Happy, happy Tuesday, friends!
It’s another edition of SHAY’S WAYS!
I guess I kind of did this backwards because in June of 2022, I posted my 21 KEYS FOR WORKING FROM HOME {SUMMER EDITION}, but today, I’m posting my 17 KEYS FOR WORKING FRM HOME {SCHOOL YEAR EDITION}. Working from home is very similar and yet very different depending on if my four kiddos are home or not. I think it was last week’s TUESDAY TOUR (where I shared my home office and discussed how I work during the day) that encouraged/inspired today’s post.
So, grab yourself a cup of coffee, turn on French Cafe Radio on Pandora and settle in while I spill the beans on how I work from home. These are my “keys” to making working from home work well for me…keys honed after 15+ years of trial and error. I might be getting better and better at working from home, but there is still room for improvement, so I hope you share your tips and tricks in the comment section as well 🙂 .
In no particular order, here we go:
#1: A SOLID TO DO LIST EVERY DAY
The last thing I do every day before I “leave” work is write out my to do list for the following day. I keep a little spiral notepad on my desk, and I’ll flip over to a fresh sheet, write tomorrow’s date at the top and then on the left hand side, I will write out my entire to do list for the day including anything I need to do for work and/or anything else I need to do during my work hours. I get really specific on this list. On the right hand side of the same piece of paper, I write out times and appointments. I look at my calendar for the next day and then I put everything from my workout class to phone calls I have scheduled with clients, if my kid has a dentist appointment, if we have soccer that night…it all goes on the right hand side. I do this for two reasons. First, I do it so that I am reminded/fully aware of every single commitment we have for the next day (even commitments before and after work) and then the second reason is that by having both columns, this allows me to easily…
#2: EDIT, EDIT, EDIT
Most of the time, I do a good enough job with my calendar that I don’t need to heavily edit my “to do” list column, but after writing down both, it makes it easy for me to look back at the left hand side and start marking off things that I know I will not have adequate time do to/aren’t as important/will only cause me more stress if I try to keep them on my list the following day. Seeing both my “to do”s and my actual calendar makes it much easier for me to edit, edit, edit the following day.
#3: HAVING A VERY ORGANIZED CALENDAR
Whether you work from home or an office or work inside the home, I think there is great value in a very organized calendar. Andrew and I use the Cozi Family Calendar app for everything. I love this app! I blogged about it in detail HERE should you be interested. I also still use my paper Erin Condren Life Planner too. I just like having both a digital calendar for convenience but also a paper one as my eyes and brain work better when I actually use pen and paper and write things down.
#4: HAVE OFFICIAL OFFICE HOURS
I think a big key to working for home is having set and official office hours. When I have official office hours, it makes it easier for me to know when to start/stop working. This was one of the biggest problems I had when I first started working from home…I didn’t know when to “stop”. For years, I worked in our laundry room and anytime I walked by/had a free moment, I would stop and check my email or do a little work. This meant, I was constantly in “work mode” and never turning my brain off. It also meant that I would miss family time/be late because I stopped to check an email only to get sucked into something throwing a wrench into my existing plans. I work so much more efficiently when I have solid blocks of time rather than popping in and out of work. Of course, there are always days when things don’t go as planned, but for the most part, I know every day what time I’m starting and what time I’m stopping.
#5: I DON’T STOP TO DO CHORES.
I made this a New Year’s resolution a few years ago, and it’s been so beneficial. I decided that I would stop doing chores during the day. I used to think “well, I’m home, so I will do that load of laundry, empty that dishwasher, run a vacuum through the living room, etc”, but then it hit me…Andrew is super, super helpful around the house, but never one time has he come home from work to move the laundry from the washing machine to the dryer. Why would he? He’s at work. He’s happy to help me with the laundry before/after work, but he would think it was insane if I asked him to stop selling insurance and come home to empty the dishwasher. He’s at work! I needed to stop interrupting my own work day with chores too. I will do them before/after work, but I don’t do them while I’m at work any longer. That same year, I also made this resolution…
#6: I TRY NOT TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING.
