The Time Management Strategy I Use to Unlock More Time for the Things That Matter

As an entrepreneur, you know how critical it is to manage your time well. When each day only offers a limited number of hours to keep your business and your life running, finding the optimal time management systems and tools tailored to your needs is key. 

Here, we’ve curated invaluable time management tips from 46 women from the Dreamers & Doers community who are in your shoes. 

Next time you’re struggling to complete your daily to-do list or wondering how you’ll squeeze it all in, try these tips to guide you in maximizing your time.

Daeyna Grant

Founder of Wolf & Owl, a color-forward, ready-to-wear brand that seeks to empower women with tailored, capsule-ready pieces for work and play.

My time management tip: I block off 15 minutes at the end of every hour to respond to emails. I don’t deviate from this schedule unless it’s an emergency. I found that I spent large chunks of the day responding to every message as it came in, which would take me out of whatever task I was attempting to complete. Yes, I was able to respond to messages quickly, but it was very often at the cost of other tasks I intended to work on that day. If a message is mission critical, I respond in real time. Otherwise, I will take care of it during my next email session.

Ashley Chang

Co-Founder and CEO of Sundays, executive assistant service to accelerate parents in their careers while creating more quality time with family.

My time management tip: A game changer for me has been putting my to-do list on my calendar. I used to have a to-do list that was incredibly long, and I never felt like I made any progress. When you put it on your calendar, you have to be realistic about how much time each task is going to take. It helps build momentum when you make time to actually do the things on your list.

Emily Kenison

Founder and CEO of RobeCurls, an award-winning heatless curling headband that offers effortless curls with a mission to inspire category-creating inventions that empower everyday routines.

My time management tip: I take a break when I need to and reconnect with family and friends. Even meeting a friend for coffee in between tasks can help give me the boost I need to come back to my computer and get the important tasks done. Powering through might seem like the right solution, but taking breaks helps me manage my workload better.

Ali Dunn

Leadership and Enneagram Coach at Ali Dunn Coaching, a consultancy that breaks down communication barriers within teams and empowers female founders and leaders to love the journey of life and career.

My time management tip: Give yourself the gift of self-awareness. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses when it comes to time management is key. Use your natural strengths to maximize efficiency and delegate the rest. Also, learn your Enneagram type! Understanding your motivation will save you time in all aspects of your life!

Katrina Purcell

Founder and CEO of Katrina Purcel LLC, working with seed to Series C tech companies and nonprofits to create efficient scale and growth.

My time management tip: Don't be afraid to schedule everything. I use my calendar to schedule work sessions for large projects, lead generation activities, as well as reading or writing letters for my gratitude practice. Getting over the hump of feeling like you need to schedule check-ins with your friends helps you to create a more meaningful schedule in your calendar. Color coding the blocks also allows me to have hard data to ensure I’m achieving the balance I'm looking for across the different areas of my life. 

Jessica Sikora

Founder and Creative Director of Rou Collective, a creative studio where you never have to grow up.

My time management tip: I assign specific themes to each day of the week, such as "Creative Mondays" for brainstorming and design work or "Networking Tuesdays" for meeting with new clients, discovery calls with potential leads, or focus groups with my team. This focused approach helps me stay organized, reduces task-switching, and ensures I give dedicated attention to the projects I have lined up.

Amanda Hamilton

Founder and CEO of Hamilton Raye, a fractional and full-time recruiting solution leading the way in executive assistant support.

My time management tip: I review my entire to-do list against the available working hours for the day. This helps me set realistic goals for what I can accomplish. Additionally, identifying the most important task for the day ensures I prioritize effectively and manage my workload efficiently.

Melissa Unsell-Smith

CEO of Catalytic Icon, a peer-selected network of entrepreneurs who value connecting with their deepest desires and having authentic interactions to create sustainable growth and a balanced lifestyle. 

My time management tip: I have two pivotal resources I use to help manage my time. One is a decision-making filter I use to assess opportunities and actions throughout my day. The second is maintaining immense clarity regarding my zone of genius. If something does not align with my unique strengths, I assess whether or not I can automate, delegate, or delete the activity.

Katharine Campbell Hirst

Coach of KCH Coaching & Advisory, assisting women entrepreneurs and executives in creating rich, impactful businesses and lives that redefine what they believe is possible.

My time management tip: The biggest time waste for me is doing something I feel I should do—copying a strategy or tactic that works for my peers—rather than giving myself permission to build my way. Anything done with the energy of "should" tends not to work well. Focusing only on clients I love, offering services within my zone of genius, and using sales and marketing strategies I enjoy has been incredibly effective.

Catharine Montgomery

Founder and CEO of Better Together, galvanizing positive change for purpose-driven organizations through creative strategies, messaging, and branding.

My time management tip: I’ve implemented scheduling "innovation breaks" on my calendar. These are blocks of time dedicated to unstructured thinking, creativity, and problem solving. It allows me to step back from the daily grind, gain fresh perspectives, and generate innovative ideas for Better Together. This practice ensures I'm always bringing my best, most creative self to our projects and staying ahead in a fast-paced industry.

Jennifer White

Chief Strategy Officer of Collective Memory, a strategic brand consultancy and multidisciplinary design studio that grows mindshare and delivers market share for emerging and legacy disruptor consumer brands. 

My time management tip: I make lists for the entire week. Whatever isn't done at the end of the week gets put on a new list for the next week. The act of having to put something on the list multiple times lights a little fire to just get it done.

Caley Adams

Founder and Creative Director of Wildes District, an NYC-based design studio that specializes in luxury and e-commerce brands in the fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and health and wellness sectors. 

My time management tip: I often find myself distracted by the significant number of emails, text, and Slack messages throughout my day. To help tune it out during these focused stretches, I downloaded an app called Boomerang, which allows you to pause your inbox temporarily. Then, when you're ready to read the emails, you simply unpause. I do something similar with my phone during focused work time as well.

Stephanie Long

Founder and CEO of Mrs. SEO, a Seattle-based business offering SEO services, team training, and consulting.

My time management tip: As a busy solopreneur juggling a minimum of 10 clients at any given time, I find having one central repository for information is a game changer when it comes to time management. I use Google Sheets to stay organized, keeping track of each client's blog posts, keyword rankings, and other relevant data. Being able to easily reference this database is huge because I don't have to search around for the information I need; it's like a one-stop shop for running my business effectively!

Julie Zhu 

Founder of Julie Zhu LLC, an award-winning marketing strategist based in NYC. 

My time management tip: I've tried a few time management apps, but the only thing that has worked for me is Google Calendar. If it's not on my calendar, it's not happening! I love that I can visualize my month, week, and day—from work meetings to fun candle-making workshops. I'd recommend finding a planner or an app that you can stick to every day.

Dara Erck

Founder of SAM+LEO, a teen mental health brand with a line of vegan, gummy vitamins.

My time management tip: I take my non-video calls while walking. It may seem counterintuitive, but this multitasking approach has significantly boosted my mental health and productivity. The physical activity helps me stay focused and energized, and the change of scenery sparks creativity and fresh ideas. Plus, it’s a great way to fit some exercise into a busy schedule.

Saundra Marcel

Designer and Brand Author at Design Minded, a boutique brand studio.

My time management tip: Go slower to go faster. With big projects, people have a tendency to get scattered and rushed for no reason. It’s a panic response, and that kind of anxiety leads to unnecessary rework. Relax. Slow down. Do it right. Time is always better spent when you’re in the right state of mind.

Evan Sargent

Founder and CEO of Leap_year, building bold brands for serial entrepreneurs and visionary leaders in short intensive sprints. 

My time management tip: My entire business is built around time management by selling time-bound productized services. We do all our work in collaborative sprints with clients, so all work blocks are calendared and the process is repeatable. This means I never have piles of client work I need to "get through," which reduces both procrastination and perfectionism.

Ashley Graham

Founder, Publicist, Speaker, and Podcast Host of The Conscious Publicist, an award-winning PR and thought leadership firm committed to elevating the visibility of conscious, socially impactful leaders.

My time management tip: I’ve implemented the time-blocking method. I allocate specific blocks of time for different tasks throughout my day—both in my business and personal life.

Allison LaGuardia

Founder and President of ALL Media, a strategic media firm dedicated to providing a launchpad for ambitious founders and emerging brands by combining holistic media expertise across traditional and digital channels with deep category insights.

My time management tip: I use immersive blocks. Instead of letting my calendar be a chaotic jumble at work or in my personal life, I batch similar activities into focused sessions.

Deirdre Purdy

Co-Founder of Purdy Marketing Co., delivering bespoke marketing solutions for tech-forward businesses. 

My time management tip: Like most entrepreneurs, I often feel like there aren’t enough hours in the week. In order to make the most of the time I do have, I've adopted a structured approach that begins with meeting-free Mondays and ends with flex Fridays. This framework allows me to start each week with clear objectives and gives me the opportunity to find a productive workflow without interruption.

Suze Dowling

Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer of Pattern Brands, a portfolio of brands helping you enjoy daily life at home.

My time management tip: I use the two-minute rule: if a task will take two minutes or less, I try to do it immediately. My logic is that the delegation or time that it would take to write on my to-do list would be a less efficient use of time. I’m also a fan of doing a digital detox on Friday afternoon. I clear my calendar and use this time for strategic planning, allowing me to enter the following week with clarity on how I can focus on impact.

Ariana Rodriguez

Founder and CEO of AR & Company, a forward-thinking agency providing tailored tech and operational solutions, empowering small businesses and entrepreneurs to streamline processes and scale efficiently.

My time management tip: I use ChatGPT. I brain dump all my priorities, deadlines, and time restrictions before asking it to create an ADHD-friendly, time-blocking calendar. It’s a game changer. By doing this, I get a structured schedule that fits my needs, and all I have to do is add the blocks to my calendar. It has streamlined my workflow and kept me on track like never before!

Ari Krzyzek

CEO and Head of Strategy of Chykalophia, combining a balanced approach to creativity and technology to deliver transformative digital experiences for forward-thinking, women-led brands in B2B tech.

My time management tip: My day starts with a meaningful breakfast with my son, which grounds me. Following this, I get in a meeting with my team to catch up on project updates—what’s done, what’s being worked on, and what’s stuck. We then plan the No. 1 priority for the day. This approach not only sets a productive tone for the day, but it also empowers my team and keeps me laser-focused on strategic goals. It’s a powerful blend that maximizes efficiency, leverages collective intelligence, and balances my roles as a mom and CEO.

Cat O'Shaughnessy Coffrin

Founder and CEO of Captivating Consulting LLC, a personal brand strategy firm serving corporate women executives.

My time management tip: I take every Monday off for my mental health. I started this about two years ago after I realized I come into every work week at an energy deficit due to the chaos of managing a household all weekend. I spend time outdoors, catch up on my domestic and personal to-do lists, and spend time writing or in therapy.

Lindsay Gonzalez

Founder of Swim, a fractional COO service business leading early-stage companies through growth stages and beyond.

My time management tip: Keep a list of daily to-dos that help you stay confident and sane—like working out, daily affirmations, or completing your gratitude list—and consult it first thing each morning. Knocking out personal self-care first thing feels great.

Sarah Loughry

Founder and CEO of Em Dash Content Studio, a boutique team of expert writers and strategists that enable their clients to show up on page one of search engines and establish themselves as thought leaders. 

