There are few things I like better than beautiful spring weather. I love the sun, love the flowers, and I especially love the wardrobe that goes along with the temperature, namely this Trescool Floral Maxi Dress. I could literally spend all day in Central Park. The only issue is that I’m generally stuck inside working. Even though I work from home, I have strict deadlines and an endless stream of emails, so it’s not that simple to take time to hang out in the park. I’m definitely tempted to close the laptop and venture outside, but keeping to a good schedule is key to success.

Here are my tips for how to stay productive when working from home:

1. Create a morning to do list arranged by priorities.
   To-do lists are my saving grace. I rely on them to keep me on track. I even write down the smallest tasks like, “Respond to x email,” so that I can clear my mind and focus. Arranging the list by priorities is another way I improve my focus, because I’m never required to stop and think about what to do next. It’s those type of pauses that distract me and make it difficult not to just get up and go for a walk.

2. Make yourself a beautiful workspace.
   I still have yet to follow this piece of advice, but I have a really nice eat-in kitchen surrounded by plants and lots of sunlight that has been serving as a great home office. The more comfortable you are in your space, the less you’ll feel the need to get out.

3. Stock up on coffee.
   As much as I love going out for coffee, I can’t afford to get distracted. By the time I get ready, walk there, and wait in line, that’s about 30 minutes lost. And I don’t know about you, but once I take a long break, it’s hard for me to get back to work at the same productivity level. You can apply the same thought process to stocking up on good food versus going out for lunch.

4. Get an intern.
   Some of my most productive days are when I have my intern with me. Working alongside someone else pushes me to work harder and not take unnecessary breaks.

5. Make evening plans.
   Not only does it give me something to look forward to, but having evening plans keeps my day structured. It also puts pressure on me to meet deadlines during the day since I won’t be able to work through the night (a bad habit of mine).

6. Stay away from your bed and keep the TV off!
   This is the hardest rule for me to follow. I love working from bed, but one, it messes up my sleep habits, and two, I usually end up falling asleep. That’s right. I’m talking about a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day… As for avoiding TV, no matter how good you are at multi-tasking, you will be much more productive if you limit the distractions.

What are your tips?

OUTFIT BREAKDOWN:
Take Me To Napa Maxi Floral Dress: Shop Trescool (c/o)
Tan Booties: M4D3 Shoes (c/o)

Photography: Angel Zheng

xx Esther