I used to make appointments first thing in the morning because, hello? I’m a morning person! If I had that dentist appointment or dermatologist appointment, I would make them for early in the morning because it just felt right…until I realized that I am a morning person which means I work most productively in the AM, so I should spend that time working and then go to the dentist at the end of my work day. I feel so much more relaxed heading to the dentist at 2:00 knowing my emails are caught up, my phone calls have been made, and I’ve had a very productive morning already. This was another game-changer for me. Early morning appointments made me feel behind all day long, but now afternoon appointments make me feel like I’ve already accomplished so much.
#7: MY OWN WORK SPACE
I don’t care how big or how small, having a work space where you have all of the supplies you need at hand and you’re organized is invaluable when working from home. On Nantucket…
…I typically work from the kitchen counter out of…
…my big Bogg Bag, and it worked so well! I had my notepads, calculator, highlighters and pens, my folders and all of the other supplies I need to work each day (including chargers!) in one bag. I was never having to stop and hunt for things, never wondering where I had set my notepad, it was all there. Whether you have an entire office or you just move around, having all of your work things together makes working from home so much easier.
#8: WAKE UP EARLY
Yup. I find that waking up early always helps me have a better day at work. If I’m up early then that means I’ve had time to do all of the other “things” at home before starting my work day. If I sleep in, then that laundry, that workout, making my bed, etc hang over my head as I start my work day. Getting up early is just always a good idea.
#9: WORKOUT BEFORE WORK
Just last Monday, I broke this rule and thought I’d get in an afternoon run instead of an early morning one because it was supposed to be a beautiful afternoon. Terrible, terrible, terrible idea. At 4:30, I was tired, way behind schedule and on a walk talking to Sheaffer on the phone laughing about how literally everything that could have gone wrong did and my dumb idea for an afternoon run had turned into a quick brisk walk while chatting with her. I workout before work 99% of the time and 100% of the time, I’m happy I did it.
#10: UTILIZE DO NOT DISTURB ON YOUR PHONE
You guys, I love using “do not disturb” on my phone during my work day. You can add contacts into the list on your phone that always “interrupt” your DND time. For instance, if Andrew, my kids, my parents or my team members reach out to me, it automatically notifies me even if my phone is in DND mode. Some days, I’ll add certain clients or other people, but for the most part, it’s only those few that “always” break through. This helps me out TREMENDOUSLY as that means my phone isn’t always interrupting me with every little notification. Even if your phone is on silent, those darn notifications can make it light up like a Christmas tree all day long, and at least for me, that is very, very distracting. I use DND to really stay focused while I work from home.
#11: TAKE A LUNCH BREAK
My lunch breaks aren’t long most days, but I always take one. Most of the time, I bet they’re only about 15 or 20 minutes, but I leave my office, get something to eat, grab a drink and maybe watch a show for a minute on my phone and always step away. I also always try…
#12: GET SOME FRESH AIR
…to get some fresh air during my “lunch” too. Some days, I put on my coat and go outside with my dogs while they run around, other times, I’m able to sneak in a quick little walk or my favorite is when it’s nice enough to actually get to eat my lunch outside. No matter what I do, I always try and get some fresh air and sunshine when I work from home.
#13: SET THE TONE WITH MUSIC AND SCENT
Andrew and my kids laugh at me, but anytime I work, I turn on my “work music” or one of my “work from home movies” and light a Magic Candle Company candle in my office. These two things always signal my brain that it is indeed time to work. It can be 6:30 in the morning and up in my office, you’ll smell that candle and hear French music (or Crazy Rich Asians) on in the background. Those two things just set the tone for “time to work”!
#14: GET DRESSED FOR THE DAY
Even if I’m only getting dressed in athletic wear, I’m never sorry that I showered and got dressed for work. Even if I’m home by myself and won’t see anyone outside of the other five Shulls that day, taking a shower, putting on something besides my pjs or the clothes I worked out in the day before energizes me for sitting down to work. It also really helps me transition to “work” mode.
#15: JUST SAY NO
Did you see my post yesterday? I say no a lot. I think when we work from home, people often have this expectation that our schedule is more free than if we were in a brick and mortar. I have to say “no” a lot so that when I say “yes”, I’m able to give my 100%. Like I said yesterday, this means saying no to weekly Bible studies, volunteering a lot at my kids’ schools or even telling Andrew “No, even though I’m at home, I can’t take an hour to talk to the HVAC guy. He’s going to need to come when I’m off of work or you’ll need to come home from your office to talk to him.”. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean I’m sitting around with a bunch of free time. Saying no means saying a better yes.
