I’ve been self-employed for almost two years now, and within those two years I’ve learned a number of strategies and tips that have helped my online businesses tremendously – which of course I’m always happy to share with you here on the blog.
Today, however, I’m going to share a number of things in my bag o’ tips that may help you and your online business that are not really focused on very much, at least on sites that teach internet business and blogging. I guarantee that at least one of the following ten items you can “do better” or improve upon.
1. Eat a Good Breakfast
A good breakfast sets you up for a productive day, period. I can really feel a difference in my physical and mental power when I skip breakfast versus when I have a healthy, well-balanced meal.
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercising does a couple of beneficial things for us:
- It gives us energy, thanks to endorphins. I write my blog posts after I work out on Tuesdays and Thursdays, because I know I’ll have more physical and mental energy.
- It keeps us healthy and happy.
3. Take Breaks
During the day (and this works if you’re still at a 9 to 5 job too), take breaks from what you’re doing often. Give your brain a rest, and go on a walk, or just sit outside and relax (if it’s not raining). It will give your brain time to recharge, and will keep you from going insane.
4. If You’re Got a SmartPhone, Don’t Check Your Email
This one is tough, I know, but if you’re out of the office or away from where you are supposed to do work, don’t check your email. The reason is because you may receive an email that requires you to do something you cannot, such as go into your home computer to send a file. You can’t do these types of things unless you’re at your office, so it’s better to just not give yourself a chance to be stressed out about it, and leave the inbox alone until you get back. Make sure those breaks are actually breaks.
5. Work in Good Lighting Conditions
This is also tough to notice, until it’s too late. If you work in an area with bad lighting, over time (in just hours), your eyes will begin to strain and you’ll have a hard time staying focused.
If you’ve got windows, really utilize that natural sunlight, and if you happen to be working at night, try to avoid “brightspots” in your line of focus. Try to make the lighting as even and as comfortable as possible while you work.
6. Work with Good Ventilation
As you know, I have a website and wrote a study guide for the LEED Exam, which is about green buildings and sustainable design.
Well, a major portion of LEED is understanding how to improve ventilation in buildings, which helps with air quality and in turn boosts productivity and the overall happiness of building occupants.
If you’re working at home, you should really take notice of the air you’re breathing. Are you stuck in a room with a closed door that’s just recirculating the air you breath and the warm air coming from your computer equipment?
Open up a few windows in your house or apartment so that new, fresh air can come in and you can work in a more productive and healthy environment.
7. Get Dressed For Work at Home
For a while, especially right after I got laid off and started working from home, I did all of my work in my pajamas. It was comfortable, but often too comfortable. It was wayyyy to easy to climb back into bed, which was just one door over.
Nowadays, before I begin any work, I always dress myself. This helps because:
- It gives me the mindset to start “work-mode”; and
- It helps just in case I have a quick errand to run – I don’t have to worry about changing before I leave.
One time, I had to delay an impromptu video conference call because I was wearing a sleeveless t-shirt and silk bottoms (ok – not really silk bottoms, but I was wearing a sleeveless shirt and had to change really fast and do my hair).
8. Work in a Comfortable Chair
Again – this isn’t really something you’ll notice until it’s too late and your back is killing you. Get a decent chair, ergonomic chair if possible, because more than likely you’ll be in it a lot.
If you find your back is hurting when you work, see #3.
9. Try to Enjoy What You’re Doing
This needs no explanation.
10. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
We all know we should be sleeping 7-8 hours a day. It’s the time our bodies and brains need to recharge and get ready for the next day!
I know it can be tough though, especially when working from home, because work never seems to be entirely finished. Plus, it’s always tempting just to stay up a little longer to get things done.
I’ve learned, however, that even though you may get more things done staying up longer, you’ll actually end up getting more done by sleeping and being more productive the next day.
Do you have any other uncommon, not-so-obvious things that help you when you work from home?
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{ 44 comments (Click Here to Leave a Comment Below) }
Do you have any other uncommon, not-so-obvious things that help you when you work from home?
Avoid Multi-Tasking
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For me, multi-tasking is counterproductive. I’m at my most efficient when I concentrate on a single task.
Freshen up your Body and Mind
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Shower before you start your work day and wash the sleep away. Bam! Instant focus.
Fuel Up
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As Pat suggests, a good breakfast will boost your energy and stop you raiding the fridge at 11am.
You can also spend this time with the family before they go to work/school which is really important. Open the windows whilst you’re eating breakfast to fill the house with clean air.
Have a Plan of Action
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Know what you want to achieve, and the steps required to get there, and you’ve already won half the battle. Avoid just sitting down in front of the computer with a general intention to improve your business – you will likely do a lot but achieve very little.
End the Working Day Cleanly
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This could be at a specific time, or after completing a task, but try to avoid working indefinitely throughout the evening; your brain needs time to recharge for the next day and burnout is a real enemy that will affect both your business and your family.
Though having a plan of action is pretty popular, I agree that it’s definitely one of those tips to keep in mind.
