10 Ways to be Productive at Home

1. Set a Schedule

Write out your schedule for the day. This would include start/end times, time blocks for lunch and certain activities. It’s much easier to stick to a schedule if you make one. When I’m in school, I work on homework from 9-1, take lunch from 1-1:30/2, then work on my blog from 2-4, then from 4-6 I work on my online classes. Everything is flexible, but it lets me stay on track and make the most out of my day. 

2. Take a Break for Lunch

Take an honest break for lunch. If you are crazy busy that may not be the case every single day, however I think it’s important to take an actual break. I will catch up on Instagram, read a book, watch a TV show, etc. This break time is a great way to get in some “me” time and relax during the day while I eat my lunch. I feel much more ready to tackle the second half of the day when I do this. It’s also a good time to refuel up on caffeine!

3. Go for a Walk

Sometimes, if I’m in a funk or feeling uninspired/not productive, I’ll go for a walk. If you work from home or just need to get productive on a weekend, I highly recommend going for a 5-10 minute walk to get out of your home. I’ll normally get the mail or take the trash out. 

4. Get Things Done Before/After “Work”

It can be so hard to avoid certain things to do around your home if you work there. I try to clean the kitchen, sweep the floors, and pick up before I start my day. If I need to run an errand, I’ll try doing it after my day has finished, otherwise one errand can turn into many! I also try to workout/exercise before or after my day. 

5. Set Your Phone to Mute

Set your phone to mute! You can always mute people and turn off notifications. You can also unmute certain people in case you need to be available for a text/phone call. This helps from any unneeded glances to your phone. I have a Fitbit that allows me to see who is calling/texting. I can’t reply, but it shows if it’s important enough for me to go get my phone. 

6. Make a To-Do List

I love me a good to-do list. I make one every single day, regardless of what I need to do. It helps me stay on track of what needs to get done and prevents me from starting tasks that aren’t pertinent to that day. 

7. Do Multi-Purpose Tasks

So what about the days where you need to do home stuff and be productive? When I am home, there are days where I’m unable to avoid doing home tasks (such as cleaning). Laundry is a great way to stay productive without being distracted. I’ll make a phone call while I do it, throw a load in before I start a new task, and fold while I read an email or brainstorm ideas. Doing these kinds of tasks will really help maximize the time you have.

8. Put on “Work” Clothes

You’ve probably heard this one before and that’s because it really does help! If you work from home, then change out of your pajamas! You’ll never catch me wearing jeans at home, however I do change into comfy loungewear/clothes. I recently bought some joggers/sweatshirts that are perfect for those stay at home days. I’ll also wear activewear such as those in these pictures to put me in a productive mood. I think changing out of your pajamas gives you the mindset to get work done.

9. Set Timers

Have you ever wondered where the day went? Or how you spent so many hours on one task? Sometimes deep diving into the internet or your work can escape you. I love to set timers to help me stay on top of the tasks. I’ll set a timer for my morning block. Once the timer goes off, I’ll move onto the next thing. Anything that doesn’t get done in that time block gets pushed to the end of the day unless it’s urgent.

10. Create a Work Area

If you work from home, it can be hard to get into work mode with the rest of your home a couple feet over. I highly recommend creating a dedicated work area where you spend your time working. I currently have an office that Zach and I share that is dedicated to work and studying. If you don’t have an extra room that’s totally fine! Set up a desk in a part of your home and make that your work space. You can set up a physical divider or place a big plant to help separate the space. I find that I get more work done when I’m sitting at my desk rather than my bed or the couch. It helps me get into the productive zone!