How to Stay Productive while Working from Home During Isolation or Quarantine
While many creative entrepreneurs have already been working from home, in recent months, people around the globe have faced strict social restrictions and isolation orders. This has taken away the much-needed work days at coffee shops that entrepreneurs often rely on to stay productive and to get out of the house throughout the week.
With productivity in jeopardy from being stuck at home for months on end, it's easy to slow down, get behind, or take days off unintentionally—simply because your drive to work has dwindled. But when starting, running, or scaling your own business, it's critical to keep working and getting things done.
So what is an entrepreneur to do when their livelihood is tottering at the top of a mountain along with their close-to-plummeting motivation?
You've got to push through and boost your productivity so you can get tasks done!
So here are 11 of my favorite work-from-home essentials to stay motivated and get back into the groove.
1 // Take a mini vacation from work to try something new or to revisit an old hobby.
Do you have a hobby that you haven’t picked up in a while? Now might be the perfect time to take it out of the closet and spend an evening doing something you love.
Grab your yarn and crochet hook. Take out your drawing paper and pencils.
Put your tasks aside for a bit, and give your mind a chance to escape into one of your other favorite past-times.
Or finally take some time to try a new project on your list.
2 // Boost motivation with an at-home creative business retreat.
If productivity is down, freshen up your business. Set new goals. Create a vision for the rest of the year. Enjoy the process of dreaming and brainstorming. Turn a weekend into a mini retreat to develop your brand and come up with a solid strategy to grow your business.
It can help you get out of creative rut and rekindle your excitement around your brand. And it’s a great way to outline a plan to greatly benefit your business over the coming months and years.
Related post: How to Stay Motivated in Your Creative Business
3 // Incorporate more self care into your routine.
Self-care can look like more time reading your favorite book, daily stretching and listening to music, extra time in prayer and in the Bible, or a face mask before bed. It can be exercising and working up a sweat, too (which is especially helpful If you’re feeling extra antsy).
Try a combination of active activities and calming ones to get out extra energy and to rest and recharge.
4 // Make your home a pleasant place to work.
Keep things tidy and running smoothly. Do a deep clean and organization of your workspace.
Purge the clutter that’s been accumulating in the corners.
Tidying things up makes space for clarity and creativity. Plus, when there’s less stuff to clean, you’re left with more time and energy to stay productive.
5 // Rearrange your furniture or freshen up your space.
Tired of staring at the same scenery all summer? Rearrange your furniture every few weeks to change things up and keep it feeling fresh.
Try moving your couch or desk to look out the window. Or hang new artwork on the walls. You might also might find a new favorite layout for your living room.
Related post: How to Create a Productive and Inspiring Workspace (at Home or in an Office)
6 // Stock up on more of your favorite food.
There’s nothing worse than trying to work and be productive when your stomach is growling for something tasty. Consider stocking up on a few of your favorite treats from the grocery store or getting some good eats delivered.
Or if you’re up for an outing mid-workday, try grabbing a quick and yummy meal with curbside pickup at your fave restaurant.
I also like to keep a stockpile of teas when I need something warm and comforting to drink.
7 // Go outside more often.
If you’re feeling cooped up, find creative ways to get outside in the fresh air. Take a stroll around your neighborhood, hit up the hiking trails, or go camping over the weekend.
On rainy days, a drive down your street is one way to get out of the house. And on nice days, try sitting outside to get some sunlight and breeze.
A regular change of scenery help you recharge, and Vitamin D is a great way to boost your mood, too.
8 // Work from the parking lot of your favorite coffee shop.
Miss getting a break from the house and working at your normal workspace in town?
Take a trip to your favorite coffee shop, and order your favorite drink from the drive through. Then, find an outdoor table or a shady spot in the parking lot and work from your car.
9 // Take breaks.
If the days are feeling long, try breaking them up into smaller chunks with free time in between. Instead of staring at all of the work you have to do, space it out, and reward yourself with breaks to stay refreshed.
Try taking frequent, short breaks. Or if breaks make it difficult to get back to work, try working in longer chunks with bigger breaks in between.
Figure out how you work best, or try a mixture of the two to change things up on the daily.
10 // Follow a daily routine.
At the start of isolation, I started to relax on my daily routines. But after a few months, it started to take its toll.
And it’s no surprise because structure does wonders for the mind. Not to mention, it’s essential for reaching goals.
So outline a routine for your day. The more flow you create in your day, the easier it is to be productive and stay on track. Try batching tasks or utilizing time blocking for your business work.
Related post: How to Effectively Use Time Blocking to Schedule Your Workweek
11 // Get up before your responsibilities to get a head-start on your day.
Few things boost motivation more than feeling productive and seeing results early-on in the day. Make it one of your work-from-home habits to stay ahead of the game.
One of the best ways to get work done is to schedule uninterrupted time to focus solely on your business tasks. So try waking up early enough to get business tasks done before you need to put your focus elsewhere and work on personal tasks.
What have you been doing to boost your motivation these days? Have you been stuck home during this crazy time of isolation? Have you been enjoying it? Or has it been a struggle? Let me know in the comments section!
