INSIDE: Looking for some work-from-home tips to get you off to a great start this year? These 10 tips will help you organize things and be more productive to make this your year of success!
For many, a new year means a long list of resolutions and big dreams. Rather than being inspiring, this activity can actually be stressful for many. Maybe you start thinking about the failed resolutions of years past. Maybe you start to feel stressed because you don’t have a big list of even bigger goals.
Tips for working at home for a successful year
This year, things may be different. Here’s a short to-do list that can help you start the new year off on the right foot.
1. Get your accounting in order
For many, January 1 marks a time to start preparing for tax return. It’s not a fun way to start the new year, but it’s a must. And the more you prepare now, the less headache you’ll have on April 15.
If you’re already falling behind, start rounding up those receipts and make a note of where you collected income and how much. If your transactions are primarily online, software like Quickbooks Self-Employed or Freshbooks can extract your transactions for easy categorization and reporting.
This is also a good reminder to make sure things are set up as smoothly as possible for next year. Dont wait!
2. Update your resume or portfolio
Tips for working at home wouldn’t be complete without this one. If you’ve been busy working all year, you may not have had the opportunity or even thought about keeping your resume or portfolio up to date. While that’s a good thing, an out-of-date resume can be stressful if the time comes when you need it.
As you calculate your earnings for the year, take a moment to note any significant and noteworthy projects. You can also take things one step further. Email satisfied customers thanking them for their business and ask if they would be willing to provide a testimonial for your portfolio.
3. Clean your social networks
Many of us have taken a big step back from social media in the last year. Now would be a good time to set any accounts to private that you are no longer using. Delete any questionable photos. Deactivate accounts you no longer use.
If you’re still active on social media, start the year off with a new profile picture. Update your work history on sites like LinkedIn.
4. Change your passwords
This may not sound like your typical work-at-home tips, but it’s a good one! We’ve all heard that we should change our passwords frequently, but do we really heed that advice? Take some time to change at least the passwords for your most important accounts, like your bank account. While you’re there, turn on 2-factor authentication if it’s available.
5. Clean your office
Look around. Is this how you imagined it? your home office? Is there much more clutter than necessary? Do you have trouble finding something as simple as a pen when you need it? Maybe it’s time to clean up.
When everything has a place and is in its place, your workday will be much more productive. Start with a single task if you must, but make cleaning up the chaos a priority.
6. Review your achievements
It’s so easy to focus on what we didn’t do, and that’s a horrible mindset when you think about the future. Yes. You should take inventory if things went wrong from your goals, but don’t overlook what you did. And in a year consumed by global chaos, small achievements matter a lot!
7. Plan Your goals
Tips for working at home would never be complete without goals.
When the new year rolls around, we are always so focused on goals, goals, goals. But there is a big difference between the objective setting and goal planning. In an instant, you can probably think of a long list of goals, things you want to accomplish. However, where the real work lies is in the execution. As Will you achieve those goals? What steps do you need to take to get there?
You have probably heard of SMART goals. It is a great methodology to follow. Your goals should be:
- Specific
- Measurable
- Reachable
- Important
- Limited in time
Now figure out your plan and stick to it!
8. Practice gratitude exercises daily
A negative mindset can thwart even the best of plans. But you can retrain your brain!
Take time every day to focus on the positive aspects of your life. practice gratitude. It may not sound like much, but it can really transform your life. Even better, you can also have a positive impact on the lives of others. That is a very powerful thing. You have that power!
9. Set a small daily exercise goal
Tips for working at home can only be successful if we are healthy, which is why we have included this one.
If you’re like most people, each year you start with a fitness goal…and if you’re like most people, that goal will be set aside by February. This year may be different. You just need to frame it in a different way, maybe an easier way.
Instead of saying, “I’m going to go to the gym for an hour three times a week,” say, “I’m going to do 25 jumping jacks every day.” He may think it sounds irrelevant, but when was the last time she did 25 jumps? Do it now. Feeling a little out of breath?
Studies show that even short 5-minute bursts of activity can have a big impact on your health.. You can find 5 minutes.
10. Take a break
Many people in 2020 were quick to realize what a struggle it is to work from home. It’s hard to keep limits. It can feel like you’re always at work and can never fully relax or switch off.
If your schedule allows it, take a few days for yourself. Turn off electronics. Read a book. Get out into nature. Compulsively watching a television series. Do something just for you and something that will distract you from work. We all need to hit our reset buttons from time to time.
Final Thoughts on These Work-at-Home Tips
None of these activities individually may seem like much, but collectively they can truly influence your mindset and ability to achieve your goals. Make this a year to remember!
