Let’s face it: life is busy (or full, depending on how you look at it). Close your eyes and think about all of the things, events, to-dos on your list today.  For real, do this, it’s a good exercise.   

If you peered through a looking glass into my life today this is what you would see:

• A believer who woke up at 5 AM to get her Bible study and prayer time in first thing in the morning. (Priorities people!)
• A housekeeper who unloads the dish washer, makes coffee, prepares a pre-breakfast snack for three kids (yup, that’s a thing!) and packs school bags by 6:15 AM. (Sometimes I even get a load of laundry folded — Woo-hoo!)
• Next, a working gal who checks her calendar to see if she needs to don makeup for Zoom calls before noon and then who dresses in her finest workout clothes (sometimes paired with a nice blouse depending on the aforementioned Zoom calls).
• And finally, (my favorite) a mom who gets her little girls up by 7 AM, gets them dressed, does their hair and makes sure they’ve had that pre-breakfast snack.
• By 7:30 AM, it feels like I’ve already had a pretty full day, but it’s only just starting.  It’s then that I run out the front door for my workout (typically a run) or meet my hubs for breakfast (in the nook of our kitchen).
• At 8:30 AM, I start my workday.  

Your situation may look like mine or it may be a little bit different depending on where you’re at in your walk of life.  Maybe you’re managing a full-time job and going back to school.  Or suddenly home schooling your kiddos.  Or trying to manage a new workout/diet routine while working from home.  Whatever your situation is, having some go-to practices for keeping your life organized and work goals on track will make a world of difference.  

I’ve found that I’ve depended on the following five strategies to save me time, increase my efficiency, and keep me on track.

1. Start 30 minutes before your scheduled start time

These first 30 minutes of the day are the calm before the storm.  It’s a time when I double-check my calendar to remember the meetings I have.  I check notes and emails to make sure I’m prepped for the day.  This practice helps me feel confident of what I need to do, where I need to show up, and how I can affect the most change.  Another thing I like to do during these first 30 minutes of my workday is schedule coffee talks with my teammates, work friends, or mentors.  I limit these to one per week (or less), but it’s nice to spend some time with teammates that I haven’t seen in almost two years!  It gives us a chance to talk about life beyond work. I like to check in without an agenda to connect and preserve my relationships. 

2. Block your calendar for project work time

When Covid hit and many of us started working from home full time, my calendar started filling up like it never had before.  With people at home, without travel to block calendars, I found myself double (and sometimes triple!) booked multiple times per day.  And it’s not just being double booked, it’s the back-to-back meetings all day, too.  I found myself unable to get work done because I was sitting in meeting after meeting…after meeting.  To get priority work done, I blocked my calendar with meeting invites to myself at least 1-2 times per day.  It not only allowed me to focus on executing, it also gave me a reprieve from Zoom fatigue.  (Can I get a witness?!)

3. Prioritize professional development 

Much like blocking my calendar for project work, I also block time for learning.  I try to spend a minimum of one hour per week reading a professional development book, listening to an industry podcast, attending a webinar, or completing compliance training.  Recently, I’ve been sneaking out of the house for a walk whenever I have 30 minutes free or have a scheduled meeting that cancels at the last minute.  While I’m out walking, I listen to a podcast.  This kills two birds with one stone, plus the fresh air and walk energizes me.  Win, win!

4. Stick to 25- or 50-minute meetings

I feel like a lot of people talk about this but can’t seem to stick to it.  I know it can be hard, but I’m a firm believer in giving everyone a chance to go to the bathroom or get a cup of coffee in between meetings.  Being mindful of people’s time (and bladders!) is an act of respect.  Plus, it gives everyone a chance to finish up notes from the meeting and/or prep for the next.  

5. Change your scenery

I work in marketing and there are times when I need to think strategically (in peace and quiet!).  There are other times when I need to be creative.  When I’m in a rut or can’t get the juices flowing, it helps if I leave the house.  I’ll find a park or coffee shop (with outside seating) and set up shop.  Nature provides me with inspiration and the lack of distractions keeps me focused on the task at hand.  It can seem like a pain (in the you know what) to pack up all of your things and head out of the house, but it has really helped me to increase productivity and focus on the job at hand.  

Working from home can be challenging, but it also comes with some pretty amazing benefits like no commute, getting to see your family or pets throughout the day, and homemade lunches. And let’s just give a big “Heck yes!” to all of the free coffee!  Test and learn different strategies to help you stay focused, on track, and balanced.  Find what works for you.

And please share any tips or tricks that you’ve found helpful when working from home in the comments!  The more we share with each other, the stronger we’ll be.  

About the Author

Courtney Hennessey is a wife and mom of three girls under three; lover of God, Crossfit, and wine; and a Senior Director of Marketing at Ally.  You can connect with her on Instagram at @mamahenncrew.