Working from home especially as an entrepreneur can be lonely and frustrating, you feel like there is no one to lean on or brainstorm ideas with. Can you relate? 

Admittedly, I sometimes still struggle working from home, so much so I tried everything to find that one *secret* to make myself feel in control.

I think it’s safe to say there is no one secret, you just need to find what works for you. I also know that’s such vague advice that you didn’t came here to read so with that said, whether you love working from home or you’re still not convinced, here are the top tips so you can feel more in control of your day & life, you got this babe!

A successful biz and a social life (yes it’s possible! AND NECESSARY MAY I SAY?) – read on. 

Morning routines are your new best friend

You’re on your own time schedule every day now and that means you can start whenever you want – but should you? I say pick a time that works best for your hours daily when you want to begin and do your entire morning routine prior to get you into the working zone and in the right mindset for maximum productivity. When I say entire morning routine I mean literally everything. Intentions, stretches, meditations, workouts, breakfast, all the things you need to implement to make you feel at your best, daily.

In the post 10 Morning Habits That Will Change Your Life I go into a lot more detail on this.

Organize your space

If you’re anything like me, by the end of the day your desk is cluttered with a myriad of items; coffee cups, wrappers – you name it. Definitely not those professional vibes, right? 

Believe me when I say that the chaos living on your desk is not helping you run your business. I realised I was spending precious time hunting for the right document or scribbled notes from that one webinar last week, meaning less time in my zone of genius. Working from home instead became a cycle of clutter, stress, overwork repeat. 

What I’ve learnt is files are your best friends – use them! 

Definitely invest in a planner, one that you will actually use. Planners are great with space for your daily tasks, reminders, and monthly goals. If you start to organise your time, you’ll get more work done in less time. Work smarter not harder as they say, right? Let’s run our business and still make it to brunch with the girls. Mimosas here we come!

Dress to impress, when you feel like it.

There’s no doubt about it our clothes power our actions. We can all remember THAT day, the day we wore a killer outfit and felt nothing less than unstoppable. Why not bring this energy everyday! Who says you can’t strut around your home office in your favourite dress and 5 inch heels, if it makes you feel amazing.  Don’t wait for anyone’s permission and start dressing the way that makes you feel most empowered.

Additionally, you are your own boss now so if you want to get cosy in your pyjamas with your laptop on the couch for awhile, DO IT. You make the rules.

Our power outfit is unique to us, what makes me feel great won’t necessarily have the same power on someone else. When I started working remotely I used it as an opportunity to experiment and trial and test different looks. 

YES, I am giving you an excuse to buy new clothes, GO GO GO!

After the year we’ve had I think we deserve to treat ourselves, especially if it will benefit our productivity, right? The right outfit can drastically alter your mind-set and your confidence. Feeling confident is so important, and listen to me when I say people can tell. Even if you’re only communicating over the phone or video calls, you will radiate confidence and positive energy.

Take breaks (more often)

Workaholics listen up… working from home and being your own boss is great for a wealth of reasons the main one being – flexibility! No long commute, no 9-5, a day entirely dictated by you. 

This being said, I know it is tempting to overwork, especially when you’re trying to grow your empire. How many times have you said to yourself ‘just one more email’ and you’ve found yourself glued to the screen for another two hours. Hear this… you NEED to take a break. 

I get it, your business is your baby and you want it to be successful, I FEEL YOU. But believe me, taking a break is actually beneficial to you and your business. Short regular breaks leave you feeling refreshed and rested, ready to enter your zone of genius. AND when I say take a break, I mean a complete break away from your work and screen… no sneaky glance at your emails – I see you. Going for a walk, taking a yoga class, or listening to a podcast can be great ways to fill the time away from work.

Those emails will still be there when you come back!

Transform your home office

You run your own business now, why shouldn’t you have an office that reflects your style and inspires you to create your best work?

Your office is the centre of your creative empire, you need to treat it like so. Ask yourself ‘am I excited to enter my office?’ ‘Does it fuel my creativity?’ if the answer is ‘no’ you better get to work! Think colour, lighting, prints, everything and anything that will make your office mirror your energy. Transform it into a space, which truly represents you and your biz! 

Tap into your world of online communities

When you’re working from home it can get quite lonely sometimes, I’m sure you often miss the lack of human interaction, coffee room gossip, post work drinks – I miss it too sometimes. Being your own boss is an incredible journey but it can equally be very lonely and frustrating. 

It can feel like it’s you against the world day in day out but you absolutely don’t need to be in this alone, I promise!

What if I told you there is a whole online network of likeminded individuals’ waiting for you…right this moment? From Facebook groups, to Instagram DM’s, to virtual networking calls there is an endless line of support.

You can come join the Studio Society facebook group of likeminded bossbabes here as a start, I can’t wait to see you in there!

Or you can opt for more audio learning + community on Clubhouse. It is a relatively new platform but it offers the chance to connect and network with incredible entrepreneurs. Experiment with different platforms and groups and get involved to see what works for you and where you feel most empowered. It’s important to know you don’t have to do this without any support, you can tune into your online communities anytime where you’ll have a whole team of business cheerleaders and new best friends.

Be kind to yourself 

For some of us working from home is nothing new, but for others it presents a completely new way of life. It is so easy to get wrapped up questioning every idea and decision, especially when there is no one around to support you. 

Working from home has ups and downs; stop punishing yourself when things don’t go to plan. Everyone would set up their own business if it were easy. For whoever needs to hear this today remember you are doing a great job – keep going.

Ready to conquer working from home? You’ve got this! 

You may also enjoy reading:

10 Morning habits That Will Change Your Life
5 Ways to Declutter Your Mind
How to Effectively Manage Your Time As A Creative Entrepreneur