Working from home is amazing, and it is the goal or dream of many girls working in fashion. You’re basically your own boss and that brings on a lot of advantages such as choosing your own hours, your clients, the workload you take on and how you dress. But apart from all the benefits, there are a lot of pitfalls when being your own boss. You need a big amount of self-discipline and sometimes it’s just so hard to motivate yourself and being productive. Without anyone to work with, it can get quite lonely and distractions are literally everywhere!
But no worries! Here’s our list of “do-to’s” for all you girl bosses out there.
Hello Morning!
How you start your mornings will very likely affect the rest of your day in terms of productivity and getting your work done. Getting the most out of the start of your day is so important! First of all, successful people wake up early and don’t sleep until noon. That doesn’t mean you have to drag yourself out of bed at 5 AM, define for yourself what time is good for you. Late mornings can create bad habits and drastically reduce results, but remember that it’s fine to sleep in on your days off! Sleep is also very important so don’t deprive yourself of a good night rest (and beauty sleep!).
Start your day by breathing in some fresh air and open your windows to refresh your house. Spike your energy and go for a good morning run, a yoga session or a fitness class, whatever you enjoy the most. Exercise should be seen as a way to relax and get energy, not as a punishment.
After a good workout comes a balanced, healthy and good breakfast. Pick something that gives you enough energy to last until lunchtime rather than something light. Oatmeal is a good option and include fresh fruit as well, you’ll need those vitamins for battling the work.
Clean Desk
Our second item on the list is creating a clean and organised environment to work on. We believe that the state of your desk reflects your state of mind, if you have a messy desk full of pens, papers and other things, it’s very unlikely for everything to be organised in your mind. You don’t need a full office in order to make it to the top, create a good place with a clean desk and a comfortable office chair. Choose an area that’s bright, open and has a lot of fresh air.
The area where you work, whether it’s an office or a desk should be used only for work stuff and not for other things such as watching movies or binge-watching Netflix. Keep these separate. If doing this you’ll automatically feel like working when you’re at your desk because it will be a habit (and a good one!).
Prints are a great source of inspiration and motivation. Is great to have some on your desk or on the wall next to your desk to motivate yourself. We released our latest pink motivational prints collection, you need to check it out
Dress for success
Although you’re your own boss and there’s no specific dress code, we really recommend not to work in your sweatpants and hoodie. Getting ready just like you would for an office job helps to motivate you and will make you feel like a real lady boss. That doesn’t mean you have to wear high heels but dress in a stylish yet comfortable look ready to tackle your work.
We truly believe that wearing an outfit you love will improve your work that day as you’ll feel like a real entrepreneur!
Routine & Schedule
Now this is probably the item on our list that is the most important to follow in order to be productive and get the most out of your day.
Firstly, when we talk about making a schedule we’re talking about creating a weekly or monthly (up to you) calendar with the tasks you need to work on, what your deadlines are and important things you need to tackle. Creating a good schedule for your work week has more than one benefit. First of all it will help you to have a structure in your work and in your mind,  you’ll have a clear view of what you need to work on throughout the week. Secondly, it will allow you to optimally manage your time and stop wasting valuable time. Last but not least a schedule will give you a clear view of your different tasks and which ones you should prioritize. We’ll promise you’ll never miss a deadline again by doing it this way!
Working from home has the great benefit of no one telling you when to be at your desk, except for yourself! Now this is where it’s important to have a lot of self-discipline and set yourself a daily time of when you want to be at your desk and start working. This is really the key to creating a good work day and be very productive. A steady routine is necessary or you’ll probably just be doing this and that without a clear goal.
Break it up
Taking breaks at the right time is crucial in order to get the most out of working from home. Don’t expect to be able to work for 5 hours straight and not lose your mind. Treat yourself every hour or so and take a short break. Go and get some fresh air and go for a walk, play with your dog or cat, meet a friend for lunch or do a quick workout. Take a break for a minimum of 5 minutes, but don’t take a break of 3 hours, going back to work after that can be really hard!
Taking breaks is a great way to re-energize your mind and body and you’ll be amazed by what great ideas and inspiration come to your mind while taking a walk in the park. But don’t take a break in the middle of something you are working on – treat yourself once this particular task is done and when you’re back from your break you can start something new.
Don’t forget to disconnect once in a while and enjoy your weekends. Working all day, every day isn’t healthy for your body nor mind. Make sure to take at least 1 day off per week, but it’s still fine to check a few minor things on your day off.
… and finally:
Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water during the day or treat yourself with a coffee now and then. Try to stay focused and put your phone away as it will only distract you when you’re working on something. Checking your Instagram feed is not a priority and it probably won’t help you to run your business (unless you need it for work of course!)
Working at home is also the perfect opportunity to take some time to educate yourself. With so many online courses out there, it’s perfect to learn new things every week. Meet up with other home working lady bosses and share ideas, struggles and goals. You’ll notice that people have the same hurdles like you and together it’s easier to overcome them than by yourself.
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Words Virginie Dardenne
