Today’s post goes out to all my self-employed boss ladies who currently work from home! Whether you crank out client proposals while curled up on the couch or you have your own designated work space, it can be tough to stay motivated or keep yourself from slipping into a solitude-induced coma. I’ve been working from home since 2012 and have picked up a trick or two about staying sane, keeping myself motivated and doing quality work along the way that I’d love to share with y’all. Although I’m still learning new things about keeping myself inspired and on track each and every workday, hopefully one or two of these ideas can help your revamp your work process and feed your creative well.

Stay Organized

Maybe it’s my notoriously type A personality that my husband teases me about, but I really can’t function in the middle of chaos. I don’t mind a little bit of clutter but if I have to spend ten minutes searching for that one client file in a pile of junk mail, bills, client files and J. Crew catalogs, then my train of thought will officially derail. I’m fortunate in the fact that I have my own studio space in our house so I can file away to my heart’s content in my little filing cabinet, but figure out a system that works well for you so you can spend more time getting stuff done and less time sifting through piles of random papers. I’m a big believer that all of your business files, tools, etc. should have a happy home. For example, all my shop inventory lives in pretty and easily accessible boxes and paper trays, while business documents are kept in the filing cabinet, and all scheduling sheets, branding client project notes and such are kept in a big binder on my desk. I know what I need to access on a regular basis and I keep those items closest to my desk so I can quickly grab them and get back to work.

Schedule Your Time Wisely

This actually ties into organization pretty nicely if you think about it! I could easily lose an entire hour to just answering emails or working with one client while others are waiting to hear back from me. So I take my day and break it up into sections for different tasks like answering time sensitive emails, packing up shop orders, designing client work or prepping for coaching calls. I work well by dividing my workday into blocks of time and working quickly and efficiently to accomplish as much as I can in that one time block. If that doesn’t work well for you, maybe try spending Tuesdays and Thursdays on administrative tasks while Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are for direct client work. Whatever works for you and helps you stay on task is worth pursuing!

Eliminate Distractions

I typed as I had to physically throw my phone to the other side of my office so I didn’t get sucked into Instagram’s perfectly square clutches. Just thought y’all should know. But in all seriousness, I wasted way too much time last year on social media, getting sidetracked while searching for project inspiration on Pinterest or watching the occasional Taylor Swift music video. (Don’t lie, I know you did it, too!) With this in mind, I’m more intentionally attacking the way I interact with distractions in my workspace. Although I may not work in a traditional office setting, this doesn’t mean I don’t have work to do and can’t give into every distraction that comes my way. I try to schedule out little social media breaks throughout the day so I can still stay connected but I’m not at the mercy of my phone every time a notification comes through. I also often take my phone and physically put it in a different part of my studio or even in a different room if I’m working on a tight deadline. I also choose to work in a room that’s away from any TVs and limit myself to listening to background music that’s not too distracting. My friend Laura actually introduced me to Coffitivity which is this great ambient noise that makes me feel like I’m listening to something without accidentally focusing on song lyrics or getting carried away by a melody!

Beautify Your Workspace

Although I’m serious about making the most of my work hours, I’m not a fan of working like a crazy person or working so hard that I’ve seriously drained my creativity. I think it’s important to work in a space that inspires you, fuels your creativity and breathes a breath of fresh air into you whenever possible. That’s why I surround myself with my favorite colors, chic desk accessories and prints and artwork that encourage me to focus on what matters most. Whenever I reach for a paper clip or need to pick up a pen, I’m greeted by a fun pop of color that helps me remember that work doesn’t have to be totally serious all of the time.

Keep It Light

And what’s the point of working for yourself if you’re going to take it too seriously? Remember that you aren’t in a traditional office setting so give yourself a little freedom to have fun and be yourself! Be flexible with your schedule, allow yourself to have a coffee break with a friend or give yourself the freedom to try something new that day. If I feel a creative rut coming on or I know I’ve been working myself too hard, I’ll try to block off an hour or so for painting, trying my hand at calligraphy or taking a walk outside for some fresh air. It’s important to feed into all the other outlets that can not only inspire you, but can also help make you a happier boss lady in the end.

Know When to Give Up and Have a Dance Party

Having a no good, plain rotten day? We’ve all been there, friend! Some days you just have to know when to throw in the towel and dance it out. One time I received a really frustrating email from a client that made me feel like my work and expertise weren’t being valued. Instead of responding immediately, I closed my inbox, turned up Pandora and danced it out with my pup by my side. It was an instant mood booster and helped defuse a tense situation that I let myself fall into. And dance parties just aren’t for bad days, either! They’re perfectly appropriate for celebrating new sales, commemorating a great work day or burning a few extra calories just for fun.

So there you have it, friends! These are some of my favorite ways to stay on track and feeling good while I work from home. What are your favorite ways to stay inspired and motivated in a self-employed work environment?

Stock image via SC Stockshop.