My time management tip: I schedule meetings back to back. I know this may seem like the opposite of time management, but I find that it forces me to maintain hard stops. I'm a people person, which has led to a lot of meetings going over time. By scheduling meeting blocks, I've become more cognizant of the way time is used in meetings and free for more blocks of open time.

Natalie Eagling

President of Hey Mr Media, a hand-crafted social media and video agency for growth-driven brands in Denver and beyond.

My time management tip: I work seven hours ahead of my team due to our difference in timezone. While I try to mirror their hours to an extent, I realized I’m far less productive and creative in the evenings. Now, I start my day with some exercise and a nutritious meal for my family before diving into creative tasks that require deep thought. This allows me to be super productive before my team and clients need me.

Catalina Parker

Co-Founder of Relatable Nonprofit, empowering growth-driven people with nonprofit hearts to succeed in consulting.

My time management tip: My co-founder and I have significantly improved our time management ability by adopting calendar blocking and allocating uninterrupted time for specific tasks. We batch tasks by type, dedicating entire days to similar activities, like strategy work or calls. This minimizes the mental energy drain from switching tasks and gives us a daily roadmap. By meticulously categorizing our time, we ensure every minute of our day is purposefully spent.

Stephanie Skryzowski

Founder and CEO of 100 Degrees Consulting, providing CFO and bookkeeping services to nonprofits around the globe.

My time management tip: Rather than working from a giant to-do list with dozens of items that overwhelms me, I choose three things to get done each day. Choosing just three priorities helps me focus better on each task. Because I’m not racing through a giant list, my work quality is higher.

Caroline Crawford

Founder and CEO of Cultiveight Communications, on a mission to help businesses carve their place in the world, no matter their limitations, by developing and optimizing business marketing functions through strategic consulting and facilitation. 

My time management tip: I started to pay very close attention to how I performed at different parts of the day. In the morning, I'm more energized, so I have more creative energy. By the afternoon, I only have energy for more administrative or technical tasks. Understanding my natural way of operating, rather than forcing myself to do things at a certain time, helped me to maximize those windows of opportunity, delegate more tasks, and set up a daily structure within my schedule. 

Rashel Hariri

Founder and Producer of She's Interesting, a media company on a mission to create more women entrepreneurs and investors.

My time management tip: I create color-coded calendar time blocks using the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks and meetings. This serves as my daily guide and is almost like a realistic to-do list. It has significantly helped me visually understand what I can complete in a week, and it's a simple, low-cost way to manage my business. It's also a great method for anyone who deals with ADHD decision paralysis.

Lexie Smith

Founder and CEO of GROWTH MODE PR & Communications Agency, a PR and Communications Agency for brands in GROWTH MODE. 

My time management tip: Implement systems that enable you to keep track of priorities meticulously. My team uses ClickUp; the platform enables us to set deadlines, share tasks, prioritize, automate, and so much more. Having a clear picture of what needs to get done and when allows me to set my day and task load accordingly.

Michelle Stevens

Founder and CEO of The Refill Shoppe, a leader in the bulk/zero-waste space offering 80+ custom-scented, closed-loop bath, body, home, and beauty refills right to your door.

My time management tip: Time is our most valuable resource, and how we spend it is everything. Invest it wisely—whether for productivity, play, rest, hard work, and everything in between. Sometimes, a nap, walk, or bike ride is the best thing you can do to get across the finish line and accomplish your current goals.

Jacqui Barrett

Founder and Chief Data Strategist of The Bright Arc, a data strategy firm that helps startups to Fortune 500s gain clarity on and monetize their data.

My time management tip: I’m not a systems thinker and realized that one of the largest impediments to my company growing was the fact that I had little documentation and repeatable processes in place. This year I created playbooks for everything that I do more than once, and it has paid off in dividends. I’m able to quickly check through things and easily hand things off to others on my team.

Jessica Alderson

Co-Founder and CEO of So Syncd, a media company that focused on dating, personality types, and personal growth.

My time management tip: I stay in touch with how I'm feeling each day to optimize my time. I'll have a list of tasks I'll want to complete that day. But if I don't feel productive in a given moment, I'll rearrange my schedule to tackle a different task.

Kara Sanford

Founder of WomensLaxDrills, the largest educational membership and community platform for women's lacrosse coaches.

My time management tip: I don’t schedule calls on Mondays or Fridays. This allows me to start the week with uninterrupted time for planning and deep work on Mondays and wrap up and reflect on the week on Fridays. By doing this, I’ve found that I can maintain a better work-life balance and enhance the quality of my work.

Anouck Gotlib

CEO of Belgian Boys, creating whole ingredient breakfast with a European twist so families can prep less, smile more, and indulge better.

My time management tip: I’m working on perfecting uni-tasking, which is doing one thing from start to end with complete focus. Multitasking might sound efficient, but it really doesn't work for me. Now, I combine uni-tasking with my task list organized into three groups: 5- to 10-minute tasks, 30-minute tasks, and 1+ hour tasks. This way, I can make the most of any block of time I have and get things done.

Sydney de Arenas Sherman

Founder and CEO of Admin Boutique, providing small businesses with the dynamic team they need to thrive.

My time management tip: I track my time and set a focused schedule. Initially, I had no idea what I was spending my time on, so tracking my time for a few months was eye-opening. I discovered how much I was spending on unproductive tasks. This insight allowed me to delegate unnecessary tasks and create a realistic schedule, which maximized my focus time.

Ronit Menashe

Co-Founder of WeNatal, revolutionizing the fertility industry with a first-of-its-kind prenatal supplement optimized for both partners.

My time management tip: As a busy mom and wife, I take full advantage of the flexibility that being a business owner gives me to create my own work schedule. I cram most of my workday into the hours of 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. so I can be present for my girls before and after school, and for my husband in the evenings. 

Allison Ullo

Founder and CEO of Leaves of Leisure, premium teas with zero or low caffeine, created for everyday routines, with nostalgic flavors inspired by leisure activities. 

My time management tip: I live and breathe by my calendar. To ensure I have time for everything that matters most—like brainstorming, meeting up with friends, yoga class, journaling, and reading—I block out specific times for these activities. If it's on the calendar, I do it; if it's not, it risks being overtaken by work commitments. By preemptively scheduling personal time, I maintain a well-balanced life, ensuring my priorities aren’t overshadowed by unplanned work tasks.

Tye Barrett

Founder, CEO, and Visionary of Amami Luxury, inspiring people through bold and supremely crafted luxury goods, creating a movement rooted in self-expression and the celebration of identity.

My time management tip: I manifest in the morning. This practice is crucial because it helps me clearly visualize my personal and professional goals. It reassures me that I am aligned with my passion and purpose. Manifesting also helps reduce my anxiety and boosts my productivity. In this calm state, I can effectively employ other time management strategies, such as prioritizing tasks, accomplishing quick wins, using project management tools to organize my thoughts, and delegating tasks to my team members.

Pamela Koo

Sr. Director and Global Integrated Digital Marketing at NVIDIA, the accelerated computing company transforming the world's largest industries, and profoundly impacting society.

My time management tip: Taking time to show up for myself has enabled me to show up for others. I wake up early to prioritize my day, check emails, and then I head to the Pilates studio. Prioritizing my health enables me to have a clear mind so I can focus on everything else. Health is wealth.

Collette DeVries

Founder and CEO of Code Financial Services, empowering small businesses with tools and guidance to thrive, going beyond bookkeeping to support business growth.

My time management tip: As a single mother managing a business, I rely on habit stacking, which is gradually incorporating new lifestyle habits into your routine by associating them with an already-established habit to optimize my day and incorporate essential tasks. I frequently take calls while hiking, combining fresh air and exercise with productivity. As an early riser, I find the quiet hours of 4 or 5 a.m. ideal for tackling my most challenging projects. While early mornings may not suit everyone, dedicating focused time at any point during the day has been instrumental in managing my workload and maintaining my well-being.

Kelly Hubbell

Founder and CEO of Sage Haus, a platform helping busy parents reclaim their time by outsourcing the mental load and creating home systems to support a healthy division of labor.

My time management tip: Buy back your time. Make an investment in you by outsourcing tasks that need to get done but don't need to get done by you. For example, after my second child, we hired a house manager who helps us with everything from laundry to meal prep, as well as childcare for date nights. Not only does this result in more time back to spend growing your career or business or spending time with your family, but it relieves you from the mental load those tasks are holding space for.

Nicky Rishi

Founder of MissPoppins, a 24/7 modern digital village that reinvents the traditional support network for raising a child by integrating a marketplace that connects parents with expert coaches and a supportive community.

My time management tip: As a twin-mompreneur, every minute of productivity is precious. I don't wear multitasking as a badge of honor. Instead, I use The Pomodoro Technique as an effective time management tool that encourages task-switching instead of multitasking. By breaking work into focused intervals with regular breaks, I’m able to concentrate better and prevent burnout. It promotes a structured approach to completing tasks, increasing my focus and efficiency. 

Dom Farnan

Founder of DotConnect, building teams, companies, and cultures.

My time management tip: I theme my days based on the type of work and time block. Generally, I keep Friday open for administrative, catch-up, and deep work. My team calls are all on Tuesdays, so our team can use an hour or two on Monday, rather than Sunday, to prepare. My client calls are typically on Wednesdays, and my coaching calls are on Thursdays. Theming my days allows me not to context switch and get into a flow state much more easily.

Classifieds Nº283: Chief, theSkimm, Frame, and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Chief, theSkimm, Frame, Amy Porterfield, and so much more. Good luck in your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Pura Vida Bracelets | Creative Director | La Jolla, CA

• Cleobella | Technical Designer | Huntington Beach, CA

• Arielle Estoria | Personal Assistant | Los Angeles, CA

• Savage x Fenty by Rihanna | Senior Manager, Brand Marketing | El Segundo, CA

• Frame | Content Marketing Coordinator | Culver City, CA

• Eloquence | Sales & Client Relationship Executive | Los Angeles, CA

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

• Avaline Wine | Head of Operations | Los Angeles, CA

EAST COAST

• Wantable | Paid Social & Digital Media Manager | Milwaukee, WI

• Vital Proteins | Project Manager, Commercialization | Chicago, IL

• Outdoor Voices | Copywriter | Austin, TX

• WITHIN | Senior Creative Strategist | New York, NY

• theSkimm | Junior Account Executive | New York, NY

• Fohr | Finance Associate | New York, NY

• Parachute | Divisional Manager | New York, NY

• Sakara Life | Senior Accounting Manager | New York, NY

• Havenly | Interior Designer | New York, NY

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

REMOTE

• Amy Porterfield | Content Manager | Remote

• Food52 | Director of Acquisition Marketing | Remote

• Chief | Community Events Manager | Remote

• Little Sleepies | Growth Marketing Director | Remote

• Legacy Investment Real Estate | Marketing Manager | Remote

• Narrative | Senior Manager, Influencer Marketing | Remote

• Monday.com | Strategic Account Manager | Remote

• Vox Media | Solutions Planner | Remote

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Director of Experiential | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Social Media Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Associate Account Manager | Remote

WANT MORE?

