I’ve been working from home (as creative director for Braid Creative) for over four years. It’s not for everyone; a more extroverted person might find the solitude suffocating, but I love it. Even so, I still need to keep a few routines in place to keep me somewhat connected to the world—and to take advantage of some of the (major) perks of working from home.
Here are a few ways I make the most out of working from home:
Weekday errand-ing
After I discovered how much more chill it is to go grocery shopping during the weekdays, I’ve gone out of my way to avoid doing it on the weekends or after work. Shelves are usually better stocked, parking (or shopcart maneuvering) is easier, even the people working there seem happier. Appointments are usually easier to schedule during weekdays, too.
Cooking!
Breakfast, lunch, endless snacks: you’ve got the full force of your hopefully-well-stocked kitchen at your disposal, whenever you want it. No tupperware involved! (Unless, you know, there’s something easy in the fridge… it’s not an all-or-nothing game).
“Walking to work”
I’ve fallen out of this habit lately, but I used to “walk to work” every morning. I’d get up, get dressed, and take a quick walk around the block. I left my house, and came back to my office. It helped me wake up and phase into workday.
Embracing Daily Rituals
Sometimes, it’s just about the little things. Making the bed before you sit down to your desk, buying fresh flowers that you can see from your desk, brewing a cup (or whole pot!) of loose-leaf tea in the middle of the afternoon, lighting a candle to signal the start of the workday, even making a cocktail to signal the end of the workday. These small daily practices keep you in the moment, and keep your home and work time feeling as different as you want them to.
If you’re a type that’s suited to working from home, it’s probably less about work-life balance, and more about embracing your work-life blend. Realizing that you don’t have to play by the same old corporate rules, and that as long as you’re personally responsible enough to handle the “freedom” associated with working from home, you can make it work for you.
Any other working-from-home enthusiasts out there? Let us know in the comments how you make the most out of it.
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Written by: Liz Johnson
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I love being able to listen to opera while I work, burn incense, work in bare feet, eat lunch on my deck and do a little container gardening when I take my mid-morning break. When the day ends, I unplug the work line and allow voice mail to pick up so a ringing phone does not disturb the "private" part of my day/evening.
My Thursday (last work day of the week) evening ritual is to dust and tidy my desk and office machines and water my office plants before closing down for the weekend. As an introvert, I revel in not having co-workers walk into my office and sit, uninvited, while I try to retain my concentration and sanity. I keep in touch via Skype and instant messages and feel like I have gotten my sanity and my life back.
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