As the nation adjusts to our new (but temporary) normal of remote work, I wanted to share a few tips and strategies that I started using when I transitioned to full-time entrepreneurship, and still use today.
1. Create A Positive Morning Routine
Instead of reaching for your phone the moment you wake up in the morning, consider starting a routine that brings positivity, motivates you, and helps you set your intentions for the day.
This could be as simple as listening to motivational music, writing in your journal, reading a couple of chapters from a book or blog you enjoy, etc.
You can even incorporate exercise, prayer/meditation in your routine.
The "what" is less significant than the "why."
The whole point is to start your day on a positive note with thoughts and beliefs that will motivate and encourage you throughout your day.
2. Set Aside a Dedicated Workspace
Much like what you had in the office, you'll want to set aside a place in your home/apartment where you won't get distracted and can focus on completing your goals for the day.
When you're done, simply pack up or walk away and spend the rest of your day doing activities you enjoy (i.e. reading, working on your side-hustle, playing video games, binging on your favorite show, etc.)
3. Time Chunking
Try implementing the Pomodoro Technique into your daily routine.
In applying this technique, you’ll set aside a specific amount of time (30-90 minutes), where you force yourself to get laser-focused on completing one specific task.
Once you’re done, take a short break (10-30), and tackle another task during the next timed sprint.
4. Get Hold of Your Procrastination
Create a list of everything you want to get done for the day.
Many find it helpful to write out their daily to-do lists either the night before or first thing in the morning.
Take careful watch over how many items you put on that list.
Having too much on your list can lead to overwhelm, which often then leads to procrastination.
So, do yourself a favor and keep the list reasonable the first few days.
Related: 7 Strategies to Overcome Procrastination
5. Stay Connected
Working from home can turn into a lonely experience pretty quickly (especially if it's just you).
Leverage free and low-cost tools like Zoom, Slack, Basecamp, or Asana to communicate regularly with your team, manager, and/or peers.
Connect via video as often as you can. If the adjustment starts to take a toll on you, share this with your manager or reach out to your HR Rep for support and guidance.