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Classifieds Nº281: Frame, Sakara Life, Parachute and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Frame, Open, Sakara Life, Parachute, and so much more. Good luck in your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Arielle Estoria | Personal Assistant | Los Angeles, CA

• Savage x Fenty by Rihanna | Senior Manager, Brand Marketing | El Segundo, CA

• Frame | Content Marketing Coordinator | Culver City, CA

• Eloquence | Sales & Client Relationship Executive | Los Angeles, CA

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

• Avaline Wine | Head of Operations | Los Angeles, CA

EAST COAST

• WITHIN | Senior Creative Strategist | New York, NY

• theSkimm | Junior Account Executive | New York, NY

• Fohr | Finance Associate | New York, NY

• Parachute | Divisional Manager | New York, NY

• Sakara Life | Senior Accounting Manager | New York, NY

• Havenly | Interior Designer | New York, NY

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

REMOTE

• Little Sleepies | Growth Marketing Director | Remote

• Legacy Investment Real Estate | Marketing Manager | Remote

• Narrative | Senior Manager, Influencer Marketing | Remote

• Monday.com | Strategic Account Manager | Remote

• Vox Media | Solutions Planner | Remote

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Director of Experiential | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Social Media Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Associate Account Manager | Remote

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE. 

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Classifieds Nº280: Refinery29, Free People, Levi's and More Are Hiring!

Check out our fresh batch of job listings every Thursday! This week we have new roles from Eloquence, Refinery29, Open, Free People, Levi's and so much more. Good luck in your job search! 

Are you a company looking to hire? To post your job listing, click HERE.

WEST COAST

• Eloquence | Sales & Client Relationship Executive | Los Angeles, CA

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

EAST COAST

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• REED Public Relations | Public Relations Account Supervisor | Nashville, TN (Hybrid)

• Refinery29 | Associate Creative Director | Brooklyn, NY

• Free People | Senior Stylist | Philadelphia, PA

REMOTE

• Crowe PR | Senior Account Manager, Consumer Goods | Remote

• Crowe PR | Senior Account Manager, Healthcare & Technology | Remote

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Levi Strauss & Co. | Associate Art Director | Remote

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• The Shelf | Paid Social Media Expert | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remot

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate | Chief Financial Officer | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Director of Experiential | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Senior Social Media Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Director, Brand Partnerships & Sales | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Associate Account Manager | Remote

• Create & Cultivate | Chief of Staff | Remote

How This Small Business Owner Made Her WFH Space More Productive

As the saying goes, “Go big or go home,” but whoever originally spoke those words probably didn’t envision everyone being stuck at home courtesy of a global pandemic. For Dominique Fluker, being stuck at home inspired her entrepreneurial calling. During quarantine, Fluker had to bring her 9 to 5 tech job home, and working and living in the same space made her sick of her surroundings. So what did she do? She decided to “spice up” her living area and make her WFH space more productive.

Fluker then caught the eye of an Apartment Therapy editor who saw her curated creation on social media, and gave her a feature. That inspired Fulker to take her passion for interior design i, and turn it into a business. DBF Interiors was born⎯ a virtual interior design studio focused on curating compelling interiors with accessible luxury.

Starting and running a small business is difficult in and of itself. Starting and running a small virtual business, based on creating the feel and energy of space during the height of the pandemic, proved even more challenging. Fluker shares four tips that helped set her up for success as a WFH small business owner.

1. Create A Workspace

Fluker's first word of advice is doing exactly what she did that led to her to building her business. DBF Interiors is all about a space’s utility and ambiance, so you need to create a dedicated workspace. “I had to make sure that I carved out a space that was dedicated just for work,” Fluker says.

She also mentions that when it comes to your workspace, size doesn’t matter. “A corner or a desk in your bedroom will do ... and furnishing it with things that will inspire you to get the work done.” For her, one of those things was her ring light. “I had several lamps and art that inspired me to get the work done.” And being able to remove yourself from the dedicated workspace at the end of the workday is just as important. “That way I can close the door, and close the door on the workday as well when I was done,” she adds.

2. Utilize Technology

Small business owners usually wear all, if not most of the many hats necessary to keep the business afloat. But that doesn’t mean help isn’t available. There are apps to help streamline almost all business-related tasks, to make life easier, and Fluker takes full advantage of them. “You have to make sure that you are organized and really blocking out your time. I think procrastination stems from not having good time management,” she explains.

To make sure she’s using her time effectively, Fluker relies on work management platform Asana. “I use Asana heavily. Asana has saved my life professionally and personally, to where all my tasks are blocked out by the week ... I make sure that I'm time managing on a Saturday or a Sunday, maybe take 15 minutes to plan my whole week ahead, or even two weeks of tasks that need to get done.”

For clerical tasks, Fluker recommends a paperwork tool like Bonsai. “It's for contracts and invoices. It's all in one suite that lets you focus on everything like templates, proposals, invoices, agreements, and quotes. I do all my contracts, proposals, and invoices in this.” 

3. Over-communicate

Whether your business is virtual or not, communication is something that must be done clearly and often. “It takes a lot of communication, overcommunication, especially when you're communicating through digital spaces,” Fluker shares. Though the digital space wasn't always easy to navigate, they were essential to Fluker's success. “I am a first-time entrepreneur, so not having that human interaction and reassurance that I could do it, and step into this newly created space that I decided to do, was dodging at first. But that's what zoom is there for. That's what other meeting tools are there for, and just having support from social [media] and my community on social media helps me propel myself forward.”

4. Get serious about self-care

It’s no secret that taking care of our mental health is essential to handling the uncertainty and pressures of life⎯ perhaps even more so for small business owners, and especially during a pandemic. Stress and burnout are creativity and productivity killers, and Fluker advocates for taking self-care seriously. She suggests carving out an hour a day for self-care like you would for any other business-related activity. “Make sure that you are incorporating an hour of self-maintenance every day. An hour just to yourself, if that's all you can do. Make sure you're doing it,” she advises. Her favorite methods of relaxation include catching up on a show, taking a relaxing bath, or reading a book. Whatever method you choose, she reiterates doing it every day.

Another form of self-care for Fluker that she wants to bring awareness to is self-talk. Her biggest tip for any entrepreneur is hands down, “Be kind to yourself.” The quality of your inner talk affects your mental health and your work. “You're already in business for yourself, which is a huge step forward and a hard task to do," she adds.

Written by Abby Stern

3 Tips To Manage A Work-Life Balance As A Momtrepreneur

Motherhood is universally known as one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and when you mix that with entrepreneurship, a whole new myriad of challenges are born. Both jobs are all-consuming and unpredictable, throwing off your work-life balance. Add to that the internalized (mom & entrepreneur) guilt for pushing everything not urgent to the back burner, difficulty asking for support, feeling like you have to be everything to everyone all at once, and having no time left to take care of yourself. For female entrepreneurs who are mothers, aka momtrepreneurs, trying to do “it all” can sometimes feel like an unwinnable, work-life, balancing act.

A lopsided work-life balance can have a negative impact on your personal life, professional life, and on your mental and physical health. The importance of cultivating a work-life balance is echoed by countless female CEOs, take these wise words from Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd for example. “It’s incredibly important, regardless of how tired, or busy, or overloaded you are in your day-to-day; you must take time to call your grandparents, or call an old friend, or take an afternoon off to spend time with your parents.” 

Are you a momtrepreneur struggling to manage your work-life balance? Here are three tips to help manage and sustain a work-life balance. Bring your balancing act to an equilibrium, which will thus increase your productivity and happiness.

1. Organize

Most things regarding our children and our business are not in our control. Taking control of controllable things allows a momtrepreneur to have agency, which releases stress and provides feelings of empowerment and accomplishment. The best way to take control is to be hyper-organized. 

Every evening before bed, create a detailed daily plan for the next day. Incorporate a work-life balance into your plan so the following day begins with a balanced intention. Next, add all your tasks to your calendar (Yes, all of them!), from conference calls to workouts, and even self-care. When time is physically blocked out on your calendar, you will more likely stick to a well-timed schedule. This will help your day flow smoothly and allow you to execute each task. 

2. Ask for help and delegate

While it can be difficult to relinquish control over certain aspects of your life, help from a colleague, partner, or friend can be an immeasurable asset to re-configure your work-life balance. The most successful momtrepreneurs know that asking for help and delegating tasks makes them stronger at both jobs. Sara Blakely, billionaire Spanx founder and CEO, is happy to accept help when she needs it. Blakely relies on her assistant to be her right-hand man. “…She can solve and figure out anything. She has actually gotten my child a passport and gotten him out of the country without being the parent. I don’t know how she does it,” Sara shared.

Never feel guilty about utilizing help if you can afford it. Such as asking a parent to extend your child’s playdate to get more work done, or using an app to order groceries. That is perfectly fine! While being a mom and an entrepreneur can feel lonely at times, no one truly does it all alone. It takes a village and asking yours for help can guide you to a greater work-life balance.

3. Practice severance

The new Apple TV show ("Severance") may a bit extreme, but it’s on to something. The series examines the topic of a complete separation of your work life from your personal life. When managing your work-life balance, it’s essential to separate the two and stay in the present moment. Obsessing about work while you’re in mom-mode, and vice-versa, guarantees that your attention will be elsewhere. You have to draw the line somewhere because this makes you more prone to mistakes at work, and mentally absent during important family moments.

It’s easier said then done when thinking multi-tasking while being present will make things better. A mindfulness or meditation practice is a great way to cultivate the art of presence and bring moderation to your work-life balance.  

Written by Abby Stern

C&C Classifieds Nº279: Alleyoop, Newsette, Vice Media Group, and More Are Hiring!

August is here, and as a new month arrives, you might be feeling a wave of change in your career as well. 

Kick off the month with a fresh batch of job listings for you to apply from our good friends at Alleyoop, The Honest Company, Vice Media Group, REED Public Relations, and so many more!

To post a new job, just click HERE. Good luck! 

WEST COAST

• Subtropic Studios | Creative Project Manager | Los Angeles, CA (Remote)

• Open | Head of Growth Marketing | Los Angeles, CA

• Salted | Marketing Manager | Los Angeles, CA

• The Honest Company | Senior Designer | Los Angeles, CA

• Avaline Wine | Head of Operations | Los Angeles, CA

• Sid Lee | Project Manager, Digital Kitchen | Los Angeles, CA

• Vice Media Group | Senior Brand Strategist | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Organizing Team Member | Los Angeles, CA

• Space Camp Organizing | Client Concierge | Los Angeles, CA

• FRAME | Social Media Manager | Culver City, CA

EAST COAST

• SDCO Partners | Business Development Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• SDCO Partners | Account Coordinator | Charleston, SC

• REED Public Relations | Public Relations Account Supervisor | Nashville, TN (Hybrid)

• Adventurous Journeys | Public Relations & Communications Manager | Nashville, TN

• Sakara Life | Senior Manager, Client Experience | New York, NY

• Parsley Health | Junior Billing Partner | New York, NY

• Refinery29 | Associate Creative Director | Brooklyn, NY

• Free People | Senior Stylist | Philadelphia, PA

• TAO Group | Corporate Partnerships Coordinator | New York, NY

• The Newsette | Account Director | New York, NY

• Warby Parker | Creative Project Manager | New York, NY

REMOTE

• Hims & Hers | Product Manager | Miami, FL (Remote)

• Karat Financial | Accounting Lead | New York, NY

• Levi Strauss & Co. | Associate Art Director | Remote

• Amy Porterfield | Content Manager | Remote

• Whym | Travel Planning Specialist | Remote

• Alleyoop | Senior Paid Media Manager | Remote

• Maria Forleo International | Web Designer | Remote

• The Shelf | Paid Social Media Expert | Remote

• The Bungalow PR | Junior Account Executive for PR Project | Remote

• Danika Daly PR | Junior PR Account Executive | Remote

CREATE & CULTIVATE

• Create & Cultivate • Director of Experiential • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Senior Social Media Manager • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Director, Brand Partnerships & Sales • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Associate Account Manager • Remote

• Create & Cultivate • Chief of Staff • Remote

WANT MORE?