#16: I *TRY* TO ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS.
I try really hard to stay focused and eliminate distractions when I’m working from home. This means silencing my phone, using Do Not Disturb, turning off the television (unless it’s a mindless movie I use as background noise…but even then, I often just want it off), not bringing things like laundry into my work space or my book or a really good magazine. When I’m at my desk, I try to be super, super focused.
#17: WHEN YOU HAVE LITTLE KIDS, JUST DO YOUR BEST
Awwwww…and yes, you guys…I’ve been working at home since I had infants and guess what? IT WAS SO MUCH HARDER! Right now, working from home is so easy because I have hours and hours to myself every single day while my kiddos are in school. When I had younger kids at home, I worked less. I also worked earlier/later/a lot on the weekends and during naptime. I had to be super, super, super flexible and give myself a ton of grace as it wasn’t just me…it was me and a bunch of children at home. If you’re working from home with small kids, that’s a totally different ballgame than what I’m doing now. It’s more similar to my WORKING FROM HOME {SUMMER EDITION} post, so you might want to head there and read those keys. Give yourself grace. Lots of it.
And those are my 17 KEYS FOR WORKING FROM HOME {SCHOOL YEAR EDITION}!
I know so many of you also work from home, so I would LOVE to read your tips in the comment section too!! I am positive you ladies have tips that I need to incorporate into my own life. Please comment and share!
In the meantime, don’t forget, I have so many other SHAY’S WAYS you can check out as well. Just look:
25 Keys to a Peaceful Morning
22 Keys to making Fall Cozy
19 Key Fall Kitchen Essentials
18 Keys to Prepping for a Trip
14 Keys to Simplify BACK TO SCHOOL
21 Keys to Savoring Summer
21 Keys for Working at Home {Summer Edition}
25 Keys to Outdoor Summer Entertaining
25 Keys to Maintaining our Yard
17 Keys to my Holiday Prep
11 Keys to a Cozy Winter
9 Keys to Returning from a Trip
12 Keys to Leaving Your Kiddos When You Travel
13 Keys to Meal Planning
8 Keys to Creating Daily Routines You Love
21 Keys to Elevating the Everyday
13 Keys to Managing Jet Lag
9 Keys to a Cozy Halloween Night
19 Keys to Hosting Festive & Easy Holiday Parties
12 Keys to Adding Activity into the Everyday
Thank you in advance for your tips below!
I hope you all have the BEST Tuesday!! xx
Elspeth says
I love your Shay’s ways posts! Although i work in an office I can definitely use some of these tips! Have a great Tuesday!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Sheaffer says
Great tips! I know you are extremely productive when you sit down to work, so I know I need to adopt a couple of these tips myself.
Kelly M Sites says
Happy Tuesday! Another super killer blog post. Love stuff like this.
Mix and Match Mama says
You are too, too kind. Thank you! xx
Sue says
Do you give a review of the Magic Candle Company’s candles? Thanks for answering this question. I’m a retired teacher and have more time at home to read and relax!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love their candles so much! I haven’t ever tried a scent that I don’t love but Beach Club, Yacht Club, The Grand Floridian and H2O are my faves. I really love them all though!
Jenn says
Love the to-do list tip with work stuff as well as all the other things that are happening that day! Last year (for only a short time), I followed one of your tips to make a to-do list before being done with work for the day and it was so helpful! My brain is always so full at the end of the day but by morning, I worry that I’ve forgotten to include something so I’m going to commit to setting myself up for success before leaving work for the day!
I also love that you use multiple planners/calendars/apps! My husband jokingly asked how many calendars I kept track of, and the list was slightly ridiculous. Google calendar (so he knows where to be), paper planner so I can keep myself on track, family wall calendar (so our girls have an idea of plans) and my monthly meal planning calendar (love your idea to plan a month at a time)! It’s a lot but helps keep us all in the right places. Thank you for your great ideas, I find myself incorporating them often!
