Morning Management for Those Who Work-At-Home
Wake Up Early, Eat Breakfast, Get Dressed, and Get to Work
Sep 11, 2009
Work-at-home professionals have a great deal of flexibility with their schedules because they make their own. Many take this as an opportunity to sleep in, not realizing the advantages of having a morning routine. Waking up early, eating breakfast, and dressing professionally can positively impact one's business and professional development.
Wake Up Early
Without a set schedule to serve as a guideline, many professionals who work from home roll out of bed whenever their bodies feel like it. For some this can run as late as 9 or 10 a.m. Add the time that it takes to settle into a waking state (about an hour or so) and just about the whole morning has been wasted. This leaves less time in the day to get work done, adding pressure and unnecessary stress.
Professionals can avoid putting themselves into crunch mode by waking up between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. This will add 2-3 hours of wiggle room to a daily project schedule. For chronic over-sleepers, this may seem painfully early, but the benefits outweigh the temporary grogginess.
Those who do wake up around 10 a.m. should decrease their sleep hours over a week or two. The first night, set the alarm 15 minutes earlier than the normal wake time and be sure to get out of bed as soon as it rings in the morning. Move the time back 15 minutes each day until the desired hour is reached. Professionals may feel a bit
Eat Breakfast
Many professionals are so busy they don't take the time to do the one thing that can really jumpstart their day: eat breakfast. Skipping this morning meal can leave them feeling tired and sluggish and can lead to overeating at later times in the day. Some blame it on the clock, claiming that there isn't even time to fit in a quick bit.
What professionals don't realize is that breakfast provides them with a boost of energy that can only help them to feel energetic and balanced. This is exactly what they need to be creative and productive on the job. It doesn't have to be a big meal. Something quick and simple, like an English muffin and coffee or eggs and orange juice, is enough to wake them up, satisfy their stomach, and provide them with a few basic nutrients.
Get Dressed
Work-at-home professionals have a tendency to work in their sleepwear. This can keep the worker in a sleepy state of mind. They reason that the home is a relaxing and casual place. No one is there is to witness this, so why not? Professionals who go to this extreme are unwittingly giving themselves permission to view their work casually. If they cannot make the effort to dress like a representative of their business, they are selling themselves short.
Ban pajamas from the home office. True professionals would not go to work for someone else like that, so they should show themselves the same courtesy. One should take the time to pick out work worthy clothing that looks flattering and radiates confidence. That confidence will flow into daily work projects, creating momentum.
Get to Work
Once a professional establishes a consistent routine, she will see a positive change in her workflow. With the new early morning schedule, there should be plenty of time to eat breakfast, take a quick shower, and spend some time looking for an outfit that will inspire success. This is the way to take control of the work day.
Last article in this series: The Plight of the Work-At-Home Professional
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