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL LIST OF CLASSIFIEDS HERE. 

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How to Land the Job You're Overqualified For

Photo: Christina Jones Photography

You have all of the qualifications and more, but you just can’t seem to land the job. Sound familiar? It’s harder to land a job that you’re overqualified for than you might think.

Employers want to hire an employee who is the right fit in every sense of the phrase. If an employer sees you as overqualified, their concern might be that the compensation won’t be enough to keep you in the role, or worse, that you’ll be bored in the role and won’t do well.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, the result of poor job fit and employee turnover can cost an organization between 50 to 60% of the person’s annual salary. In other words, companies have to be extremely strategic when it comes to hiring, so if an interviewer or hiring manager has any inkling that you might not be the best candidate to fill the role, they will likely go with someone else.

Here are some tips for how to apply for a job you’re overqualified for—and get it!

TAILOR YOUR RÉSUMÉ TO THE JOB

Customize your résumé to meet the exact position you’re interested in. This is important when applying for any job, but when you’re overqualified for a position, it becomes even more crucial.

When you’re trying to customize your résumé to meet a job you’re overqualified for, the key is to highlight all of the skills and qualifications that the desired job description holds, and downplay unnecessary information that might deter someone from hiring you.

For example, if you held the title of client relationship manager and did everything from sales to client onboarding, to office management and administrative tasks, but you’re applying for an administrative assistant, you’ll want to highlight the office management and client-facing communication, and you’ll most likely want to downplay the sales aspects of your previous role.

Note: This does not mean that you should “dumb down” your résumé. It’s always great to highlight that you’re smart, strong, and capable, however when you’re applying for a job that you’re overqualified for, you need to highlight the requirements of the given job description and show your potential employer why you will be great and satisfied with the role. 

WORK THAT COVER LETTER

You can only customize a résumé so much. Your cover letter is where you can explain exactly why you want this specific position, and why you would be amazing at it. When you’re applying for a job that you’re overqualified for, use the cover letter to explain why you want to take on a role that may be beneath you.

This could be any reason, from caring deeply about a cause or wanting to work with this specific company, or even something more personal like relocation due to a family member. Whatever your reason is, use your cover letter to explain yourself and show the reader that you truly do want the position even if it might be a lower-level position that you’ve held in the past.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE

It’s easy to feel like you’re a shoo-in for the role if you have all of the qualifications and more, but try your best to look at it from the perspective of the hiring manager. Take note of the potential downfalls of hiring someone overqualified for the position, and aim to highlight why that won’t be a problem in your documents. Show all of the reasons why it would be beneficial to hire you and show the reader why you really want the job. Employers want to hire candidates who want to be there, and if you can show that through your résumé and cover letter, you will have a much better shot at securing the role.

Landing a job that you’re overqualified for is harder than you might expect, but if you can persuade your potential employer that you really want to take on the job and that you’re excited about it, the process will be much easier. Remember that it is a risk to hire an employee who is overqualified for a position, and show your potential employer why you’re worth that risk!

About the Author: A native San Franciscan, Michele Lando is a certified professional résumé writer and founder of writestylesonline.com. She has a passion for helping others present the best version of themselves, both on paper and in person, and works to polish an individual’s application package and personal style. Aiming to help create a perfect personal branding package, Write Styles presents tips to enhance your résumé, style, and boost your confidence.

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This story was originally published on May 17, 2018, and has since been updated.

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How This Relationship Expert Went from $100K in Debt to Building a 7-Figure Empire

“Success isn’t about proving your worth, it’s about owning it.”

—Lucy Shahjahan, Founder of Soul to Soul Global and Author of “Don’t Sh*t In My Vortex”

When I was 31 years old, I barely recognized myself. From the outside, it looked like I had everything. The job, the apartment, the luxurious vacations, but—while I was counting down the days until my next blissful week on a tropical island—I felt like I was dying on the inside. I was stuck in a vicious cycle of dating toxic men, drinking too much, and relying on a week of vacation to revive my battered soul, when, in reality, once the shine wore off my vacation tan, I was lost. 

Over the course of my entire life, I’d always been told that the secret to getting what I wanted—success, the perfect career, my soulmate—was toning my “too big” personality down. I felt like I needed to restrain myself to fit in a perfect little box, and I was miserable, exhausted, and attracting all of the wrong men in the process. No longer certain of who I was, I saw a picture of myself from a friend’s birthday party and knew right away that something needed to change. I couldn’t survive another ten years of forcing myself to be something I’m definitely not, so I went for it.

I packed my bags and left Sydney, Australia—putting 10,000 miles between myself and the life I no longer wanted—and threw myself into creating something new. I started with coaching events in New York City, charging $20 to $30 per person, and hustling hard to make things work. On top of working to pay the bills, I spent an average of 30 hours per week focusing on building my business—which was making less than $10,000 per year—but no matter how hard I tried, no matter how much I pushed myself to hustle, it wasn’t working.

I bought into the lie that I had to grind my way to the top, teetering on burnout in the process, until I found myself $100,000 in debt even as I tried to do things the so-called “right” way. I wasn’t happy, and it wasn’t working.

It wasn’t until I realized that I could choose joy—enjoying the process and even prioritizing rest—and be just as successful, if not more so than I was when I was forcing myself to inhabit the diehard “girl boss” energy. I didn’t need to work that hard, and I didn’t need to please everyone. In fact, it was better when I narrowed my focus—concentrating on my strengths and my true talents in helping single, professional women attract the soulmate relationship they deserved—and trusted in my own self-worth.

I started experimenting with different pricing models and business structures, eschewing the traditional coaching strategy and worked with a business coach to design a group coaching structure that suited my energy and my goals. My business exploded, and within three months I was making six-figures. Eighteen months later, I broke my first million.

While my journey to success has been anything but linear, it has taught me a few valuable lessons—things I couldn’t have picked up anywhere else—that have helped me not only transform my own business but also the lives of the women I work with.

1. You don’t have to prove your worth. 

Like so many other women entrepreneurs, I knew I was capable of big things, but I thought I had to push myself—and show my worth—in order to get there. I was trapped in a cycle of fighting and grinding for more that was really just a mask for my fear. 

I was afraid I wasn’t enough. I needed another certification, another course, another degree, anything to get me to the point where I could prove that I was worth taking up space. When, in reality, my worth is inherent.

Because success isn’t about proving your worth, it’s about owning it. Own what you want, who you are, and what you’re capable of—and release the imposter syndrome holding you back—so you can step into the unapologetic version of yourself who is capable of so much more.

2. You can’t skip mindset.

I’ve seen so many people with higher degrees, allow mindset to become an afterthought. And I was one of them. I thought if I worked hard enough, if I had a strategy, if I just pushed myself then I would achieve all of my goals in record time.

Unfortunately, your strategy doesn’t matter if you don’t believe that you deserve to do well. For me, unlocking my mindset and doing the inner work was the key to my business’ success. It gave me the courage to step into my power and raise my prices, and it allowed me to stop playing small. Without that shift? I never would’ve made it this far.

3. You need to put yourself first.

As a relationship coach, I use an unconventional method to help my clients attract the soulmate relationship they desire: by learning how to make yourself your number one priority and becoming your own soulmate first. For years, I thought I needed to focus on my ideal partner or relationship. I was waiting for Mr. Right to show up and complete me when, in reality, by learning to embrace myself unapologetically, I complete myself.

You aren’t broken or lost. You have everything you need within you right now. It’s about committing to your mindset work and big visions every day, then becoming that version of you a little bit more every day, and celebrating your growth along the way. Because when you celebrate the little things, they become the big things. 

Once you learn how to embody what you deserve, then I truly believe you can have it all: happiness, success, a beautiful soulmate relationship, whatever you want. Don’t be afraid to connect with who you are and what you want. As you build your own confidence, visualizing, and feeling the person you want to be, you’ll find yourself stepping into that reality. It’s about learning to ask yourself, “Who do I need to be right now to attract the life I want? What habits need to be created and kept?” It’s all about rigor, discipline, clarity, and that underbelly of passion fueling the way. It’s about embodying your magnificent essence fully and owning who you are.

Because you already deserve it but it’s not about saying you’re worthy, it’s about feeling that worthiness deep in your soul. It’s about giving yourself permission right now to own your full power unapologetically, embodying your sublime feminine energy, and accepting yourself on every level. 

About the Author: Lucy Shahjahan is the founder of Soul to Soul Global and author of “Don’t Sh*t In My Vortex,” coming out on January 28, 2021. An expert on love and relationships, her passion is helping high-achieving single women embody their feminine power, connect with their true selves, and attract their soulmate relationship in the process—all in a matter of months. You can follow her on Instagram at @lucyshahjahan.

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9 Secrets to Working Remotely From Your Apartment—and Loving It

Photo: Vlada Karpovich for Pexels

If working from home has become your new normal, then you’ve probably come to the same realization that we have: Working from your bed in your pajamas just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Maybe you’ve started missing the office and wearing blazers (and, dare we say, heels?!), but there are plenty of perks to WFH if you do it right. It’s all about creating the right environment, ditching distractions, learning what works for you, and finding your productive streak.

Working from home presents both advantages and disadvantages for any telecommuter, but for those of us who live in an apartment, telecommuting has its own set of challenges. Consider the following tips and tricks to turn your place into a work environment where you can get the job done.

1. Carve out a cozy workspace.

Apartments in cities tend to be tight on space, which can cut down on the available areas where you can work uninterrupted.

The most important thing to do before you start working out of your apartment is to think about where you plan to situate your home office to conduct business effectively. Identify potential workspaces that lie outside regular traffic patterns. Working at the kitchen table might be fine if you live alone, but if you live with a spouse or roommate or have children, you need a place away from the action.

For example, rethink your underused rooms. Consider using a small guest bedroom, place a cubicle panel or screen in a corner of your own bedroom, or modify a walk-in closet to accommodate a desk and bookcase. Wherever you set up your office, you’ll need to make sure you have excellent Wi-Fi and cell phone service in order to conduct business—so a room in the center of a brick building might not be conducive to your productivity.

2. Decorate your space.

Just because your space is small doesn’t mean you have to skimp on decorating. Turning your own quiet nook into a place with personality can increase your desire to be there for long hours. Hang your favorite photos or works of art, bring in plants, or add knick-knacks and keepsakes.

Studies have shown that certain colors have a direct effect on our mood and productivity. When painting, papering or choosing furnishings for your space, keep these ideas in mind:

• Blue is seen as calming and helps with concentration.

• Yellow and orange can stimulate creativity and make you feel good.

• Light green can be soothing, denoting a connection with nature.

• Red can provide a boost of energy.

• Purple is often associated with wealth and wisdom.

