Working from home seems to be the new normal! Whether you’re working from home for the first time or its second nature it can be difficult to set boundaries (and keep them!) while working from home.

Here are some tips that we’ve used while working from home to set boundaries and focus!

GET READY FOR THE DAY

Some might be salty about this but we promise it helps! If you want to treat work like work: you should be getting ready for the day.

Hey, we know, getting ready means something different for everyone, do what’s right for you. We like to wake up, take some time to pray/meditate, do a little healthy movement and then shower and put on something that’s not PJ’s (hello athleisure!).

Try the basics. Makeup isn’t necessary, but it’s helpful to take a few minutes to brush your teeth, wash your face, and just spruce up a little bit before you open up your computer. It will make you feel awake and ready to slay the day!

SET OFFICE HOURS

Set a schedule for your working hours and stick to them like super glue. For instance, having specific working hours helps you to focus on work while you’re working. It leaves little room for your mind to wander to other parts of your life. 

Remember to communicate this with the people in your life (family, friends, clients)—it ensures they can support you, hold you accountable and heck, even respect those hours when they need something from you!

If you’re like us, we like to keep a planner & journal that helps us keep up with our day. Plus we use Acuity to schedule ALL appointments. 

SCHEDULE BREAKS

Likewise, remember to schedule a time for breaks.This is essential y’all! 

In a typical office setting, it’s part of the culture to take breaks! You gather in a room to take a lunch break, chat with coworkers, or run out to do a quick errand.

In other words, set aside time for these small moments even while you’re working from home. These types of breaks help you be more productive plus they ensure you don’t burn out. Believe us, we exclusively work from home, and burn out is REAL.

INVEST IN RESOURCES

You know we are a proponent in investing in your business, consider this and invest in some resources that help you perform at your best.

For example, you may need to invest in a great chair, a desk, or if your business is purely digital, some really rad digital resources. Here are some of our favs:

Stock photography
Scheduling
Invoicing/finances
Email-marketing
Social Media Scheduling
G-Suite

REMOVE DISTRACTIONS

Here is a BIG ONE. While not always 100% attainable, strike the balance that works for you! Aim to remove as many distractions as possible. This may mean, leaving your phone in another room, having your office behind a closed door, or just using noise-canceling headphones to block out the noise in your home.

Moreover, figure out what are your distraction triggers and be mindful of removing those from your work environment.

COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE

Communicate with the people who live with you. The key to healthy boundaries in any part of life is communication.

Let them know what you need from them and be open to listening to what they need from you. Perhaps, you need quiet time at a certain time, maybe you would like to sync calendars, whatever it is, if you can communicate upfront it will help in the long run.

This will benefit everyone.

UNPLUG

We cannot stress this enough: UNPLUG. In other words, when day is done—be done.

That means, put your computer away, put your phone away, and spend time doing something, anything with family, friends, or alone (introverts, we see you!).

In conclusion, we know there is always something to do, but taking the time to unplug will help fight burnout. Allow yourself to rest and unplug completely. You’ll be happier and healthier for it.

---

There you have it, friends! Here are some tips that we’ve used while working from home to set boundaries and focus. Do you agree? Or have any other tips for us? Tell us in the comments below! Or contact us via email!