More of us than ever have ditched the conventional work set-up and are working from home. Some people freelance full-time or spend half their time at the office and the other half at home. There are lots of benefits of working at home. Choosing your own hours, where you work, and how, are all big positives. There are some negatives, however. It isn’t easy to self-motivate every day of the week. It can be hard to feel inspired when you only have yourself for company. If you’re struggling to stay motivated and inspired whilst working from home take a look at these suggestions…

Your Office

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Even if you don’t have an office per se, your work-space needs to feel like an office. This doesn’t mean dull and drab, quite the opposite. Creating an office at home is about making a space which is practical, functional, but also motivational. If you’re lucky enough to have a separate room for your office this is easier to achieve.

First things first, make sure your work-space is functional. Set yourself up with some stationary, notepads, your laptop, and anything else you might need. A phone charger, for instance, might also be necessary throughout the day. The aim is to minimize the time that could be spent wandering around the house looking for things. Get yourself a desk too. This can be as small or large as you like. If you don’t have a room for your office chose an area of the house where you won’t be frequently disturbed and isn’t too noisy. Living rooms usually work well because there’s space for a desk and you’ll feel comfortable in this room.

Make your office space inspiring and fun. If you only have a desk put up a picture frame, organize stationary in tins and put a clock near where you’re working. It may sound like a small thing, but make sure you have a comfortable chair too. It’s hard to stay motivated and inspired if you’re uncomfortable a few hours into work. Don’t be scared to invest in your home office. This is your job after all, not just personal spending.

Customize Your Laptop

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Making you working from home life productive is all about the little things. If you’re working from home the chances are you’ll be spending a lot of time on your laptop. It’s how we communicate, check updates, and get our day-to-day work done. So make your laptop a little more inspiring to look at!

Buy a laptop case and cover that you love. There are marble effect covers for those who want a sophisticated look and even personalized photo covers. This small adjustment will help you to feel more motivated to get stuck in, in the morning. Just like choosing attractive workout gear for exercise, sprucing up your laptop will make you excited to use it. Another good way to add some interest and inspiration to your day is by designing some awesome wallpapers. Design a wallpaper with some inspiring or motivational quotes, or a picture that makes you happy. This will make a big difference during a stressful day. As you switch between screens you’ll get to see a glimmer of positivity that could turn your day around and motivate you.

Get Dressed!

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When working from home it can be tempting to stay in your pajamas without a scrap of makeup and keep your feet warm in cozy slippers. After all, who’s going to see you? Although it technically doesn’t matter how you present yourself when working from home, psychologically there are implications. The clothes we wear affects how we feel. Pajamas and tracksuits are immediately equated with informality and perhaps lazy Sundays. We want to feel motivated and productive whilst we work. This doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit at home, but imagine if the people you were emailing or calling could see you in person.

When Boredom Strikes…

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If you’re starting to become bored and browse the internet of other social media, take a break. It’s best to remove yourself from your laptop and make yourself a drink or stretch your legs. Sometimes trying to push on at this point will only waste time.

Keep yourself productive and motivated by scheduling regular breaks. Do a workout at home, eat lunch, read a book. Whatever it is you do in your breaks just make sure you move away from your office area and screens. It can be incredibly lonely working from home. Your kids or partner may have left for the day and it’s just you. Of course, other people are working too, but at least they get to have casual conversations with work colleagues. Make sure you stay in touch with people throughout the day. Texting is fine, as long as it’s done in your breaks. There’s also an online community for people who work at home. Get involved.

Plan Rewards

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You probably chose your career to give yourself some added flexibility. So make sure you reap the rewards. On specific days move out of your home office and into a local cafe. Or just work in your garden. Enjoy the flexibility that your job affords, without compromising your productivity. Meet friends for lunch, and plan things for after work. If you want to go out in the evening, why not work for a little longer and get some of the next day’s work done? Choosing your hours gives you the huge advantage of making more spontaneous and flexible plans.