3. Learn how to deal with distractions.

Nothing zaps your productivity faster when working from home than having to respond to distractions. Whether you have kids running in and out, a spouse looking for their favorite shirt, or the neighbors in the apartment above practicing their tap dancing skills, dealing effectively with distractions is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

To drown out barking dogs, traffic on the street, or even your roommate streaming a marathon of their favorite Netflix show, choose noise-canceling headphones that help you focus on the task at hand. Before you sit down to work, turn off noisy appliances or hang a fiberglass blanket over the door to block out noise. Plan ahead for conference calls or phone conversations with potential clients, or make sure to schedule them for times when you know you will be alone.

4. Store inventory off-site.

If you have a business that requires inventory and you don’t have space at home to store the merchandise, consider renting a storage unit. The extra space you’ll find after moving unnecessary items to storage can make it easier to stay organized and keep your personal belongings separate from items required for work.

5. Dress for the office.

While it may be tempting to sit around in your pajamas all day when you work from home, it can help to treat your remote work like traditional employment by wearing designated work clothes. Getting up in the morning and getting dressed for work helps you separate your private life from your professional one, further preparing you mentally for your job.

6. Identify a specific scent with work.

Another way to distinguish time to work from personal time is by designating a specific scent for work. Burn a candle, turn on a diffuser, or even wear perfume during your office hours.

7. Invest in productivity tools.

Make your home office feel more like a traditional office space by investing in appropriate supplies. Choose a notepad and pens—and perhaps even a computer—designated solely for work. Keep in mind that office supplies qualify as expenses related to your home office and are usually deductible at tax time.

The same is true for software. Countless apps and online services are available to help home workers with correspondence and communication, scheduling, collaborating on tasks across multiple projects, or measuring productivity to make sure you’re keeping up. Marketing software can help you enhance your client interactions, and accounting software can help with tracking time and expenses.

8. Give your day some structure.

Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can’t implement some structure in your workday. Use your peak hours effectively. Consider the time of day when you are most alert and use that time to accomplish your biggest goals. Schedule work time and try to avoid personal activities (or at least relegate them to designated breaks).

At the end of the day, power off your electronics, turn off your work phone and move away from your desk or work surface. Also, avoid taking your laptop to bed to work or working from the couch. This can make it harder to separate work time from personal time and unwind later.

9. Communicate with colleagues.

If you are working for a company, be sure to communicate regularly with your colleagues. This can help you remain connected with company goals and stay up to date on any progress made for team projects. Regular dialogue with co-workers also reminds you that you’re a part of a team and keeps you from feeling isolated.

Working remotely can provide numerous benefits for employees, companies, and even clients. It also can be mightily challenging when space is limited. Take advantage of the work-at-home opportunity by setting up an optimal space, figuring out what keeps you motivated and connected, and sticking with it until each day’s work is done.

Written by Laura Gayle of BusinessWomanGuide.org.

This post was published on January 5, 2019, and has since been updated.

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I Have Been Working From Home for Years—This Is How to Do It Successfully

Photo: Lisa Fotios for Pexels

Given that many companies are implementing work-from-home policies to help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Create & Cultivate included!), we decided to reach out to some real work from home-office pros to find out how it’s done. Because, as enticing as working from home sounds in theory, it takes a surprising amount of discipline to stay productive and on-task with all the distractions that come with being at home (we’re looking at you, Netflix, pile of laundry, and sink full of dishes).

Ahead, six full-time WFH experts—spanning a senior fashion and beauty editor who’s been working from home for 7 (!) years to an editorial director who’s been working from home for 2 1/2 years to an acclaimed author who’s been working from home for just 8 months—share their tips and tricks for staying motivated and productive while working from home. Keep scrolling to find out how to establish a morning routine that will set you up for success and how to wind down and disconnect at the end of the day.

Sara Tan, Senior West Coast Fashion & Beauty Editor, Bustle

WFH Experience Level: 7 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

I usually wake up between 6:15 and 6:30 am, depending on how many times I hit the snooze button. It's a habit I'm trying to break, but the first thing I do when I wake up is check my phone. My office's HQ is in New York, so by the time I get up, I've gotten a handful of emails and messages already. 

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

I'll have my morning coffee, turn on NPR to listen to the news, and continue checking my emails and, yes, Instagram. I aim to get to the gym by 7:30 am unless I sign up for an earlier Barry’s or SoulCycle class. Checking my emails and my schedule and fitting in a workout in the morning put me in the best mindset for a successful and productive day. If I don't get a workout in, I'll spend the whole day thinking about how I'm going to squeeze it in later. I feel like it's my way of meditating and having "me" time before what's usually always a busy day.  

“When you work from home, it’s easy to just plop onto the couch with your laptop, but I make it a point that the couch and the TV are off-limits during the workday.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your home? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH? 

I do and I think that's really important! When you work from home, it's easy to just plop onto the couch with your laptop, but I make it a point that the couch and the TV are off-limits during the workday. Making a to-do list and a rough schedule keeps me on task, as well as scheduling in breaks because realistically, I'm going to throw some laundry in or pick up some lunch. But as long as I allot myself a small window of time to do those things, then I don't feel guilty about it — it's just part of my schedule. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day? 

After working from home for 7 years, I still struggle with this. It's really hard to disconnect at the end of the day from work because I work where I live! I really try to make an effort to turn my laptop off and not check my work emails after 6 pm, but I have to say, it's really impossible in the line of work that I'm in. But something I have gotten a lot better at is not working or responding to work emails during the weekend. That has really helped me avoid work burnout. 

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time? 

I make sure my laptop is out of sight! I take my dog for a walk, I cook, I have a nice, phone-free dinner with my husband, I call a friend. Separating work time from your free time is really about making a schedule for yourself and sticking to it, including when to stop working. 

Nicole Lesmeister, Writer & Editor

WFH Experience Level: 3 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

I wake up around 6:30 am. During this uncertain global situation, I’ve been trying to let myself wake up naturally and get all the sleep I need, but I go to bed around 10:30/11 pm, so my internal clock still gets me up at that time. The first thing I do is (avoid my phone for 30 minutes to an hour) scrape my tongue and do 5-10 minutes of oil pulling to deep cleanse, Ayurveda-style. Wellness truly begins in the mouth!

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

I then have a tall glass of warm water with lemon, because when you dehydrate overnight, your brain actually shrinks by 20%! Gotta lube up the ol’ noggin. I brew a pot of hibiscus tea or make a matcha if I’m feeling groggy and have a little quiet time with a book or just with my thoughts while I sip it, before I do some movement. 

Depending on the day, I might do a HIIT or some yoga. I have a go-to flow, but when I feel like mixing it up, I’ll look up a Yoga With Adriene video on YouTube. She has a ton of really great free videos, and there are always video workouts on ClassPass you can do at home, too! 

Moving in the morning is really crucial to me for feeling energized throughout the day and avoiding a wandering mind as soon as I open my computer. It gets the blood pumping and something about a good sweat first thing just makes me feel strong and powerful. 

I do some vigorous dry brushing afterwards, hop in the shower, and make a simple breakfast– my favorite is soft scrambled eggs with some sautéed greens like dandelion and kimchi. 

“I schedule little breaks, so I try to do a significant amount of work on something before I make an afternoon snack, or go to pilates, take a walk, or run to the grocery store. It’s all scheduled in, so I’m not wandering away from work on a whim.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your apartment? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH?

I have a desk where I always start work, but after I take a pause for lunch I always find myself rotating to sitting at the higher bar area of my counter. I love the afternoon sun that seat gets; it’s a comfy perch and I feel productive there.

I rely on my daily planner from Oh Deer so much. It’s organized perfectly for me with an objective section, urgent section, list section, notes, and even a little space for doodles (!). I reference my Google calendar to see if I have any calls or meetings scheduled, and make a detailed list here right away, listing them in order from top priority to lowest priority of the day. I do this because I like to make an ambitious list that is still realistic, so if my day doesn’t go as perfectly streamlined as planned (they rarely do, right?) then at least the major objectives are taken care of.  

One thing I make sure to do so that I avoid being distracted by errands and house tasks is to add them to my list if I need to do them. I decide what day I can squeeze them into or what day it makes the most sense, and stick to a day and time that I do them. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

I set tiny goals for myself, or little deadlines throughout the day. Like, “Let’s do a chunk of this client until noon, and get it done” (or a ¼ of the way done, depending on the project size and deadline, etc). I also schedule little breaks, so I try to be done with something or do a significant amount of work with something before I make an afternoon snack, or go to pilates, take a walk, or run to the grocery store. It’s all scheduled in, so I’m not wandering away from work on a whim.

I also cut myself off from working too late if I have a day in which I start work early, which is ideally most days.  When you WFH, it’s easy to feel like you work a 15 hour day when you don’t account for or schedule in the typical distractions… but even in an office no one works eight full hours. About five true, solid, productive hours a day is typical for the average human. 

If I have a deadline that day, I might work a little later, but essentially I give myself a cut-off time to make dinner and that lights a fire under my own a$$ to get what I need done at a decent time (5 or 6 pm) so I’m not burning out my retinas with blue light into the evening. No one is producing pure gold after dilly-dallying on their computer all day and into the evening anyway. My clients deserve my best self.

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

Carving out that cut-off time to prepare a nutritious but thoughtfully tasty meal is my ultimate act of self-care (and love language to my S.O.). It’s meditative, resetting, and gives me unwind time after to rest and digest so I can sleep well and be productive again the next day! Sometimes I’ll start my to-do list for the next day in my planner if I’m feeling juiced about it, but most often I just prep the kitchen for the next morning, set out my tea, fill the kettle. Stuff like that.

Depending on the intensity of the movement I did in the morning, I’ll usually try to take a little walk after dinner or some light stretching or foam rolling. Being a writer requires a lot of sitting, so making sure I move my body in intervals throughout the day keeps me from feeling tight and weighed down by my own poor posture (lol working on it) and gravity.

Because my S.O. and I have our shows we like to watch together for some cuddle time on the couch, I always make sure to read a little before bed in some warm light. Gotta allow the eyeballs some non-screen time so that my circadian clock can recalibrate! About 30-40 minutes is lovely, but sometimes it only takes me 15 to drift off.

Kelly Dawson, Freelance Writer and Editor & Editorial Director, Semihandmade

WFH Experience Level: 2 1/2 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking?  

I wake up around 7:00 am. My alarm is on my phone, which has been a habit I've been meaning to break for a while. But I do keep my phone on the opposite wall, away from my bed, so I have to get up to turn the alarm off. The first thing I do when I wake up is open my blinds, open the window, breathe in the fresh air, and make my bed. Yes, I make my bed every morning, and I do think it helps me start the day on a good note.

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

Ideally, my morning routine goes like this: I have breakfast, which is shorthand for I drink a strong cup of coffee with food. I watch a few minutes of CBS This Morning while I eat, change, and then do about a half-hour or so of stretches, weights, or cardio—I alternate the days to make it more fun. After that I get dressed, which is always an interesting topic for people who work from home. I know that it's usually perfectly fine if I wear sweatpants, but for the most part, I pick out an outfit, do my hair, and maybe put on makeup. It's nothing that doesn't take 10 minutes or so. I find that if I don't get dressed, I'm not as focused.

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your home? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH? 

