Are you challenged with staying productive while everyone is home?

If you are like me, you used to be the only one in the house during the day. Now with self-isolation, in the age of the Coronavirus, everyone is home – and the dynamic has changed.

Let’s face it: It can be challenging to stay productive when you’re home alone. Add a spouse, children, and the family pet – and you may feel like you’re in a three-ring circus.

In this week’s marketing strategy, I want to share some tips on how you can stay productive while everyone is home. Even implementing one of these strategies will help. Stay open and do your best. Imperfect action is better than no action, especially when it comes to productivity.

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Need help being more productive while everyone is in your house (thanks, Coronavirus!)? Be sure to check out these four tips!

#1: Create time blocks and schedules

To be productive, you need blocks of time when you’re working on your business (and not doing other stuff).

I recommend creating Office Hours. You can establish your Office Hours on your terms (that’s the joy of being an entrepreneur!).

For example, you could start work later to get your kids situated with their schoolwork. Or, perhaps you start work at 5am before everyone wakes up. Create your time blocks, put them on your calendar, and communicate them to your housemates. Consider making a sign, and hanging it on your office door or attaching to the back of your desk chair.

When you’re in your time block, be disciplined and only work on your business. Your time blocks are sacred, and should not be scheduled over or interfered with.

#2: Establish physical boundaries around your workspace

If you work in a room with a door, close your door. If you work in an open space, then invest in a room divider. Both create physical boundaries, which will help reduce interruptions from your loved ones. Plus, there is something about a physical boundary that says “I am working now.”

Don’t hesitate to put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door too. Teach your kids to look for this sign so they know not to disturb you unless something’s on fire or someone is bleeding.

#3: Don’t answer the phone, or respond to text messages or instant messaging

We live in an all-access world, meaning there are many ways for people to contact us.

Just because someone can contact you doesn’t mean you must respond right away.

Emails are someone else’s emergency. That’s often true for text messaging, instant messaging, and telephone calls, too. Furthermore, often during the workday, we are inundated with non-business communications.

It’s wonderful to hear from people, especially when you’re self-isolating, but you need to have these conversations when you’re not working. Tell your friends/relatives that you would love to talk to them – after your designated Office Hours. If you’re working, ignore the phone calls and messages.

#4: You are worth it

Finally, be sure to work on your self-worth. Your business is worthy of these boundaries. Your passion is worthy of the space you create for yourself. Your time and energy are worth the same as those in your family, no matter who is making the most money or who needs help at this moment.

Often, women put their needs last. No more!

Remember how I declared 2020 to be the Year of Loud Women? Sometimes being louder means setting up immovable boundaries within your home. Sometimes being louder means you will help your child with his school work later. Sometimes being louder means telling your spouse to use a headset during conference calls.

At the end of the day, give yourself permission to set boundaries for yourself and your loved ones. Working from home can be rewarding, cost-efficient, and productive, but you must set up the necessary boundaries to ensure your success. Remember to create those office hours and block times on your calendar for your marketing tasks. You got this!

 

Your assignment

• Designate time blocks for working on your business, and then block these times on your calendar. 
• Create an Office Hours sign and hang it in your workspace.
• Create a physical boundary around your desk.
• Give yourself permission to ignore phone calls, emails, text messages, and instant messaging while you’re working.
• Remember your self-worth.