroeder Gardner of MakingSenseOfSense.com.

[00:05:14] [SPEAKER_00]: This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER_00]: We all have non-negotiables.

[00:05:19] [SPEAKER_00]: Maybe you never skip leg day or have to take your morning walks,

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_00]: but when your schedule is packed with kids activities, big work projects, and more,

[00:05:27] [SPEAKER_00]: it's easy to let your priorities slip.

[00:05:29] [SPEAKER_00]: Even when we know what makes us happy, it's hard to make time for it.

[00:05:33] [SPEAKER_00]: Therapy can help you reclaim control of your time and values.

[00:05:37] [SPEAKER_00]: And make no mistake, therapy is for everyone.

[00:05:40] [SPEAKER_00]: Whether or not you've been through significant trauma,

[00:05:42] [SPEAKER_00]: therapy can be a great tool for setting boundaries,

[00:05:45] [SPEAKER_00]: learning positive coping skills, and ultimately becoming the best version of yourself.

[00:05:50] [SPEAKER_00]: If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try.

[00:05:53] [SPEAKER_00]: It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule.

[00:05:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist

[00:06:01] [SPEAKER_00]: and switch therapists anytime for no additional charge.

[00:06:05] [SPEAKER_00]: Never skip therapy day with BetterHelp.

[00:06:07] [SPEAKER_00]: Visit BetterHelp.com slash work daily today to get 10% off your first month.

[00:06:12] [SPEAKER_00]: That's BetterHelp, H-E-L-P dot com slash work daily.

[00:06:18] [SPEAKER_00]: And thank you to Michelle who created Making Sense of Sense to keep track of her financial

[00:06:23] [SPEAKER_00]: progress, to help readers improve their finances and help her own personal finances.

[00:06:28] [SPEAKER_00]: As just one example, due to this, she was able to pay off $38,000 in student loans

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_00]: in seven months. She lived in an RV touring North America and now lives on a sailboat.

[00:06:38] [SPEAKER_00]: She and her husband sold their house and became full-time travelers.

[00:06:42] [SPEAKER_00]: And like many of the authors on our shows, she went from being in debt

[00:06:45] [SPEAKER_00]: to being financially free and she documents the journey on her blog.

[00:06:49] [SPEAKER_00]: She publishes monthly income updates and shares how she earns over $100,000 a month online.

[00:06:55] [SPEAKER_00]: She's pretty open about it so you can check all that info out.

[00:06:58] [SPEAKER_00]: Again, her site is MakingSenseOfSense.com, a little play on words there.

[00:07:03] [SPEAKER_00]: All right, that's going to do it for today. I thank you so much for listening

[00:07:06] [SPEAKER_00]: and for being a subscriber of the show. Have a great start to your week

[00:07:10] [SPEAKER_00]: and I'll be back with you tomorrow where I'll have a post from

[00:07:12] [SPEAKER_00]: Shaleen Johnson and where your optimal life awaits.