3 Doable Work-from-Home Tips to Keep You Productive and Sane

In one fell swoop, everything changed. Who would have thought, after seven months, most of us will still be hunkering down and limiting our movements to fight a raging virus?

For interior designers like you, this period is challenging, especially since you find yourself working from home more often than you should. How do you keep yourself productive and, most of all, sane?

I’ve got the best tips for you!

1. Set Your Boundaries

I am talking about boundaries at all fronts. For example, you still need to separate your professional and personal life. You should also stop people from encroaching your private time.

Granted, setting boundaries is easier said than done, but you can always begin with these ideas:

·         Dress the part. I find wearing my work clothes helps me “get in the zone,” so to speak. It reminds me of my time in the office, where I am most productive. You can also picture it as your costume when you’re doing a role. Once you take it off, then your personal life resumes.

·         Set a working schedule. How long do you usually work in your office? Stick to it at home. If you’re having a hard time planning with the extra responsibilities, such as taking care of the children or cooking food, then adjust accordingly. But by all means, practice consistency.

·         Don’t let anyone disturb your flow. In the concept of ikigai, a person who loves what they’re doing will find themselves in the flow. It’s when time and space seem to cease to exist, and all your attention and passion are focused on what you’re doing. The flow can last for several hours or not, but it’s prime time to produce the best output. That’s why you should not let anyone disturb you when you’re at it.

·         Learn to say no. Usually, when you’re working from home, the line that separates personal and work life becomes blurry. You may check your emails before you go to sleep or even schedule Zoom meetings over the weekend. You may entertain client requests when you’re supposed to be on a break. Go the extra mile – always – but never spread yourself thin even when you’re spending more time at home.

2. Use Tech to Your Advantage

If there’s one thing you’re lucky to have, it’s the fact that you have access to hundreds of excellent tools, from apps to sites, that will help you stay productive and manage your projects well. This is even if you’re working with a lot of people or team. Here are some of my favorites:

·         Zoom, Google Meet, or Skype for client and team meetings, webinars, client onboarding, and presentations

·         Pinterest for curation of design inspirations, which you can then share to your clients

·         Social media from Facebook and Instagram for market engagement

·         Website for online digital marketing strategies

·         Slack for collaboration

·         Google Drive or Dropbox for cloud-based storage and file organization

·         Pomodoro for better time management

·        Autoresponders for email marketing

·        Trello for project management

3. Get Help

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, you need an incredible team to support you especially in these difficult times:

For one, we’re here to help you with core aspects of your business, particularly branding and public relations. We have several years’ experience in the field and have built great partnerships with various companies in the publishing and advertising industry. We can bring your work closer to your targeted audience even when you’re working from home.

You can also receive assistance from your friends and family. For example, you can divide chores between your partner or allow the children to make their bed or prep themselves breakfast. I believe that little things can all add up to big ones.

Lastly, coordinate with your suppliers and contractors, if you have any. Use the different tech options I mentioned a while ago for meetings and other discussions.

4.  Manage Your Stress

When you’re thrown in a scenario you’re not familiar with, usually, anxiety creeps in. You stress level shoots up, and when it becomes uncontrolled, it won’t be long before you feel the burnout. Burnout leads to unproductivity, dissatisfaction, disengagement, and unhappiness.

Learn to manage your stress. The good news is it’s not as difficult as people think!

·         Play your favorite music anytime.

·         Spend at least 20 minutes in the morning outdoors.

·         Grow some plants, cook or bake – pursue your old or new hobbies and interests.

·         Watch Netflix and chill.

·         Learn not to sweat the small stuff.

·         Reward yourself with a glass of wine.

·         Enjoy a bubble bath.

Managing an interior design business in the middle of the pandemic is not a walk in the park, but it is doable. Yes, you can still be successful, thrive, and even grow what you started even when you’re working from home. And while you’re still keeping busy despite the changes in the new-normal work structure, you definitely still can showcase your services through the press. That’s right! Let’s talk about it. Schedule for free consultation with us ASAP.