With most of us being required to work from home for the next few weeks, whether for school or work, it's important that we stay on top of our workloads given all the freedom we've been granted. The reality of social distancing is setting in for most people and is being received with both excitement and a bit of fear. Half of my friends are looking forward to sleeping in and not having to be at work in the morning and the other half are worried sick about how their semesters will finish off if they can't go to school. 

I found myself falling into a bit of laziness with my newly free schedule. The discipline of getting up, getting ready, and getting to school was no longer required of me. Sleeping in was great until I added staying up late into the mix as well. It was only a matter of time until my days spiraled into a low energy, unproductive state. I quickly realized how necessary it would be for me to maintain some sort of structure in order to get things done. Here are a few of the daily habits that I've developed in order to combat the laziness that comes with working from home:

1. Wake up on time

Now that you no longer have to be clocked in at your job by 8 am or present for that morning class, you have more freedom to manage your sleep schedule. Sleeping in a little later than usual is perfectly normal and even encouraged but try not to spend your entire mornings lounging in bed. Believe it or not, getting too much sleep can make you feel fatigued and unmotivated. So it's super important to set yourself up to get just the right amount of sleep and wake up at a reasonable time to start your day.

2. Keep your mornings tech-free

This step has been a big game changer for me. I'm no stranger to waking up and immediately taking a few minutes on my phone before I begin my day. This is usually no big deal due to the time restraint before having to get the day started but with our now fully free days, this can definitely turn into a dangerous game of 'how long can I lay in bed and scroll through twitter before my stomach starts growling from hunger?' In order to avoid that kind of laziness, I've started avoiding my phone until after I've completed my morning skincare routine and made myself some breakfast. Not only does it encourage me to get out of bed and start my day but it's really nice being able to actually take my time preparing myself in the mornings, which isn't something I was always able to enjoy during the hustle and bustle of normal everyday life.

3. Change out of pajamas

As much as I love staying in pajamas everyday, it's really important that I change out of them and put on a different set of clothes for the new "work" day. It's perfectly fine to still be fairly comfortable but a small outfit switch will immediately change your mood. This always helps me mentally prepare to begin a new day by setting an intention and boosts my overall focus and productivity. It also helps get rid of the sluggish feeling of days blending into each other. The last thing any of us needs is a case of cabin fever!

4. Find the right space

Using your living space as a workplace has its perks but definitely isn't for everybody all the time. As someone who always has a million things running through my mind, it's usually a struggle for me to find the concentration needed to get work done. Just Gemini things lol. It's vital for me to pick the perfect spot to work from and I can guarantee you it's almost never my bed. Sometimes I like to fuel my creativity by working outside on my patio and other times when I really need a quiet environment, I hit the dining table. It's important to determine what kind of environment would work best for you each day and there's no problem with switching it up throughout the day either. I'll go ahead and advise to be cautious with working from bed - there's nothing worse than waking up from a nap that you never knew you were taking because you dozed off while working.

5. Set your schedule

Setting a schedule for your days at home is just as important as sticking to a schedule at school or work. I find that setting timers for specific tasks helps me not stay stuck on one project for too long. It's important to keep yourself refreshed both physically and mentally. Scheduling in breaks throughout your day is essential for productivity. I take short breaks to grab a snack, stretch, or even treat myself to an episode of my latest Netflix obsession. Make sure you're scheduling in time to eat as well. Regardless of how much work you're getting done, don't skip your lunch break! In fact, look forward to this break for not only eating but finally getting a moment to scroll through your phone or calling back your friends for a quick gossip. Try to embrace your routine and soon enough you'll be killing the work from home game.


The freedom of having no actual rules to abide by can be exhilarating but also frightening for some. It's far too easy to get distracted or unmotivated when you're free to live on your own terms. With working from home being a new reality for most of us, it's important we do our best to stay on top of our continued responsibilities. These 5 tips have really transformed my day to day functions while being a full time student attending classes all from the comfort of my house. Granted, it's a confusing time for all of us, but I'm hoping these tips are a reminder for all of you to stay focused on your existent goals and not let this hiccup in our realities deter you from continuing to grind for your goals.