To follow in Pat’s footsteps, I was recently laid off and now find myself at home struggling to balance the hustle to pay the bills while still enjoying what I do for a living. Creating a list of what I want to accomplish definitely helps keep me on track and manage my time.
I’d recommend investing in a large whiteboard.
I wish you all the best on the struggle Christopher. I can’t imagine how it must feel to be laid off – respect for giving it a go on your own!
I totally agree with “Burn Down Easily” regarding taking a shower. For some reason it gets me fresh, focused and ready to rock.
Without one early in the morning, I sludge around, wasting time surfing the web, checking my email, posting on facebook…
Rock On
Lee
Keeping a good routine can help with productivity. I find that sometimes it is easy to slack off when there isn’t a definite timing to do something. I find that if I set fix time for specific tasks, it helps me to get into my work mode easier.
Cheers,
Vincent
Hi,
I think sleeping disorder is the main problem for who work from home. I have this problem. I used to sleep in the morning 5am to noon upto lunch time. I miss my breakfast daily.
I am not disciplined at all. Its bad I know but I can’t change myself. It this gonna be a problem….
Awesome tips.. I been working at home for 4 yrs,, and people think it’s sooo easy..lol
It comes with it’s own issues.
ex. I used to get up for work at 4:30 with no problems because I had to,, I had a boss.
Now that I can wake up whenever I want..e a hard time getting up at 6:30.. working at home is so easy to lose motivation when your the only person to answer too.
These are all great tips to help.. especially #3 haha
Wow! Great post Pat!
Many of the things you listed above are very effective, i fault in some of them and i will try to improve.
Thanks a lot,
-Onibalusi
BTW: I sent you another guest post, i guess you will like this one.
Thanks a lot,
-Onibalusi
As someone who also works from home, I second all the tips you listed in your post.
One thing I do (which pertains to the getting dressed tip) is where a pair of shoes while I’m working. I started doing this a couple of months ago and I find that it has made me more productive. Maybe it’s a psychological trigger just like getting dressed as if you are going to work.
Another tip which helps me is to have a routine or schedule for when I work. For me, having a consistent routine also helps me be more productive. This is especially important when working from home because of the potential distractions which can disrupt your day.
Thanks for the tips, Pat. Cheers!
Wesley Craig Green
Definitely agree with the shoes tip — makes me feel more active and ready or something.
I bet most people struggle with the email thing, Pat….I know I do….and, it goes completely against what you just said and what Mr. Ferris said in his book. I just have this habit of checking it so much throughout the day….when I step back and really look at it, I know I’m wasting alot of time that could have been better allocated elsewhere….
(Well, I know in this post you were just talking really about checking your email from a smartphone when you are OUT of the office, but, I wonder how people here actually go about handling email? Do you (Pat or anyone) only check it once or twice a day? once or twice every hour?….I admit, I’m an adict, and could use some help in that department….)
Howie, I’ve had to cut myself off from email and social networking for most of the day. I check at four scheduled times now – first thing in the morning, noonish, around four, and around eight at night. It’s unreal the amount of time I was wasting before.
Taking breaks makes a huge difference in my productivity. It seems counter-productive, but I am so refreshed when I get away for awhile that I end up accomplishing far more than if I simply try to slog through without a break.
A big #1 for me: Begin the morning with a cup of coffee (in addition to breakfast). When I feel sleepy, I feel unmotivated. Coffee offers a nice artificial boost for my morning, so that I start the day energized.
Here’s a couple I do:
Get outside. The sun gives you energy!
The night before I write down everything I want done the next day and when your’e done, you’re off!
When I finish a project and hit my goals, I usually take about a week off to just sit back, relax and dream.
Thanks for the tips.
I work from home quite a bit and the good night sleep and getting dressed are really key. I think you just feel more productive that way. The good night sleep leads to getting up fairly early and getting almost everything you need to done much faster than you normally would. Good lighting goes without saying. If you are in a dark room that’s just depressing and definitely doesn’t lead to productivity. Good stuff Pat.
#3 should read (even if it’s raining).
I love to sit out on my porch and listen to the sounds of rain coming down, and there is no substitute for the feeling you get when the mist from the rain caresses your face.
Now you know why I call myself Mister Weirdo, and just in case you didn’t, it’s my nickname.
Rasheed
Pat,
Thanks for the great tips. I do not work from home but I believe that being self-employed is empowering. You are spot on about eating breakfast and getting dressed. Yeah you could work in your pajamas but you may not be as productive.
Keep your house and especially work area clean
Eat something light for breakfast. I try to stick with fruit and nuts. I used to eat chicken, bacon, etc. and found that it made me sleepy.
-Erica
i like the ideas of dressing up for work…that would put any one in the mode for work
Hey good tips Pat! For nutrition I think breakfast is the most important meal and then constant healthy snacks every few hours. Fresh smoothies are awesome and I have been making this lately and it rocks!
Recipe:
Get wholegrain flatbread and put on it Peanut Butter, Honey, Banana, and Granola w/Flax. (I use BearNaked Granola with Flax and Blueberries) It taste awesome and skyrockets your energy, giving you that fresh energy feeling if you know what I mean.
