The definition of self-care is doing things that help your mental, physical, and emotional health. However, when you work from home, you might find that somewhat of a challenge, and over time you begin to feel burnt out and stagnate in your work. In this guide, you will find 10 tips on practicing self-care for freelancers and entrepreneurs.

Remember the basics

When you work from home, it may be tempting to roll out of bed and turn on your computer. This should be avoided because it sets your mood and attitude for the day. Instead, do the basics, eat breakfast, shower, brush your teeth, and get dressed as if you were headed to the office.

Create a routine

Routines are necessary because when you work from home, you become a creature of habit. If you used to stop at your favorite coffee shop on your commute to work, set aside time to have your morning coffee at home or take a walk before you begin working.

Take a lunch break

Working from home doesn’t mean you should skip out on a lunch break or not take micro-breaks throughout your workday to clear your head. Your lunch break should be away from your work area and involve eating a healthy meal or taking a walk around the neighborhood and getting fresh air. You will be surprised at how stepping away from your desk can boost your energy and positively change your mood.

Have a to-do list

To-do lists are important when it comes to keeping up with deadlines and tasks to complete. If you have trouble keeping up with a to-do list, there are several apps that you can use to help you track your work time and monitor and track your to-do list. When you see what you are accomplishing throughout your workday, your mood will improve and you can prioritize your tasks with ease.

Find time to exercise

When you work from home it may be hard to find time to stay active being indoors all day. It helps the blood flow through your body and will keep you energized and motivated to work when you move around. All you need is 5 or 10 minutes each day to stretch or stand up. It will improve your immune function, and uplift your mood and focus to process information effectively.

Set a begin and end time for working and stick to it

This may sound insignificant, however, it is important to understand that when you work from home it’s easy to want to burn the midnight oil or attempt to work extra hours to get things done. This tends to be counterproductive and will cause you to feel burnt out. Setting a starting time and an ending time, and sticking to it will help you avoid feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

Create a dedicated workspace

Having a designated work area puts you in the mindset of working. Therefore you should avoid working in the bedroom and set up a small area for you to work. It’s as simple as setting up a work desk so that at the end of the day, you can walk away from your work.

Make time for yourself

Making time for yourself is not being selfish, it is making sure that you are in the best physical, mental, and emotional state of mind to get through the day. Understandably, you may have a hectic schedule balancing home, work, and kids, however making time for yourself will help motivate you to get things done. I have an autistic 2-year-old that has therapy 8 hours a day, yet I still find time for myself. Whether I get up an hour before he does every morning or do things while he is napping, I squeeze some time in to do things for me.

Clean and organize your work area regularly

Have you ever noticed that when your work area is in disarray and cluttered, you have a hard time focusing on your work? Not only that, but it also takes time away from work when you are spending 20 minutes looking for a pen or document that you need. Take a few minutes at the end of the day to clean your work area and organize things. It will help improve your focus on your work and work more efficiently.

Get out of the multitasking mindset

You would think that multi-tasking will help you get your work done more efficiently. However, experts say this is counterproductive because you are not completely focused on the task at hand which can make you more prone to make errors and mistakes with your work. Instead set aside time for each task and prioritize each task.

Conclusion

Working from home can be stressful and rewarding at the same time. By following the tips in this guide, you can put yourself in a positive mental state and begin to enjoy the rewards of working from home.