Many of us are expert multitaskers, juggling a full time job, family, blogging, running a craft business, and so much more. That’s why it can be so essential for us to stay focused and get to business when we make that time to work on business. I know that for me it takes some effort and planning to really get right down to business instead of dilly-dallying when I’m supposed to be working. I just get too easily distracted by everything (Pinterest anyone?). So for me, personally, I’ve had to come up with a few steps that get me focused.
- Create a designated work space and keep it organized. Working from the couch may seem appealing, but it also comes with a million distractions – t.v., laying down for a second, etc. Don’t get sucked into it! Create a space that is meant just for work. This will help narrow your focus when in that space and it will let you feel more relaxed on the couch because you’ll actually be able to get away from work. Once you’ve created that work space, you’ll need to organize it. I will find any reason possible to procrastinate, especially if I don’t feel like doing something in that moment. To avoid this need as much as possible, I have to make sure I keep my work space organized and free of clutter. This also makes finding notebooks, tools, supplies, and everything else easier when I need them.
- Keep what you need handy. Is it going to be a long day of crafting? Keep snacks handy. This will reduce the urge to wander in to the kitchen and get distracted. Is today dedicated to managing your books? Make sure you have all the essential supplies – calculator, notebooks, inventory – right next to you. Making necklaces? Bring all your supplies to your work area before you start. This may sound so simple, but trust me, the expert dilly-dallier, it will help you save time when you don’t have to go back to your craft box to look for that one pair of pliers.
- Shower and put clothes on. If working from home is the only kind of working you are doing that day, it may be tempting to stay in your p.j.’s. Don’t give in! You will already feel like you’ve gotten a head start on your day if you shower and get dressed before getting started.
- Find your zone. For me this means some mindless t.v. show playing in the background that I’ve seen a million times before and therefore don’t have to pay attention to. For you this could mean listening to music while you work or even working in total silence. Whatever the thing is, it should motivate you and keep you focused. That way if you want to get distracted for a second, you can stare or listen and then remember that you have work to do.
- Set time limits. For those of us working from home, it can sometimes feel like we never escape work. Remember to relax! I know we all want to do it all, but it’s important to take some me-time every now and then. Set some time limits for yourself and stick to them. It’ll also help you stay focused knowing that you only have 2 hours to get everything you need to do today done.
It’s not easy, but it is do-able. Another thing that I always have to remind myself is “there’s always tomorrow”. Unless it’s time sensitive, whatever you didn’t finish can wait until tomorrow. That necklace will have to go unseen one more day before you list it on Etsy because tonight you need sleep.
How do you stay motivated when working from home?
Here are a few more articles with tips on working from home:
How to Work from Home
7 Tips for Working from Home with Kids
9 Productivity Tips for Working From Home
5 Real Tips for Working from Home
7 Tips for Working from Home with Kids
9 Productivity Tips for Working From Home
5 Real Tips for Working from Home
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Sometimes I really struggle with staying motivated. I might get tired and find it hard to work. If I worked outside the home I would have to work even if I was tired so not sure why I have that trouble at home.
I have a room dedicated to my jewelry and crafts. I have been working on getting it more organized finally. Not that I didn’t know where things were, it was just a big mess and I would have to pick up things before starting a project. My problem is taking time to relax. My kids and husband always telling me to take it easy and relax. But that’s really hard for me. I am the type of person that just can’t sit still. I always have to be doing something. I have a full time job so when I get home I want to squeeze in as much as possible. Guess I need to learn how to set limits and Relax (-; Thanks for sharing.
I use a method similar to when I was in management…keep a calendar on line or a portable time managment book. Schedule yourself to work; ie 0800-1100, housework, 1100-1300 lunch (with friends?) 1pm to 5pm creative work time.
Schedule one day for errands, supplies, doctors appts, etc. At 5pm you are done with day to dedicate to family or yourself. I am very productive this way.
For years I made all kinds of crafts and sold them at flea markets. Problem people didnt want to pay what I had in my crafts. They always wanted to barrer. Finally I had to stop. I would like to learn how to make a profit.
Hi Mary, people are always going to try to haggle at craft fairs, it’s just the nature of the beast. I would suggest selling other places besides craft fairs or set a price higher than what you expect to be making and when someone tries to haggle with you, you can work them down to the price you actually expected to make for your work. I hope that helps! Good luck!