Grace says
Shay! Great blog post today. I want to start working from home with a re-selling business on Poshmark and eBay. I am in the process of listing and organizing it and figuring it out as I go along. I got so many good tips that I could incorporate with this blog post, and I feel more focused now going into it. I understand that re-selling is different from what you do, but the tips on managing my time more efficiently were a game changer. I will find my candle scent, and I love listening to jazz music on YouTube when working on the listings. Thank you so much for this post!
Mix and Match Mama says
Sending you so much love and wishing you the best luck on this new venture!!
Rachel Kinneberg says
How do you not have two monitors? Its life changing for work! Also, do you utlize task list feature in Microsoft Office? I love that feature as you can set up items that need to be done daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. I also will write hand written to do lists as well as the visual on my desk near keyboard helps a ton. Also, love the Cozi Calendar.
Mix and Match Mama says
Andrew asks me that all the time. I use my macbook as my second “monitor” (I put it on my desk and look at both). Maybe I do nee another one? I want my work life changed!
Laura says
To piggy back off of this monitor comment, I highly recommend getting a portable second monitor for you in Nantucket. Work provided me a Dell (that works with my Macbook) but I bought my son an Amazon cheap-o version and they both work great! His is brighter/uses more of my battery but also has an HDMI cord so he could potentially use it with some gaming things. They weigh nothing so I keep mine in my work bag all the time. It’s a game changer for when I’m outside of my cubicle and away from my big Mac monitor!
K.K. says
I you are right, but I’m the one person in the office that refuses a second monitor! I know it would be so good in some ways, but I think I might feel a little too “surrounded” by technology. 😉
Emily says
I love this! Thanks for sharing. I would love a post about your phone and DND mode. Are others notified when your phone is like this? How do you create this list? Is there a way for people to “break through” that aren’t on your list? Etc.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! There is a blue icon that tells me when my phone is in DND mode. To add people to my list, I go to settings-focus-do not disturb-and then you an add contacts right there who “break through” and yes, people can still see that my DND is on and push through should it be urgent.
Priscilla says
Hi Shay! I have been trying (unsuccessfully) to find a previous post you wrote where you spoke about how it is absolutely possible to find a career that you love and to not settle for anything less. I remember reading that and feeling very encouraged. I would like to read it and be reminded of that again now 😊 If you could please help point me in the right direction of that post I would so very much appreciate it. Thank you for everything! You and this blog have inspired me tremendously over the years.
Mix and Match Mama says
Agh! I have been looking, but I must have said it in a post that was about something else…I’ll keep looking!
Natasha says
I’m wondering if it’s this post: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2022/08/fifteen-years-2/
Carissa says
Hi! Could it be this one that was titled “Fifteen years.”
https://mixandmatchmama.com/2022/08/fifteen-years-2/
Hope it is!
Mix and Match Mama says
THANK YOU!!!!
Sarah Madsen says
I love utilizing ‘sleep’ mode on my phone at bedtime and then DND for workouts and such to really focus. I get nervous about ‘work’ mode but today I bit the bullet and did it. I included my parents, bosses, closest coworkers, and boyfriend in case of emergencies. Looking forward to seeing the results of not seeing everything!
Mix and Match Mama says
I hope you find it helpful too! Have the best day!
Tricia says
Yay for candles from Magic Candle Company! We burn them regularly at our house. 🙂
Kelly Bonner says
Love posts like these!
Erin Ressler says
I’m also going to chime in with the second monitor comment. I feel like I’m soo less productive when I’m not using my second screen. With all the tabs and spreadsheets you use, a second screen would change your life/work productivity!! It’s so nice to have email pulled up on one and whatever I’m working on the second. That way, I don’t feel tempted to click and change view everytime an email comes in. Idk, just super helpful! Order one…now!
Beth Hall says
1. Sit at a desk or kitchen table, NOT the couch or bed!
2. Run an errand on lunch break to get out of the house.
3. Wear a bra and some kind of footwear/slippers to signal to your brain that you are working. (Makeup and decent clothing may help).
4. Go to a third space to work when you feel cooped up. Coffee shop, library, etc. You may get more done being around people.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes, yes, yes and YES!! Beth, I could not AGREE more!!! I loved this!