Okay, so here’s what happened.
A couple weeks ago, I sent this super casual email to my list where I basically spilled all the tea (because I WOULD cry over spilled coffee) about my daily routine.
I’m talking everything.
From my morning coffee ritual to my dog’s latest fashion statement (and trust me, Fritz has OPINIONS about his accessories).
My inbox practically exploded!
Turns out my list was absolutely craving this kind of behind-the-scenes, no-BS look at how us work-from-home business owners actually get our stuff done.
They wanted the real deal.
The messy, the mundane, and yes, even the adorable dog moments.
So naturally, I thought, “Why not turn this into something even better?”
Because honestly, we all need more real talk about what it’s actually like running a business from your kitchen table (or wherever you’ve set up shop).
Let me walk you through my time-saving hacks that keep me sane, productive, and still able to give Fritz the attention he clearly deserves!
Morning Magic: Why I Start With Coffee and Cuddles
Every single day starts the same way.
Coffee with my fiancé before he heads off to his “real job” (his words, not mine!).
Unless he has to be on the road super early.
Because he didn’t catch himself an early bird!
But, seriously…these fifteen minutes are pure gold, you guys.
No phones, no checking emails, just us and our coffee mugs having actual conversations like real humans.
After he leaves?
Well, that’s when my furry CEO takes over the show!
And speaking of Fritz. Can we talk about this bandana situation for a hot second?
So he had a vet appointment and because he was such a brave guy, he earned himself this absolutely adorable new bandana.
Now he’s strutting around the house like he’s about to hit the runway at Fashion Week!
I swear this dog has more confidence than most people I know.
But here’s the thing about our morning walks.
They’re completely non-negotiable.
Rain, shine, or “I really don’t want to get out of bed” days, we’re hitting the pavement. Why?
Because those twenty minutes clear my head better than any meditation app ever could.
Plus, Fritz gets his zoomies out, which means fewer interruptions during work calls.
Win-win!
The Not-So-Glamorous Stuff That Actually Matters
Alright, let’s get to some real stuff.
Working from home sounds all dreamy until you realize you still have to, you know, live like a functioning adult.
That means dealing with the boring stuff too.
First up: my physical therapy exercises for this troublesome hip of mine.
Sitting at desks all day is basically the enemy of human bodies, am I right?
But instead of complaining about it (okay, maybe I complain a little), I just knock these exercises out first thing.
Takes ten minutes, saves me from feeling like a pretzel later.
Then comes the household stuff, and oh boy, this used to be my productivity killer!
I’d let dishes pile up, laundry would become Mount Washmore, and suddenly I’m spending entire Saturdays just trying to get my life together.
But I’ve changed that by splitting all the chores into tiny daily bits and actually put them on my calendar.
I KNOW it sounds totally ridiculous, but stick with me here!
Instead of facing a mountain of housework, I’m dealing with like fifteen minutes of dishes or throwing in one load of laundry.
Then I reward myself with, yep, you guessed it: more coffee!
Time-Saving Hack #1: Online Grocery Shopping (Yes, I Was a Skeptic Too!)
Okay, confession time.
I used to be one of those people who was like, “I need to see my produce! I need to touch the avocados!”
And honestly?
I thought online grocery pickup was just plain lazy.
WELL…turns out this lazy person was onto something!
Here’s what nobody tells you about online grocery shopping.
It’s like having a personal shopping assistant who also happens to be really good at math.
You can see your total building up in real-time, which means no more checkout surprises.
Plus, you’re not wandering around for “just toilet paper” and somehow leaving with $200 worth of stuff you definitely didn’t need.
I literally sit there with my cart going, “Do I really need that fancy cheese? Nope! Delete!”
It’s actually kind of therapeutic.
And every dollar I don’t spend on impulse buys?
That’s money I can put back into the business.
Or, more realistically, money for my Dunkin‘ addiction!
Work Mode: Where It Gets Real!
Now we’re getting to the good stuff!
My workspace runs on one thing: my absolutely gorgeous, color-coded Google Calendar.
And when I say color-coded, I mean RAINBOW levels of organization, people!
Each client gets their own color based on their brand colors, content creation gets another, admin stuff has its own shade, and personal appointments (mine AND my fiancé’s because apparently I’m also his secretary now) get their own special hue.
One glance at this beauty and I know exactly what my day looks like.
Today’s mission?
Laying out July’s content.
Blogs, emails, social posts, the whole shebang.
But instead of jumping around like a caffeinated squirrel, I batch everything together.
All the writing happens in one chunk, all the social media planning in another.
Your brain doesn’t have to keep switching gears, which means you can actually focus!
Time-Saving Hack #2: Google Calendar’s “My Tasks” Is the Ult!
