Is your work attire yoga pants, too? As photographers, more often than not, we have the luxury of being able to work from home - or maybe you do something else. Either way this is a huge perk for a lot of us, but sometimes it can be difficult staying motivated and on task when we're in our home environment (hello, F.R.I.E.N.D.S re-runs). When you are your own boss it can feel liberating, but we also have to remember not to cut ourselves too much slack.
So how can we stay focused and hold ourselves accountable?
1. Have a Separate Work Area
It's important for you to have your own space and a designated working area, preferably your own separate room where you can lock yourself away from distractions. Being in the middle of the living room or near the kitchen is just asking for you to lose focus to turn on the T.V, grab your (10th) snack or "just quickly do this one thing".Better yet, especially if you have children (or big children known as spouses), having your own closed off space makes it much more unlikely that they will bother you and break your attention (or we can try at least).
Overall, having your separate office will get you into the right frame of mind and "work mode" and you will find that it also eases the stress when you are off the clock. At the end of the day, you can close your office door and not be tempted to keep checking your email throughout the evening. Having the right work-life balance will keep you more motivated when it does come to grind time.
2. Have a Set Schedule
Having the freedom to create your own hours is an amazing gift, but it is also crucial to have a schedule all the same. Being scattered and procrastinating doesn't get your business anywhere, and the best way to avoid that is having a routine and set hours.
3. Create a No Phone Zone
If we added up all those times we popped on Facebook for a second or quickly scrolled through Instagram you would be amazed at how much time is actually wasted. It may not feel like it at the time, but 1 minute here, 5 minutes there and so on really does add up, and it is cutting into your productivity and causing distractions. It is also causing you to have to work longer because you are getting less done during the day. Be strict on yourself and make your office space a No Phone Zone. If you need your phone for work-related calls etc download the app Freedom to temporary block social media apps.
4. Follow a Daily Checklist
To go a step further and become even more efficient create a list with times for each task according to how long the should take and in the order you would like to complete them.
5. Focus on Your Why
When we are inundated with work it can be easy to get lost and forget why we started in the first place. To help keep a clear mind and motivated remind yourself of your "why".Your why is at the heart of your business, it is your reasoning for starting your journey and what you hope to achieve. It is the overall purpose of your passion. Take a step back and look at the bigger picture of everything to get a fresh perspective.
6. Take Set Breaks
It is important that you remember to give yourself proper breaks, just as you would in another workplace. Use your breaks to get outside and socialize if possible. Working from home and having no coworkers can get lonely sometimes and can leave you feeling stir crazy. Whether it's taking the dog for a walk and chatting to neighbours or running a quick errand, get out of the house for a little while during the day.
7. Work Out
You may be thinking "uhhmmm ... thanks, but no thanks, I have enough to do already". But trust me, working out during one of your set breaks can instantly refresh your mind and give you a surge of energy. We're not talking full 1 hour, blood pumping, life changing workouts, just a quick and easy 20 minute session to break up your day. Yoga is a great option for easy and mind opening workouts.
There you have it, our 7 ways to stay motivated while working from home. Have anything to add? Let us know! We'd love to hear from you on