If your home – based business or job has begun to feel like the daily office grind that you thought that you were escaping when you made the switch to working at home, do not despair. It is inevitable that there will be days when your workday is less than stellar. That said, there are a few ways that you can do your best to make most of your work days pleasant.
As you sit down to work, remind yourself why you do what you do. Thinking about the big picture, like how you work from home in order to participate more fully in parenting your children or how you chose the work that you did because you wanted to make a difference in the world, can reconnect you to your sense of purpose. When you think about the big “whys” of why you do what you do, it seems a little easier to get out there and do it.
When you are tackling your work, be sure to prioritize your to – do list so that the most important things get done first. While they may not be the quickest things to get off of your plate or the easiest, they belong at the top of the list because they are important. You will not only get the important things done on time or ahead of time, you will feel so good that you did the things that you did that you will not feel as bad if you do not get too far on the rest of the list.
Speaking of to do lists, keep it reasonable. One of the keys to happiness at work is avoiding a feeling of being overloaded. Keep your to do list short, and take pride in working your way through it. You can always add more to it later, if you finish the few items that are on there. Doing “extra” things after finishing your short list on time can make you feel like a rock star. Another way to avoid feeling overloaded is to schedule yourself for shorter work days. Long days can leave you feeling fatigued, and you are not as productive during those long days because you are tired. Shorter days can be more productive if you go into them well rested and refreshed from not working overly long shifts at other times.
When you work from home, the line between work and home can become blurred. Keep the two separated in order to feel happier. When you go to work, go to work fully and completely. When you are done, turn off the computer, leave your home office, and do not go back to it until your next scheduled work session. Use your personal time to do things that are important to you, and make sure to get plenty of rest.
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