I have a desk that I work at every day, and I work between 8:30 am and 6:30 pm, give or take. I think the thing that really helps me stay on task is a day planner. Every night before shutting work down I write a to-do list of all the things I need to accomplish for the next day, and I split it into columns. The left side is for the big stuff I have to do—write a story, do an interview, whatever—and the right side is for all the smaller things to get out of the way, like emails to send. I do the hardest ones on the list first, while the caffeine is still flowing, and then move on to the easier ones. I try to keep the list reasonable so that I don't feel panicked about completing everything. And to be fair to myself, whatever doesn't get done carries on to the next day. The goal is to keep from scrambling on Friday, which thankfully hasn't happened yet. I should say that most of my work-from-home schedule is on a weekly basis, which is why I can play with things a little. 

As for email, I only check it at the start of the day, before lunch, and then right before I close up shop. I usually pretend I don't have a TV after breakfast, and I keep my phone either off or out of sight unless I'm using it for work. If I didn't do this it would be a slippery slope into Bravo and Instagram binges.

I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing to do laundry at home during "work hours" if you can swing it. I sometimes use it as a great gauge of time. For instance, like most people, my inbox is a never-ending black hole of notifications. But, I know that my washer takes about an hour to do a standard load. So that's how much time I give to answering emails before throwing things in the dryer and moving on to actual work. The same thing goes for cleaning and errands. If I'm stuck on something, I clean for a bit, run a fast errand, or go for a quick walk. That helps me think things through without staring blankly at my computer or scrolling some site. I still do that, I'm not a robot, but I try to be very aware of how I spend my time. 

When you're in charge of your own work schedule, you can—and should—be flexible. But that flexibility has to have boundaries so that you don't get distracted. If you're more of a morning person, then get up earlier: It'll mean every afternoon can feel like a weekend. If you're more of a night owl, sleep in: It'll mean you can have slower mornings. But tell yourself that you're working, you're not just hanging out at home, and you need to plan accordingly. Of course, I'm saying all of this without children to worry about, which will obviously add a layer of complication to everything. As far as my universal advice goes, just try to be kind to yourself as you figure it out, and do your best to be intentional. I started my work-from-home life as a morning person, spent some time as a night owl, and now I'm in the middle. There are some days that completely get off track, and that's fine too. You'll get back on track tomorrow. 

“The thing that has really helped me successfully work from home, minus a day planner, is my community of office and freelance friends. I check in with them daily, and we either tackle a work problem together or just send funny things to each other. ”

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day? 

The thing that has really helped me successfully work from home, minus a day planner, is my community of office and freelance friends. I check in with them daily, and we either tackle a work problem together or just send funny things to each other. That helps me feel like I'm not in a little bubble, even if the messages come in little bubbles. On the good days, I'm motivated and productive because I'm really into the work I'm doing and it's all coming together. On the bad days, I motivate myself with things like, "Ok, if I finish this task then I can have some candy or read the new magazine that came in the mail." There's also something to be said about not checking something off my to-do list. Only I would know, but that's enough of a motivator for my type-A personality. If you need someone to hold you accountable, my community also has "motivation buddies." We pair off, and our buddy knows what we need to accomplish and our ideal timeline. Then we check in with each other on how the project's coming along and what kind of support we need to make it happen. 

Work burnout is a real possibility when instead of an in-the-flesh boss, there's just this omnipresent feeling of a boss. That feeling can give you the idea that you have to answer all the emails and do all the things right this second, because this omnipresent "boss" can feed off the guilt and anxiety you have about being at home. First off, working from home is still working, and it doesn't need to be qualified. Working from home is worthy of respect, and it's how a third of the American workforce made its living before the pandemic. At this moment in time, joining our ranks is keeping everyone safer. If you look at working from home as "less than," then you run the risk of wearing yourself out because you're trying to prove that you're just as productive as someone in an office. And we all know a certain someone in an office who makes that thought untrue. 

When feelings of burnout happen to me, I've learned to just let it happen. I try to do the things I have to do for the day, but the rest, I put on pause. No one is going to get mad at you if you don't respond to their email right away, and when you do, it will still find them well. Shut your computer down, keep your phone off, and lay down for a while. Then, call a friend and tell them how you're feeling. Then, make some nachos. Then, listen to a happy song. Maybe two happy songs, depending on what you need. If it's small-scale burnout, it'll pass. If it's big-time burnout, don't be afraid to seek professional help, if you can.

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

This is a tough one for me, because if I'm writing and in a groove then I don't want to stop. But the honest answer is: I get hungry. I usually stop working when I need to eat dinner. I make a note of where I wanted to go with whatever thought I was working on, and then sign off. Sometimes I'll write after dinner, usually if I'm on a deadline. But usually once I leave my desk at night the work day is over. Lately I've been trying to separate work and dinner with a cool-down walk in between, so we'll see how that plays out in the coming weeks. 

Another honest truth is that it's tough for me to balance work with free time! I've tried to be better about it since the start of this year, but I fail at it a lot. If there's a quote that's in my head whenever I do fail, it's what Toni Morrison's dad told her when she was struggling at her first job. He said, "Go to work, get your money, come home." Home is where the work is, so it's complicated. But home is where life is, too. And right now, when everything feels uncertain, I'm trying to remember to "come home" to my life mentally and physically. I need the balance probably more than ever.

Kamari Chelsea, Strategic Media Consultant

WFH Experience Level: 1 1/2 years

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

Typically, I tend to wake up around 7:30 am. If you're working from home with your partner (as I am), it's essential that you try to get on the same page with wake up times to avoid feeling envious or lazy when you see your partner sleeping in.

The first thing I do when I open my eyes (or sometimes even before) is repeat an affirmation of gratitude to myself. When you're self-employed and always hustling to make things happen, mental health is more important than ever. It's critical to start your day being thankful for what you already have so that you aren't overcome with a "lack" mentality (especially during these times).

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

8 am: My morning routine firmly begins at 8 am because any later makes me feel like I've missed opportunities. I start the day with a hot shower, skincare routine, and picking out a cozy work-from-home look that is presentable enough for any video conferences I may have scheduled. Then, I make a two-minute commute to my office.

9 am: I created a mediation and yoga corner in my office for when I need breaks, but I also use this corner to do a morning meditation and stretch. I set a timer for 10 minutes or play Jhene Aiko's Trigger Protection Mantra for its sound healing qualities; after this, I typically feel safe and ready for what the day may bring.

9:10 am: I make a quick protein-packed breakfast for myself and my husband (usually eggs and a Vanilla Super Coffee). On Fridays, I used to cheat and drive straight to the Starbucks drive-through. Lately, I've been making my own "Starbucks" moment at home using my favorite plant-based coffee mixes.

9:30 am: I log on and feel ready to take on the day!

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your home? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, and running errands while you're WFH?

One of the best investments I have made since I began working from home is converting one of the rooms in my house into a dedicated office space! It allows me to feel like I have a place to go every day to work and a place to leave when I need to separate work from my home life. I close the door to my office when I'm done for the day or on weekends, and I get to have my own life, away from the energy of work.

This way, during my business hours, I am unable to see laundry, the kitchen, television, or any other distractions. And, when I'm watching Netflix or unwinding with a glass of wine, I don't have my laptop and work notes beckoning me to come back to work.

Separation is a huge aspect of maintaining your mental health when working from home. Even if you find a corner that's set apart from your personal space (not in your bedroom), it will make all the difference by creating structure.

“When you’re self-employed and always hustling to make things happen, mental health is more important than ever. It’s critical to start your day being thankful for what you already have so that you aren’t overcome with a “lack” mentality (especially during these times).”

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

Admittedly, when I first started my business, I burned out pretty hard. I was continually working because I felt the pressure to be "on" since my life was now intertwined with my work. Then, I had a conversation with my Dad and he gave me great insight. He said, "If you earn $100,000 in business, but work 100 hours a week, you're essentially making less than $20 an hour with no benefits." I realized then that I have to value every hour of my life because time is our most precious commodity. It was then that I realized to start capping my hours on specific projects based on the rates I was charging. If you're a full-time salaried employer, this should be even easier—set a rule to shut the computer by 6 pm at least three days a week. You'll be giving yourself an instant hourly raise!

To stay motivated and productive, I use standard systems, including a whiteboard with my daily to-dos. I break them up and task myself with achieving half before lunch and half after lunch. I'm strict about being on “Do Not Disturb” during peak working periods, and I'm BIG into not checking email constantly. Inbox zero be damned!

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

I love a glass of wine and a trashy reality show as much as the next girl! But first, as soon as I log off, I try to do something physical like spinning, walking, or lifting. This helps burn all the energy of my workday off my body.

Then (and this is admittedly a bit counterintuitive), I guzzle water, take another shower, and wind down (or shall I say, wine down) with my husband by cooking dinner. We rarely eat out, and cooking is a creative task that allows me to feel like I have moments in my day to look forward to doing whatever I want and being super inventive!

Amanda Montell, Writer & Author of Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language

WFH Experience Level: 8 months

What time do you wake up? What's the first thing you do upon waking? 

Really late. I've become a night owl in this WFH phase of my career (it's like I'm on Hawaii's time zone now) so I find myself working best between the hours of 3 pm and 10 or 11 pm. I don't get to bed till maybe 2 am. I wake up around 10:30 am, peel myself out of bed, brush my teeth, wash my face and hands (!!!), and guzzle a coffee.

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

My morning is pretty leisurely. Because my job (writing books) is very solitary with little collaboration and few hard deadlines, I get to set my own pace. As it turns out, that pace requires a lot of warming up. Unless I have to interview a source early in the morning, I start my day with coffee, a small breakfast, hanging out with my dog and two cats, and checking my email/socials. Then, I put on a fresh set of clothes (still loungewear, it's more of a symbol that the day has begun), plug my laptop into my monitor, and review the day's tasks. 

I'm not big into fancy to-do list apps or color-coded schedules—I keep track of everything I need to do for the day in my Google calendar, and I keep my to-do list really streamlined, so I have maybe two or three big work tasks for the day (e.g., write pages 10-13 of the book, pull quotes from the latest interview transcription, call my agent). I never crowd my to-do list, because that feels like I'm setting myself up to fail. My morning routine is all about creating this sense of "I can handle today, today is going to be chill," and approaching it from that relaxed place rather than an anxious one, and usually I wind up being way more productive than I meant to. 

“I never crowd my to-do list, because that feels like I’m setting myself up to fail.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your apartment? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH?

My porch, my couch, or my dining table, where I have a big monitor that I can easily set up and takedown. I never work from bed. I'm embarrassed to say I'm kind of messy and hopeless around the house, so the urge to procrastinate by doing laundry or dishes is pretty easy to resist, haha. I'm lucky to have my dream job—I'm genuinely obsessed with writing books—so to my great fortune, self-motivating isn't all that hard. Long before I was getting paid to do this work, I was doing it anyway. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

I'm very gentle with myself! If I need a break, I take it. Just like I know eating junk food in moderation won't ruin my body because I generally eat pretty healthy, I know that in the end, having "lazy" workdays will get balanced out by having spurts of hyper-productive days. If I have really terrible writer's block, I get up and take a walk or read a few pages of a great book (in the same genre as the one I'm writing, so I don't cross-contaminate) as a palate cleanser. 

When you transition to working from home, there's an awkward period where you're always questioning if you should be getting more done, but after a week or so (sometimes more, sometimes less), you start to find your groove. And of course, it's different for everyone. My old roommate who worked from home was most productive between the hours of 7 am and noon. My partner has all these time management apps he swears by. At a point, you just have to ignore the prevailing wisdom and figure out what works for you.

