Hey there —
Cramped cubicles. Punch-in-punch-out time clocks. Your manager breathing down your neck and demanding that report be on his desk by 5 p.m. 🫵
For a lot of us, this is the stuff of fiction and late 90’s comedy films. (Has anybody seen my stapler?)
With the rise of remote jobs and the creator economy, more and more of us work from home at least part-time, if not exclusively.
We enjoy arriving to work in our pajamas, creating our own schedules, and not having to worry about someone stealing our lunch from the break room fridge.
But with this shift — and all its perks — comes the struggle of needing to be more self-disciplined and self-motivated than ever before.
In a study for the World Economic Forum, while 65% of the global workers surveyed felt more productive with a flexible work schedule, 35% admitted to struggling with their productivity when working from home.
While it may be easy to find creative inspiration in an office full of collaborative coworkers, or to meet a deadline when your boss or client is relying on you — what happens when your coworker is your cat? Or when, as a content creator with your own YouTube channel, you are the boss and the client?
If you love the freedom of working from home (or for yourself), but struggle to get 💩 done, here are some tips for boosting your daily motivation.
🪑 Choose your environment wisely. Your brain associates certain areas of your home with certain tasks — i.e. the bedroom is for sleeping, and the couch is for relaxation. Trying to make either of these spaces double as your workspace can drain your motivation and affect the quality of your sleep (and your ability to truly Netflix and chill at the end of the day).
If you can, create a separate work area in your home. If not a dedicated office, then at least a neutral spot, like the kitchen counter, a desk in a corner of your living room, or even head outside if you find the sunshine and neighborhood hum creatively invigorating.
🗒️ Don’t over to-do it. Break your current projects down into small steps and focus on no more than three main to-dos for the day, prioritized by what’s most important (aka, eat the frog). And if you’re still struggling to complete those tasks, consider using micro-goals to help you really hone in on what you can accomplish right now.
🕰️ Try a non-linear workday. Instead of forcing yourself to be productive during typical 9-5 rhythms, work according to your natural energy levels. Pay attention to the time of day when you feel most creative and have the easiest time getting “in the flow” — whether that’s 8 a.m. or post-lunch — and focus on completing your most essential work then.
😌 Take frequent breaks. A good rule is a 15-20 minute break every 50-90 minutes. Do whatever you want during your break time, as long as it feels restorative for you, not more draining. And don’t wait until you’re feeling sluggish — one study revealed that taking a morning break is actually more effective at combating the mid-afternoon slump.
But perhaps the best motivation for being self-disciplined is the freedom and flexibility of where and when you work.
By getting intentional with your routine, workspace, and workflow, you’ll boost your motivation and productivity so you can stay flexible. Allowing you to fully embrace the slow growth way, leave hustle culture behind — and reap the healthy work-life balance rewards. 🥳
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Ten tips to keep work from taking over your life
By Leif Hass
Speaking of work-life balance…
Dr. Leif Hass suggests that we would be much better off trading work-life balance — a phrasing that suggests you must take from one to give to the other — for work-life integration.
With work-life integration, the aim is a blending of work and life that aligns your personal values with your priorities. 💞
Here, Dr. Hass shares 10 steps for identifying those priorities, creating boundaries, and coping with the work-life conflicts that will arise in a busy, purposeful life.
How to use the psychology of space to boost your creativity
By Donald M. Rattner
Did you know there’s a branch of psychology dedicated to studying how architecture and interior design affects the way you think, feel, and act? 😲
In this article, architect Donald Rattner explains the science of environmental psychology and how to apply it to your home office — from windows, to paint colors, to making your ceilings feel higher — so that your physical space sparks mental creativity.
Plastic free July
By Plastic Free Foundation
Be part of the plastic pollution solution and choose to avoid single-use plastics wherever you can for the month of July.
Learn more about this global movement and get suggestions for some simple swaps you can make this month to reduce waste and keep our streets, oceans, and communities healthy and clean. ♻️
Do not focus on numbers. Focus on doing what you do best. It’s about building a community who wants to visit your site every day because you create value and offer expertise.
Written by Ashley Martin
Edited by Matt D'Avella