Also keeping all your notes and scheduling in one place helps me a lot. Either one note book, Google Calender, Basecamp, whatever you use, keep all your stuff in one place other than everywhere.
Brandon
Very good tips. I totally agree with what you said about getting dressed for the day. Unfortunately I still stay in my pajamas for quite a while after I get up. May have to change that.
Sleep.
Without a doubt the most important part, I feel of ANY entrepreneurs day.
If I don’t get 7 hours minimum I simply lack substance and energy the next day – which is completely unacceptable when you have 200 staff to mentor and manage!
I once knew a guy that averaged 4 hours a night for about a year – he eventually ended up having a nervous breakdown… And his business broke down alongside him.
Not for me.
Have a great weekend with the family… I will. We’re hitting the awesome beaches of Cebu!
Best,
Chris
Pretty good tips here…I was just thinking of something like this. Thanks I definitely have to start working out for sure…I am going to do 10 push ups right now.
I agree with point 8, I’ve only recently started working at a desk, before I worked from my bed which caused lot of aching joints. Not checking your email is also something I’ve recently started doing, way to many distractions…
Fantastic tips! I particularly like the Getting Dressed tip. It’s all too easy to stay in the jammies. But what a difference it makes to get dressed. We’re not talking suit and tie here, it can still be casual. Just change your clothes. The mindset thing is hard to explain. I think of it as showing respect for yourself and what you do. If you respect your business, then your business will come easier. Your mind clicks into gear and you write those articles easier. Of course, the coffee helps too!
Coffee, lots of coffee. I get my blog done first, then I allow myself to play. Oh, and drink more coffee.
Pajamas? lol Sponge Bob?
A great list of quality points for working at home though 7-8 hours sleep is technically not necessary for everyone. Sleeping patterns, age and genetics play a big role, some people need more, others less.
Along the lines of getting dressed I would recommend having a ‘work area’. I often find myself typing away at the kitchen table, or in bed with the laptop on my knees. It’s hard to stay in a working mindset while in a place that has so many other connotations. If you can set aside a room, a desk or even a bit of counter surface that is your ‘office’, then it’ll help you remain focused on working and will help you switch off when you’re on a break.
That is what I have been trying to create- a working environment which resembles a real working space. My room is just too darn messy to be of any inspirational moments!
All great points. I really need to work on the iPhone and not checking the email point.
For me I leave most mornings and go to Panera for a coffee and about 4 or 5 hours of work. Then I hit the bike for a couple of hours and back home to maybe put in a couple of hours back online. However, I often feel like I’m not working enough. Perhaps it’s that I’m working on the wrong things rather than what really needs to be done to generate money.
Hmmm…..
These are great tips, Pat, and many times, often overlooked. I’ve been working from home 9 years now and every day, I start with a morning run. Everyday, other than when it’s storming, of course.
For me, running clears the cobwebs of my brain. You’re definitely right about the pajamas thing, although I must confess, I’ve done webinars in my pj’s (kind of cool when no one knows!)
I find that one of my biggest motivators when working from home is listening (or reading) something business, or inspiration related, such as any business book or podcast like the internet business mastery podcast.
this is something that I would normally do in the car on the way to work etc. but since you dont have a car trip often miss out. It makes a HUGE difference and really gets the nuerons and creative juices flowing.
Great points here Pat! I’m so glad the weather has broken so I can start walking again! Going to work back up to my 6 miles a day!
one tip i have heard often from the forums is to batch your work accordingly. Instead of switching between windows to check mail, do bookmarking, do forum comments, and design banners etc, its best to chunk one type of activity into one hour batches.
This way, it keep you focused
Hope that helps
Enjoyed that post pat… The bit about getting dressed before you start work, rang a bell for me! for the reasons you stated and just the mind set!
I find no.7 a unique tip. i haven’t thought of that but I think that’s a superb point. I rarely wear pajamas but oftentimes I only wear shorts and no shirt at all. I think you’re right, wearing the proper attire puts us more on a work environment which could lead for a better productivity.
Hm.. Very good post..
Taking care of such small things can make a huge difference working at home. Very good post all 10 points are very important. What others have pointed in their comments are also very important.
One thing I’ve found makes all the difference is making time during the week for me. Whether it’s watching my favorite show or having a glass of wine with a close friend, it keeps work from swallowing my life whole. Feeling balanced makes me way more willing to give it my all when it’s time to get down to business.
I totally agree with Get Dressed For Work at Home. Sometimes even if you work at home, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to get dressed for work and it’s just ok to be in your pyjamas. In reality, you can actually work better if you’re properly dressed.
#4 is a hard one for me. I have my Blackberry almost everywhere I go, and get all my emails forwarded to it. I did notice that I feel much less stress when I don’t check it all the time, but it’s a hard habit to break. Great tips.
I need to let my Wife read this article. Once she starts working, she just never stops. She thinks she is the energizer bunny. Great idea Thanks!
These are some awesome, awesome tips for working from home. Especially love the get a good night’s sleep, eat a big breakfast and exercise.
Great advice Pat!
Hey, just thought i’d leave a comment telling you keep up the awesome work! xD