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

I normally see friends at the end of the day for happy hour or dinner. Wine typically marks the end of the day for me, haha. But again, I'm fortunate that my work is something I love and would be doing either way, and I actually think that in our current age, strict work-life boundaries aren't necessarily the most realistic or productive for everyone. I'm 28 and have no kids... why should I stop working at 6 pm if I'm on a roll? If I'm motivated to write for an hour at midnight, I let myself. I know my work situation won't be so flexible forever, so for now, I just let myself be sort of loosey-goosey. So far, it's working out well.

Kelsey Clark, Freelance Writer & Content Strategist

WFH Experience Level: 5 months

What time do you wake up? What’s the first thing you do upon waking? 

Despite my best efforts, I am still not a morning person. I usually wake up around 8 or 8:30 am (unless I'm going to a morning workout class) and check my email first thing. Coffee and water are immediate seconds!  

Can you walk us through your morning routine? How does it set you up for a successful and productive workday? 

I've only been freelance for five months now, so I'm still perfecting my morning routine. There's definitely an art to it—it can be incredibly difficult to maintain self-discipline when you're WFH. 

Right now, I wake up, check my email, and drink coffee in bed or on the couch, then either shower or complete some sort of small grooming routine (i.e. wash my face, brush my teeth, brush my hair, etc.) depending on when I'm planning to workout that day. I think it's important to stick to a grooming ritual, even if it's as simple as brushing your teeth and splashing cold water in your face. In my experience, this signals to my body and brain that it's time to wake up.  

From there, I apply my skincare/makeup and get dressed. If I'm staying at my apartment, I usually skip makeup and apply some fancy skincare—I've really enjoyed treating my skin to serums, masks, etc. during the day since I don't have to worry about layering makeup on top. 

As far as my outfit goes, it's honestly leggings and a sweater, which is something I want to work on—I very much believe that what you wear influences your mood! If I'm going to a coffee shop (not right now, obviously), I usually wear very light makeup (i.e. tinted moisturizer, boy brow, mascara) and my standard jeans, ankle boots, and a sweater/T-shirt/turtleneck. I'm based in Detroit now, but most of my work is still based in New York, so in-person meetings are few and far between (i.e. I rarely have to worry about dressing up). 

Routine aside, I aim to be actively working and starting the day's tasks by 9 am with the rest of the world! As much as my night owl self would love to work a 10-7 or 8, I think it's important to be online with everyone else; I feel anxious otherwise. 

“I totally use my phone as a procrastination crutch—it’s incredibly helpful to just have it out of sight, out of mind.”

Do you have a dedicated workspace in your apartment? What helps you stay on task and protect your time from cleaning the house, doing laundry, or running errands while you're WFH? 

Unfortunately, my apartment is too small for a dedicated workspace (I'm moving in a month and can't wait to have a desk!). I do find that I'm more productive if I'm able to head out to a coffee shop, even for just a few hours, but obviously that isn't an option right now. Keeping myself on-task is an ongoing battle, but I have found a few tricks that keep procrastination at bay: 

• I generally leave Netflix/music off, unless I'm doing something more visual like sourcing imagery where I'm not bothered by distracting sound.

• Reward myself with small treats, i.e. when you finish this piece or send all these emails, you can make tea or check Instagram. Small victories! 

• Allot a certain amount of time for each task, i.e. I'll do email outreach until 11 am, then work on this piece from 11 am to 3 pm and the source market from 3 pm to 6 pm, etc. Even if you don't finish each task, it's important to move onto the next or else you can quickly feel overwhelmed/behind. If you stay on task #1 all day, it's easy to feel like your day was a failure. 

• Reserve certain time slots for any errands or small chores you want to do, i.e. at noon I'll take a lunch break and do the dishes. Or when I commute home from this meeting or outing, I'll stop and grab groceries, etc. 

• Honestly, hide your phone. I will literally put it in another room or throw it on the other side of the couch, as crazy as that sounds. I totally use my phone as a procrastination crutch—it's incredibly helpful to just have it out of sight, out of mind.  

• Change your scenery after a while, even if it's just moving from your couch to a chair, or your bed to the couch, or your couch to your friend or significant other's couch. 

How do you prevent work burnout? How do you stay motivated and productive throughout the day?

It's definitely hard to separate work from your personal life when you work for yourself. While I do work the occasional Sunday, I try my best to enjoy my weekends to the fullest and allow myself to take time off and relax just like everyone else. I also have direct control over how much work I take on and which projects to prioritize from a financial perspective, which is really nice. I've had a few months where I was drowning, and the next month, I was able to tweak my schedule a bit to avoid total overwhelm. 

For me, just knowing that everyone else is still working and grinding it out is strangely motivating. I made the choice to go off on my own, and I want to hold myself to the same standards as everyone else in the traditional workforce. It's important to me and my self-esteem to work hard and still feel like an equally productive member of society, even if I'm working from my couch. I want to succeed at my own venture, and I have direct control over that outcome. There's no part of me that decided to go freelance so I could be lazy or sleep in, you know? If anything, the pressure and motivation to succeed are amplified. 

How do you wind down and log off at the end of the day? How do you separate your work time from your free time?

This can be difficult depending on workload, but I think having an after-work activity definitely forces you to log off and signals the end of the workday. For example, my significant other usually comes over after work, so I'm forced to log off and begin my evening wind-down. This can even be as simple as going to a workout class, going to the grocery store, hanging with your roommates, grabbing a drink with a friend, making dinner for yourself, etc. Just some sort of hard stop. These post-work activities also serve as motivation to get your work done throughout the day—i.e. I want to be able to grab drinks with this person, so I'm going to make sure I get all my work done.

Up next: 10 Women Who Have Your Dream Job on How They Fight Burnout, Stay Motivated, and Get Re-Energized for Work

The C&C Team Swears By These Wellness Products for Staying Healthy and Focused at the Office

This post is in paid partnership with OLLY.

Photo: Smith House Photo

Most of us work too hard—it’s just a fact. According to a recent study, the average full-time employee works 47 hours a week (yes, that’s 7 hours more than the standard 40). On top of that, four out of five of us eat our lunch at our desks without stepping away from our screens. And, to top it all off, we only put 54% of our paid vacation days to good use. Look, we get it—it can feel near impossible to prioritize self-care when you’re trying to get to inbox zero, reply to every Slack message, and hit those tight deadlines.

So, in the interest of multi-tasking and seeking ways we can take a moment for ourselves without leaving our desks (hey, baby steps, right?), we partnered with our friends at OLLY and asked our Create & Cultivate team to share the wellness products they swear by for staying healthy and focused at the office—and our colleagues did not disappoint. Spanning stress-reducing gummies to glow-inducing collagen peptides, these are the products that our co-workers here at C&C HQ keep stocked in their desk drawers at all times.

Keep scrolling to find out how you too can squeeze in a moment of self-care during your 9-5.

Maeve Casey, Account Manager

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Daily Energy

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because: I’m not a coffee drinker and sometimes I need a little pick-me-up to give me that extra boost of energy. I take this every morning for sustained energy throughout the day. Olly Daily Energy gummies do just that while tasting amazing.

OLLY Daily Energy

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Alyssa Sage, Marketing Manager

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Goodbye Stress

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because: Who isn’t stressed out these days? These gummies are my go-to during an especially busy work week, or when I’m traveling for an event. They’re extremely calming and help me crush through my heavy workload days.

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Carly Johnson, Sr. Director, Brand Marketing

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Collagen Gummy Rings

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because:  I am always open to testing different skincare regimens that could potentially help prevent aging and these Collagen Gummy Rings are my newest obsession. They do their part to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles but if I am being completely honest, they are absolutely delicious, too.

OLLY Collagen Gummy Rings

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Sacha Strebe, Editorial Director 

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Active Immunity Berry Brave

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because: We are always on the go—when one show ends another one begins. This delicious gummy vitamin is my savior because it keeps my immunity in check so that when life gets tough, I get even tougher. 

OLLY Active Immunity Berry Brave

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Nairi Najarian, Sr. Director, Digital Marketing

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Sleep

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because: Our team clocks a lot of miles when traveling coast-to-coast to all the amazing cities that graciously host our conferences and summits. We have the ATX Pop-Up in March and our Beauty Summit in New York this May, so packing my OLLY Sleep gummies inside my carry-on is my must before a flight. They definitely mellow and calm my mind down, so I can rest up and catch some much-needed zzzs before the next stop! 

OLLY Sleep

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Cierra White, Talent & Sales Coordinator 

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Glowing Skin

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because: Every day is the perfect day to put your best face forward. OLLY’s Glowing Skin helps me do just that with its perfect mixture of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and sea buckthorn. I not only feel good but my skin looks good! That’s why Glowing Skin is my go-to!

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Megan Beauchamp, Managing Editor

My Office Self-Care Staple Is: OLLY Goodbye Stress 

It’s My 9-to-5 Go-to Because: When I’m on deadline, these stress-relieving gummies help bring down my cortisol levels without compromising my ability to focus, which is exactly the mindset I need to be in to get the job done. Plus, they taste just like berries (always a plus!).

OLLY Goodbye Stress

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Neha Kumar, Chief Operating Officer

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Up next: 10 Women Who Have Your Dream Job on How They Fight Burnout, Stay Motivated, and Get Re-Energized for Work

These Workspace Cofounders Share the Problem With Saying Women Can "Have It All”

June Diane Raphael and Jess Zaino want to make coming back from maternity leave easier for new moms. The actor-producer duo, mothers themselves, found themselves constantly apologizing for their own motherhood—so they decided to do something about it. Enter The Jane Club, a Los Angeles-based coworking space where working and mothering go hand in hand. Beyond a (staggeringly beautiful) workspace, the club also offers full-time childcare and amenities like gym space, car washes, and wellness exams.

Below, June and Jess talk about what inspired the club and the best advice they’ve ever received.

What inspired The Jane Club? What did you see missing from the market?

We were both apologizing for being mothers at work and apologizing for working outside of the home when we were with our kids. There was no single place where you could pursue ALL of your success: the success of your professional dreams and the success of your motherhood. We were incredibly wary of the conversations around “having it all” and wanted to create a space that actually built the walls to do that.

Tell us a little about the club itself. What unique problems does the club solve for working moms?

We call The Jane Club the “mother of all workspaces” because women come here to work, yes, but they can also have their children taken care of at The Nest. They can work out. They can meditate. They can shop. They can learn about a topic they didn’t know about. They can get a blowout. They can get their car washed. All in our space. The reason we are constantly offering our Janes (our term for members) services to make their lives easier (from mani pedis to flu shots) is because we understand all that women are doing, all that they are taking care of in their lives. We take care of the women who are taking care of everyone else.

“We take care of the women who are taking care of everyone else. ”

We’ve gotta know—why is it called The Jane Club?

The Jane Club is inspired by Jane Addams, who paid the first month’s rent to start the first Jane Club for a group of working women in Chicago. Jane also co-founded the ACLU and was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She is considered the “mother of social work.” We also love having women’s names on buildings.

What brought you two together as business partners? What do you think each other brings to the table that makes for a great partnership?

We met at a women’s progressive political group after the 2016 election and were both in need of what The Jane Club offered. When Jess came to June with the idea, it was a no-brainer. From there, we pulled together an incredible team of women, including our Co-CEOs Zoe Regan and Dori Howard, to launch the business.

