What I’ve Learned Working From Home For a Year

I’ve officially been working from home a year. Last year at this time I would have guessed we would be back in the office in a couple months, or sooner. Obviously that was an incorrect assumption. Working from home has been quite a lifestyle shift but I have learned a lot. In this blog post I’m sharing the things I’ve learned after working from home for a year.

This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you were to purchase any of the items linked at no additional cost to you. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Last year, I wrote this post with tips on how to work from home without an office or a desk. I still think these are good tips and worth checking out.

However, now that I have a little more experience working from home I want to share the things that are working for me and some areas where I can improve.

I’m just as productive, if not more

I think every employer’s biggest concern with working from home was productivity. For me, I found that I may be more productive.

I also love the fact that I get an hour back in my day by not commuting. However, one of my biggest challenges is setting boundaries on when to stop working. I try my best to make sure I’m online at 8 a.m. and log off at 5 p.m. because it is easy for me to just keep working.

Getting Ready in the Morning is Essential

Having a routine has been very important for me. I get dressed in comfortable clothes immediately in the morning, take the dog out and then do my makeup. After that, I can open my laptop up with a cup of coffee.

I am on frequent Zoom calls where I have the camera on so I make sure I am always presentable. But I won’t lie, there have been some days where I didn’t have meetings and really pushed it. There were a few times where I’ve stayed in pajamas almost all day. Anytime I do that I just feel gross, it has an impact on how I feel and how productive I am.

Joggers Are the Superior Loungewear Item

I didn’t go too crazy with buying all the loungewear trends this year. The most important part of my wardrobe are my joggers or sweatpants. I don’t wear jeans when I work from home, because I’m not a crazy person. But I also learned early on that I didn’t find my leggings to be very comfortable either.

I built up a good selection of joggers and then usually wear a normal sweater with them. So, I’m always comfortable and presentable on Zoom calls.

Although I’m always dressed comfortably now I differentiate my time working and not working by changing my clothes. I bought more pajamas this year and enjoy wearing actual pajamas to bed, not just any comfortable clothing.

Being Active Needs to Be a Priority

I was doing so well and then winter arrived… In the summer I would consistently take the dog for longer walks so I felt like I was getting enough exercise. But with the winter we’ve had in Iowa, the walks have not been enough exercise for me.

If you have the space, I strongly recommend getting an elliptical or bike. And don’t feel the need to buy an expensive Peloton. You can find used workout equipment on Facebook marketplace easy enough, in my opinion.

Find a Self Care Routine

Self care is such a buzzword that I almost hate to use it sometimes, but I do believe it is important. I get stressed out very easily so it’s important for me to have a way to relax.

For me, I make my bathroom a little oasis. My fiancé also works from home so I just need moments alone sometimes. My skincare routine has become a relaxing ritual that I look forward to everyday. Here is a post with all the details on my nighttime skincare routine.

My house isn’t as clean as I thought it would be

I really thought I would get into the habit of taking short breaks from work to do housework. It isn’t happening.

At times my house might even be messier than it was when I went to the office. Things like dishes stack up a lot quicker when you eat three meals a day at home.

Get To Bed At a Reasonable Time

When I went to the office, I would try to make sure that I was always in bed before 10 p.m. and then I would wake up at 5:30 a.m. I’ve really started pushing it with the staying up late these last few weeks.

My new routine is being in bed by 11 p.m. and setting my alarm for 6:30 a.m. However, I know if I really want to push it I can get up at 7:30 a.m. and still be ready for work on time. I always feel better when I get up earlier though and don’t feel rushed in the morning.

I Love Working From Home

Even though my house isn’t as clean as I would like and I don’t dress as cute as I would if were going into the office, I really love working from home. I like getting to spend all day with my pets and having a little more flexibility in my schedule. Not having to commute is also a huge plus.

Are you working from home? If you are, share a tip that helps you with productivity or an assumption you made about working from home that isn’t true.

Thanks for reading!

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