Making Your Own Productive Blog Cabin
Whether you’re working in an office setting or a “blog cabin,” as I do, there are times when you may need a little pick-me-up.
And if you’ve been following my blog for any time, you know I’ve already discussed the best ways to create a snack station at your work location.
I’ve discussed ways to improve my health through my nutrition, including documenting my journey working with my nutritionist Shannon.
The Truth About Remote Work
With nearly 42% of people reporting work from home as the primary source of work, many people work from home. All this time spent at home can be stressful and lonely at the same time.
The one cost associated with more time at home that is overlooked is the effects of working at home on our moods.
In fact, feelings of isolation and loneliness are some of the major complaints people have from working at home.
So if you’re stuck working from home, how do you change the monotony and improve your mood at the same time?
There are some productivity tips that we will discuss in a bit, but in general, you want to have your workspace and time set aside just like you would in an office setting.
Create A Daily Ritual Of Going To Work
Even though you are working from home, you need to treat your work the same as you would if you were heading to an office, that is the main reason I have my blog cabin.
That means setting up your daily routine the same way you would have previously and stick to that pattern. Activities like getting out of bed, taking a shower, eating breakfast, and setting your mindset that it’s time to “leave” for work are all essential steps to take.
The importance of establishing a daily routine is that our brains are geared to see regular patterns as comfortable, and disrupting those changes can become unsettling, causing mood shifts.
- Get Cleaned Up: Just like you would if you were heading out to the office, take some personal time to clean and ready yourself for your workday.
- Eat Breakfast: Eating breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, elevates moods, and gives your brain the energy it’s going to need while you’re at work.
- Dress The Part: Working from home should be comfortable, but establishing a routine of getting dressed helps reinforce the “normal” pattern of a workday.
- Prepare To Leave The House: This is the tricky part. Even if you work in another room, make it as much a pattern to say goodbye to the family and pets.
- Have A Dedicated Work Space: Even if you don’t have a separate room to do your work in like my blog cabin, have a dedicated space designed only for work. It will make you approach that space much more professionally and be more comfortable for your family to respect your area if they know that it’s time for work when you sit down at your workspace.
These changes can be tough with young kids, but having a dedicated space for your activities will help them understand the importance of personal space for themselves as well. - Have Time For Interaction: In the office, we get our work interrupted with calls, emails, and in-person communication. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t have the same process. These little interruptions help keep us feeling connected to others and make the workday go a little smoother.
Now that you’ve set up your daily routine before you start work, you need to establish some guidelines for your work as well.
Just as you would at an office, have a defined start and end to your workday. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean that you’re always at work.
Don’t let the comfort of working from home add to your plate. Instead, have a dedicated time to start your work and a specific time you finish. This will also help your family understand when you’re working and free for family time.
Other Productivity Tips For Working At Home
Work In Batches: Don’t think that you should power through the day without breaks because you’re at home. Set up your work in batches, and be sure to take scheduled intervals away from your work.
Take Breaks: Productivity will slow down if all you do is the grind. Setting established work breaks is critical for your thinking and energy levels.
End Of The Work Day Is The End: As we mentioned earlier, don’t let work creep into family time. When the workday is over, it’s over.
Create A Break Room: Like at the office, have a small area that you set aside for snacks and refreshments that you can access throughout the day.
Healthy alternatives like nuts and fruit work well. If you need a little caffeine inspiration and don’t have a way to make a full pot of coffee or tea, consider pre-making some cold brew coffee that you can store in your blog cabin and drink as needed.