We are very different people and have different ways of looking at things. As challenging as that can be, it’s also our greatest asset as partners. We are not afraid to have difficult conversations and “go there” with each other.

Can women really “have it all?” Is that a myth?

We believe this phrase has been launched at women without any infrastructure in place to actually support them “having it all”—and it’s had damaging results. The Jane Club is interested in creating real support for women in their real lives and honoring all the work that they do. Can you imagine a world in which taking care of our children, elderly parents, and ourselves was valued?

What advice would you give to new moms who are facing the same pressure you faced when returning to work?

First, we would ask if their employer would consider having them work out of The Jane Club for their first year back at work. They can have their infants with us at The Nest and breastfeed in any area of The Jane Club.

If that’s not possible, our advice would be to reach out to their village for help—to be honest about what they need.

“We need to rewrite the rules between women and work.
The Jane Club is doing just that.”

What are the common challenges you've seen among female business owners and entrepreneurs?

Fundraising is more challenging for women than men, and proper funding is vital to the early stage of a business. Our incubator space was financed entirely by women who believed in our mission, and we are so proud of that.

We’ve had investors ask our team if our children were going to be OK with us working so hard at building our business. This comment is, of course, particularly infuriating, as men would never be asked the same question. But it’s also reinforced our belief that we need to rewrite the rules between women and work and change the conversation. The Jane Club is doing just that.

What’s the best “real talk” advice you’ve each received?

Jess: Ask for everything.

June: I received the best advice from my girlfriends after giving birth and heading back into the workforce. They told me that I would feel like I was failing all the time, and that if I took care of myself first, my children would do better.

What’s next for The Jane Club?

We have already outgrown our incubator space and are opening up our first official location in the spring of 2019 in LA. We know that the problems we are solving for women are not specific to Los Angeles, and we have plans to bring the Jane mission across the country.

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Your Work Wife Deserves One of These Galentine's Day Cards

Sure, Thursday is Valentine’s Day—but we all know the real holiday is the day before: Galentine’s Day! Below, we put a twist on traditional valentines to come up with cards that are perfect for the office (even your boss, if she’s got a good sense of humor). Don’t wanna print ‘em out? Head on over to our Instagram Stories on Wednesday to screenshot and DM ‘em to your work wife.

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We Can All Relate to These Hilarious Workplace Comics

Some weekday mornings can be rough, even if you love your job. We’ve all had days when we’d much rather keep lounging in bed than get up, throw on a professional (see: uncomfortable) outfit, and fight our way through traffic. Luckily, No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power of Embracing Emotions at Work, out today, is a handy guide to motivating yourself even on the most dreary days. We’ve put together seven hilarious comics by the book’s co-author and illustrator Liz Fosslien that will have you cracking up at your desk.

Some days it can feel like you’re stuck on the project that will never end, working with a team that can’t stop scheduling meetings. But remember: this too shall pass.

The upside to having to wake up super early once in a while? It keeps you grateful for your relative sleeping-in privilege.

Why do passive-aggressive bosses seem to love sending emails so much? One tip to deal with a grumpy manager is to watch for patterns in their mood. If they’re always grouchy before their first cup of coffee, make sure you schedule meetings with them after 11am.

If this illustration resonates a little too much, it’s time to finally pull up the email that’s been sitting in your inbox forever and start typing a reply. We know, we know, it’s so hard! But you’ll feel a lot better once you’ve hit SEND.

On particularly endless days, it’s okay to call in your work BFFs for a quick coffee break (aka a good “I need to get out of this office for a moment” excuse).

Speaking of work BFFs: having good friends at work keeps us positive and healthy. So take a moment to switch over to your private Slack channel and send your favorite colleagues a quick “Thank you for existing!”

Finally, don’t forget to carve out time for yourself. If you’ve been feeling overworked and exhausted all week, it’s okay to leave that networking happy hour ASAP.

Want more relatable workplace comics? Snag a copy of Liz’s new book here!

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This One Is For the Nice Girls At Work

Attention all nice girls, let’s really talk. Being the nice girl is honestly nothing nice. Both in our personal lives and on our grind (a.k.a our work life) we get treated as outsiders. Before I get into this, let me describe what a nice girl is: the girl who puts their best self forward every day with a positive attitude and tries their best to avoid the negativity that surrounds them. We are the opposite of the girl who always gives you an attitude, has nothing nice to say, and well— somehow finds the wrong way to talk to you.

In this new age of social media people are continuously trying to put each other down, and somehow it is all becoming normal. With all of the conflict around us, I’d rather be the light at the end of the tunnel. There is no reason to feed into all the negativity, but instead, I believe it’s important to put my best foot forward each day with positive affirmations and a level head. Someone needs to be the positive one in the friend group, right?

Growing up through adolescence and now in my adult life, people have always tried to take advantage of my nice girl attitude and have attempted to discredit my ability to get things done (as if being nice would ever prevent me from being successful anyway). I’ve had friends who have teased me for not being “tough” enough and coworkers who’ve advised me to be more “stern”. A message to everyone out there: my presence of niceness does not mean the absence of a backbone. It also definitely does not mean you can run over me; I can and will speak up for myself when I feel I need to and not when you feel I should - I can do that with a smile, too.

The nice girl side effects don’t stop in your personal life, however. Like I’d mentioned, you’re expected to be even more stern in the workplace. Personally, I’ve been told several times to be tougher, and worse - it’s often been implied directly or indirectly that I might not make it far. Question is, what’s so wrong with holding on to good character? Are we really a little too positive? Does not conforming to the ideal “boss attitude” intimidate you? Do you feel that you can take advantage of me? Does my good character offend you? All hell no’s!

There has been several (and I mean several) instances in the workplace that has really made me rethink if I should shift my attitude - should I conform and be rougher on the edges? I’ve had a boss feel that she could scream at me. I’ve even had a coworker be rude to me daily (and we all know that’s uncalled for). I felt that I got those responses because somehow being nice meant, “I am less than and I don’t deserve to be respected.” Don’t get me wrong though, as I said before, I will speak up for myself, but somehow when you show too much niceness people forget what respect is even on the days you demand it. Even if you speak up when needed, it’s somehow laughable and isn’t taken seriously because you’re “just the nice girl”.

Somehow the nice girls get painted as a villain. I’ve had people get irritated with me because I’m too nice. We even get victimized for following our authentic behavior because we don’t want to be the “mean” girl everyone else wants us to be— well, at least I do. It’s a double edged sword - a lose-lose game.

You know what— yes, I am the nice girl and I am proud of it. I’d rather spew positivity into the workplace and in my personal life. I’d rather respond with a smile and a nice comment. I really want to help you, and no I don’t want to be lunged into any work drama. No, I am not faking any of it. I’m beaming with the utmost sincerity.

You know what— yes, I am the nice girl and I am proud of it. I’d rather spew positivity into the workplace and in my personal life.

Advice to those telling us not to be who we are: let us, the nice girls, speak our truth. We are nice but that is not a green light to take advantage of us - we’re human just like you. We decide to pick positivity over negativity because we believe it makes a better atmosphere for everyone. We decide to treat others the same exact way we want to be treated. Most importantly, we decide to not emerge ourselves into drama. We will not stoop down to some petty level of negativity because we will kill with kindness (a skill few can master and most are fearful of). We like the nice girl that we are and man, it feels good to be nice. What can we say, we’re living our best life. Nice girls are total badasses.

Guess what? We don’t have to turn into this grumpy person to be successful. We can greet you with smile. We can be morning people. We can be okay with someone you may not be okay with. You know it’s acceptable to be likable, right? Sometimes it’s not necessary to have something mean and criticizing to say.  Ladies, you don’t have to be this mean girl to get ahead, because guess what - men definitely don’t have to follow the same standards as we do to reach the same end goal.

Listen ladies, don’t be afraid to be exactly who you are. There will be people will try to put you down or cramp your style, but you are a special kind of person. Find your place at work and don’t move for no one. Trust me, I know, you are the positive person everyone wish they could be. Continue to live your truth. Continue to be that light wherever you can be. This world needs more of us, more nice girls.

Written by: Epiphany Ciers. Follow her here: Online Portfolio. 

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How To Reclaim Your Time & Your Meetings

If you were super-duper, pep-talk in the mirror honest with yourself, how would you answer this question: Where are your eyes during a meeting? Are they on your phone? Scrolling through emails?

Liking photos on Instagram…

We’ve all been there, to the point where we at C&C have a company-wide policy that at all-hands meetings, it’s all hands off phones. That’s right. They stay in our pockets or at our desks. Because ACTIVE listening is how we truly get into action.

And while you might be thinking, hold up, wait a multi-tasking minute. That’s how I stay productive. Studies show that you’re not actually getting as much done as you think while “multitasking.” The truth is, our brains can’t handle jumping from task to task.

Just. Not. Possible.

However, thanks to Bamboo, we've found a solution to the meeting madness. They introduced us to the idea of Mindful Meetings and their new smartpad is unplugged digital note taking at its finest! All you need is the Bamboo Folio and the accompanying pen, and it does the rest-- tracking your notes, sending them to your device-- it will even auto-type your handwritten notes with its Inkspace app. It’s been a HUGE timesaver for us. It also helps us focus on the meeting at hand. And the less you’re distracted in meetings, the less meetings you have to have! Who isn’t keen on that? (Your boss will love it, for one.)

And speaking of bosses, we asked 3 successful CEOs their best advice for having more mindful meetings in the office. This is what they said.

WEEKLY TEAM MEETINGS

"Something Social values weekly meetings to their core. We meet weekly to discuss major team goals, updates on clients, new initiatives, and more. While it may seem really easy to do all of this while also being on your laptop and phone, we make sure we don’t waste this time by fully focusing on the conversation. We leave our laptops and phones at our desks. Oftentimes, we’ll also take a few moments to discuss personal goals as well as professional, which helps us tie our work to our personal growth. Ironically, one of the things that most helps us stay mindful at the office is a piece of technology – the Bamboo Folio. The Folio lets us write meeting notes and ideas with a pen on any paper and then save the work as a digital file with the touch of a button."

Cali Cholodenko, Founder/CEO of Something Social

Read more on Something Social’s mindful office practices here.

TIME BLOCK YOUR SCHEDULE

"If you’ve been around these parts for a while, then you know time blocking is a method that I absolutely swear by! I give each hour of my workday a specific task and I focus solely on that task during that allotted timeframe. This keeps me from spending hours in my inbox or getting caught up on one client project that eats away my entire afternoon. Plus, having a consistent schedule for my workday allows me to plan accordingly and know what’s next. Rather than floating from task to task, I know that I’ll spend 30 minutes answering emails, one hour working on client design projects, 15 minutes brainstorming future content ideas, etc. If you haven’t tried time blocking before, I highly recommend it!"

Bonni, Founder/CEO of  B is For Bonnie Design

Read Bonnie’s Time Management Tips + Tools For Running A Business here.

STAND UP!

"When your body is active, so is your mind! Have a standing, no-tech meeting. You’ll be surprised how fast people will try to get things done in that meeting. You could also invest in a standing desk. We use them for when we are really ready to bust out tasks. Plus, it’s easier to do a victory dance when you’re already standing."

Promise Tangman, Founder of Go Live HQ

Read more on how the Go Live HQ Team tackles their to-do lists.

Want to learn more about how you can apply mindfulness to your office culture? Read more about Bamboo’s Mindful Meetings movement + see what their Smartpads have to offer. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

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