Do you work alone, remotely, or both? If so, you know it can be difficult to stay productive and motivated. When you’re working by yourself, it’s important to have a good routine and mindset that will help you thrive. But creating that routine is easier said than done.
In this blog post, I will tell you exactly what I do that helps me when work on my own. Try out some of my tips and see if they help you stay productive, motivated, and happy while working alone!
Create Your Workspace
When creating a workspace, it is important to create an environment that caters specifically to you. Scent, humidity, lighting and sound — the elements work together to influence how work gets done.
If you work alone, setting up the workspace according to what would work best for your mood can be beneficial. Sometimes just starting off by listening to your preferred music or sounds can make a big difference. I, personally am a fan of ChillHop and Calmed by Nature.
Put some thought into what works for you — do you work best with aromatic oils diffusing in the air or with dimmer lights? Everything from the decorations in the room to small details, like having access to snacks, should be considered when creating an effective workspace.
For me, I don’t like bright lights, especially in the morning. I typically don’t turn on my lights and rely on my small window. I turn on my humidifier and place my coffee and whatever I brought as a light breakfast on my desk. Chapstick? Check. Hand lotion? Check. Am I cold, hot, or comfortable? I’m comfortable (I keep a heater in my office at all times). Check.
Let’s start today’s battle.
Start Slow
Starting my workday slowly is key to keeping me productive throughout the day. I’m not a morning person, so starting my day off in a stressed and rushed place often really throws me off my game. I try not to schedule meetings in the mornings, especially first thing in the morning.
I love sitting down with a cup of coffee and taking my first work moments alone to work through any emails and review progress on projects. It helps me to recall where I was the last time I left off, which helps to minimize things slipping through the cracks.
This ritual helps to prepare me for the work ahead in a way that is less stressful and allows me to observe things clearly with fresh eyes from a calm place. Taking this time for myself before taking on more work has greatly improved my work performance mentally as well as helped kept me in control of my workday.
Pick Two Goals aka Enemies
Your workload can sometimes feel like a struggle when you work alone. There’s no shortage of work, so there are always things to do. My strategy is to set myself two achievable goals for the day. Why? Well, having two goals seems more manageable and possible than ten goals.
By focusing on two goals intensely instead of tackling multiple work challenges at once, I feel I have more focus, control, and motivation because the goals are achievable.
Every time I complete a goal, I feel empowered, which gives me a massive boost in productivity and mood. By the end of the week, if you complete at least two bigger goals a day, you’ll have achieved those ten goals.
For me, as an anime fan, I think of it more like each task is an enemy to defeat. Regardless of whether the enemy I face is easy or more challenging than expected, I will not surrender. After all, as the hero of this story, there is no other option but success!
It’s my way of making my day seem more fun, but it’s also how I view administrative work. We are all heroes! …Just saying.
Take Your Full Lunch Break
Taking a full lunch hour is one of the best things I can do to break away from work each day.
As much as I hate admitting it, I’m really terrible at remembering to take my lunch. But when I do, I’m sure as hell about to take the entire hour and not cut it short. The point is to completely step away from work and clear your mind.
For me, this means watching a show on Netflix, knitting something, reading a book or a magazine, or writing in my journal. Do something that brings you joy during your lunch break. Maybe it’s a crossword, scrolling social media, or reading an article.
Even though it’s nice to talk with people during lunch, sometimes, as an introvert, I often find that conversation feels like work, too. So, I usually prefer just having some time alone with myself.
Taking that full lunch hour makes all the difference to combat work fatigue and feeling re-energized for the rest of the workday!
Conclusion
Working alone can be tough, but there are ways to help make the process easier. Setting up an environment that you feel productive and comfortable in, starting your days slowly, and limiting yourself to two goals are all helpful tips.
Taking a proper break can also help to make sure you come back to your work feeling refreshed and energized. Spending your lunch hour doing something enjoyable or relaxing can help you truly take advantage of your time away from work.
Working alone doesn’t have to be an exercise in monotony and frustration; following a few simple steps can allow anyone to set themselves up for success.
Now that I’ve shared what works for me, what do you do day-to-day to manage working by yourself? How can you share some of these strategies with others who may benefit from them?
Featured Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash
