10 quick tips to be your most disciplined, productive, happy, and healthy self while working from home

by Jules Rogers

Homeschooled from first through eighth grade with my three brothers and one sister, I grew up in a strict orthodox group and was generally only allowed outside of the property to take walks for P.E. class, the church, ballet class, the library, and the grocery store until I was 14 years old.

There, the internet password was a secret, the TV was kept in a cupboard, and only 30 minutes of screen time was allowed on the weekends — including video games. In our free time, we played outside, read books, or created art.

Today, I use my homeschooling experience and apply it to my work-from-home life as a writer. Here are my top tips to maintain productivity, mental health, and sense of self while working or studying mobile.

1. Keep a paper calendar, planner, or bullet journal

During my homeschool years, our mom would set each of us lesson plans in a three-ring binder articulating the week's assignments — it's simple enough for a first-grader to do alone, and there are all kinds of formats, including styles targeted toward neurodiverse adults.

As an adult, I love having a beautiful planner with monthly pages and weekly spreads so I can plan events, daily deadlines, and monthly budgets while watching my progress. I never forget a deadline because I have a dedicated place to write everything down immediately, and I always know where to start my day as soon as I sit down.

2. Leave your home at least once a day

In homeschool, we would regularly meet our elderly neighbor outside for a brisk, three-mile walk at 7 a.m., do indoor ab workouts, and take long family hikes and bike rides on the weekend. 

Read the entire article at Business Insider: https://www.businessinsider.com/10-tips-work-from-home-stay-productive-and-happy-wfh-2021-9