I’d say that for the past 7ish years, my office has been my home. When I was working in my 9-5 job, towards the end, I had shifted from a direct care provider to a case manager (creating treatment plans, meetings with the country about services being provided, a lot of phone consultations, etc…) which allowed me to work from home significantly more than in my earlier years. When I shifted and my blog became my job, that meant everything was “work from home.” That being said, over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about working from home efficiently (distractions included… not that two kiddos is distracting at all…). Given the state of where our country is at the moment, with many people being told to work from home, I thought I’d share a few of those tips below, since it’s unchartered territory for many…

TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME

Keep Your Schedule: I always treat each day as if I’m going into a office.. and I did this when I worked for a company. That means I wake up at 5:45am, workout, eat breakfast, and then get the girls ready as well. And while I don’t work traditional 8-5 hours, I do have my days time blocked out to maximize productivity. I think creating routine + structure, just like what would be expected in an office setting sets you up for success. This also means having an end point to your day as well. When you work from home it’s easy to let the work/life balance slip… so deciding a start + stop point, and sticking to it, allows for healthy boundaries.

Get Ready: I always find that taking a shower, putting on a little bit of makeup, combing my hair, and getting dressed makes a huge difference in shifting the mindset from “weekend” mode to “work day” mode. I also think having pieces that work for “work mode” and “off duty” mode is super helpful. Banana Republic offers so many wonderful pieces to fit this bill. I recently got this jumpsuit, and the fit + material makes it perfect for a casual work environment + weekend wear as well (a silky soft feel). Pair it with this amazing blazer for the office + then this cream utility jacket + slide sandals for a spring weekend look (it would also work with a leather or denim jacket too….). The blazer works with boyfriend jeans + this cute pima cotton boxy tee (super soft, with a perfect touch of stretch) with sneakers for a fun off-duty look. And I love these high waisted tapered trouser pants as an alternative to denim. Toss it on with an oversized sweater + sandals for the weekend… making it perfectly on trend.

Take Breaks: Just like you would at work, get up, walk around, get some fresh air, text a friend, but do it in a well defined “break” time. I always find that when I know I have a break coming up, I’m able to complete the task at hand and not get as easily distracted.

Create The Right Atmosphere: While this isn’t always possible due to the fact that everyone’s home is different, creating a “work” environment is helpful. A spot that is relatively free from distractions would obviously be ideal. Possibly putting on some mellow music, diffusing a calming scent, and having the appropriate lighting all help to set you up for success when work needs to be done at home.

So, whether you’re new to working from home, or have been for years but it’s never been easy, hope these tips can help a little!
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(Outfit 1 || Jumpsuit (comes in petite + regular sizes) | Blazer)
(Outfit 2 || Pants (petite + regular sizes) | Tee)

Thank you to Banana Republic for sponsoring this post