Can we talk about Google Calendar‘s “My Tasks” feature for a second?
Because this little gem has completely changed my life!
Instead of having random to-do lists scattered across my desk, my phone, and probably written on the back of some receipt somewhere, EVERYTHING lives in one place.
Task gets done?
Check!
Seeing that little line through it?
Chef’s kiss Pure satisfaction, my friends.
No more “Wait, where did I write that thing down?” moments.
No more forgetting about important stuff because it’s buried under seventeen other lists.
Just one beautiful, organized system that actually works.
Staying Connected (Because Isolation Is Real!)
Here’s something nobody warns you about when you start working from home.
It can get pretty lonely! That’s why my coaching calls with Tawnya Sutherland at VANetworking are an absolute must.
These aren’t just “business” calls.
They’re having a professional bestie who gets the entrepreneurial struggle.
Working from home means you miss out on all those casual office conversations that actually help you grow.
You know, the water cooler chats where someone mentions this cool new tool or shares a brilliant idea?
Yeah, you don’t get those when your only coworker has four legs, chases his own tail and barks at squirrels.
Time-Saving Hack #3: Tomorrow’s Success Starts Tonight
Before I officially “clock out” each day, I do this super simple thing that saves me SO much mental energy the next morning.
I spend exactly five minutes (no more, no less) writing down the top three to five things that absolutely HAVE to happen tomorrow.
Why does this work so well?
Because morning brain is not the same as afternoon brain, you guys!
In the morning, I’m usually staring at my calendar like, “What was I supposed to do again?”
But with my little list already waiting for me?
BAM!
I know exactly where to start.
Tonight’s list for tomorrow includes: actually engaging with people on social media (not just posting and running!), then packing up for vacation (WOO to the HOO!).
Oh, and here’s a bonus tip I learned from Cindy Bidar : I completely clear off my desk before calling it a day.
Because nothing kills morning motivation faster than facing yesterday’s chaos!
Evening Wind-Down: Protecting Your Sanity
Creating boundaries when your office is literally in your house?
Yeah, that’s trickier than it sounds!
But I’ve figured out a system that actually works for me.
Dinner prep starts in the late afternoon (thank goodness for meal planning!).
My fiancé and I eat together while Fritz deploys his most effective weapon: the “I’m absolutely starving and haven’t eaten in FOREVER” look.
And yes, he usually wins some table scraps because, seriously, have you seen that face?
Impossible to resist!
Time-Saving Hack #4: The Art of Actually Stopping Work
Here’s what I’ve learned about working from home: if you don’t create a hard stop, work just bleeds into everything.
After dinner cleanup, I’m DONE.
No more emails, no more “quick” projects, no more anything work-related.
Instead, it’s book time or Netflix time, and this isn’t negotiable!
This downtime keeps me from burning out, which means I can actually show up as the best me I can be the next day.
Plus, taking breaks makes you more creative.
Science says so, so it must be true!
The Real Secret: Embrace the Beautiful Mess
After years of perfecting this work-from-home life, I’ve learned something super important.
Structure is your friend, but flexibility is your BEST friend.
Some days I follow my color-coded calendar perfectly and feel like a productivity goddess.
Other days?
Fritz decides every delivery truck needs a full barking announcement, or a client emergency pops up, or I just wake up feeling like my brain is made of cotton candy.
And you know what?
That’s totally okay!
The beauty of being your own boss is that you get to be human.
Take that longer lunch break if you need it.
Work later if morning productivity just isn’t happening.
Move that workout to tomorrow if today is just “one of those days“.
What really matters isn’t following your schedule perfectly.
It’s getting the important stuff done by the end of the week, even if it doesn’t happen exactly when your calendar said it would.
Listen, these time-saving hacks for work-from-home business owners aren’t magic wands.
They’re just practical systems that make life a little easier and a lot more manageable.
The key is finding what works for YOU and your specific brand of beautiful chaos.
Maybe you’re not a color-coding person (though you’re missing out, IMO!).
Or maybe your version of Fritz is a cat who judges your life choices.
Maybe you hate coffee and prefer tea (we can still be friends, I guess!).
The point is to take these ideas and make them work for your life, your business, and your goals.
Because at the end of the day, the best productivity system is the one you’ll actually use.
Now go forth and conquer your work-from-home dreams!
And remember: if you ever need a dose of reality or want to see more behind-the-scenes moments, you know where to find me!
You’ve got this!
If you’re great at taking care of your business but terrible at taking care of yourself (guilty!), I’ve got something for you. My free Self-Care Journal for Entrepreneurs has simple, practical ways to recharge without the guilt. Because you can’t pour from an empty coffee cup, am I right?
