Going from an office job to self employed is a MAJOR transition. There are no classes in college that teach you about home office etiquette, how to monitor your distracting dog and balance your constant snack craving at the same time! When I left my 9-5 job 2 years ago I was ecstatic for the 10 step commute from my bedroom to my home office, but that excitement was quickly filled with frustration, mental fog and self doubt trying to stay productive at home! I’m willing to bet your normal work routine has been interrupted over the past few months… so here are a few tips to save that butt imprint in your couch and kick back into that motivation gear!

Sights & Scents:

Gosh this has been a game changer for me! When I originally transformed my guest bedroom into a home office, I had such a hard time getting inspired and staying on task. A few ways I turned this space into my work sanctuary included getting an oil defuser or lighting candles to create the most inviting smells! You will also want to surround yourself with objects and inspiration that provoke positive emotions! For me, this includes my desk plant and my favorite quote on the white board.

Eliminating Distractions:

This can FEEL IMPOSSIBLE if you are trying to manage kids, or dogs, or the latest Netflix thriller! I suggest trying to give yourself isolated work time, often times only listening to mellow music rather than a podcast or Greys Anatomy Rerun! My current favorite spotify playlists to keep the productive juices flowing are: “Fresh & Chill” and “Your Favorite Coffeehouse”. Since I have a 4 legged fur baby I also know which times of day he will be sound asleep, and block that off for really deep work, like content writing or client brainstorming! I know that it is absolutely impossible to have a productive work call from 3-4pm during his witching hour! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Declutter:

Not only should your energy be centered and focused towards your work, but having a clutter free desk space is HUGE for productivity. If you are creative brained like me, I can easily let the constant flow of doodles and sticky notes overtake my desk… although I KNOW exactly where to find my favorite pen among the clutter, that extra layer of papers and water bottles just adds to the stress of an already overwhelming schedule. I try to end every day but tidying up my desk and prepping my to-do list for the next day, so that my office if fresh and ready to start the next morning!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Natural Light:

You do not want this to feel like a corporate cubical…Finding an office space with natural light is KEY for productivity. It’s a great way to give myself an eye break every half hour and look outside. If you don’t have available space at your house to camp out near a window, make sure to step outside a few times throughout the day to let that Vitamin D boost productivity!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

This past year has brought on a whole other other level of isolation and has forced us all to find creative ways to get work done at home! Although i’m still dreaming of getting back a few work days at a local coffeeshop with the buzz of people, here are a few of my go-to WORK FROM HOME office essentials: ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– space heater or fan… (the noise is perfect for content writing days!) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– chapstick (in every room of the house) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– water bottle (with a lid ALWAYS)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– planner (Golden Coil is my go-to)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– external hard drive (Too many to count) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– candle or diffuser (major spa vibes!)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
– sticky notes (currently overtaking my desk) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What’s on your office essentials list? If you need a creative brain break today, spend 5 minutes searching out your dream home office on Pinterest. Are you going bright white and open shelving or dark and moody wood accents? Share your favorite inspo to your story and tag me so I can join in the excitement… Seriously we can manifest the perfect vibes together!

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