Working from home. We’ve all done it, we’re all still doing it, and we’re probably going to keep doing it for a while. As DJs, we never know when the creative bug is going to strike, giving us the inspiration to create a new mix or work on our next event playlist. Sometimes it’s when we’re at the office during business hours, sometimes it’s after a run at 7:30am, and sometimes it’s at 2:17 in the morning after we’ve watched our friends kill it on Twitch for 5 straight hours
But how do we spend so much time at home now and still find the drive to stay focused and productive, AND keep our creative juices flowing, when everything seems to change by the hour?
Here are some of my top ways to work from home and continue to slay all day. Here is the full article in Disc Jockey News.
Create a Timeblock - Even when you’re working from home, you should have scheduled “office hours.” This means that every day you “clock in” from 9am-5pm (or whatever your workday needs), and everyone knows that these are the hours to contact you about business. That doesn't mean you can’t start your day earlier, or even break for a meal and come back later. But at least this gives you, your team, and your clients some sort of structure and helps maintain a work-life balance so your focus isn’t pulled in different directions all day.
Listen to a Playlist - There is a part of your brain called the locus coeruleus that handles the decision making. Among other things, it’s impacted by sound, so listening to the right kind of music can increase focus and productivity. Music can also cause a release in dopamine in your brain, which is scientifically linked to making you feel good and easing stress and anxiety. So for those rough work-from-home days, music can actually help improve your mood, sharpening your focus, and improving your mental and physical performance.
The type of music you choose is key as well - mainly something without lyrics so you don’t get distracted by singing along or googling song lyrics all day trying to finally master the lyrics and flow to “Regulators.” Try classical, spa, or nature sounds. If you aren’t into that, look at electronic music, lofi hip-hop beats, or ambient EDM.
Turn off Notifications & Turn on DND - I recommend turning off notifications on your phone, that way you aren’t distracted by text message beeps, email dings, and FaceTime rings all day long. In addition, turn on your Do Not Disturb setting so that no phone calls can come through either. This will help you to mentally stay in your timeblocks for maximized focus and productivity. This also allows for you to time block responding to those texts, emails, and calls, keeping your clients and coworkers taken care of when you can give them the attention they need.
You can also let people know that you’re not actively looking at any messages until a certain time and cannot break concentration, that way they aren’t expecting an immediate response and they can focus on their own tasks. Give certain trusted people who will respect your time blocks a separate way to contact you in case of emergency, or make them a DND exception in your phone settings.
Write Down Your To-Do Lists - I am usually the type of person that has an app for everything, and even my to-do list has its own to-do list! However, I’m finding in the quiet time of working at home, I’ve simplified my approach to a colorful Sharpie marker and a handwritten paper list. There is something super satisfying about crossing off each item as I complete it, and being able to look back at the entire list at the end of the day and realize that yes, I did a lot of things to help me succeed during this super stressful time, gives me a sense of accomplishment. When the world seems so unorganized and I can feel my brain being pulled in 8 different directions, this helps me remind myself of the important tasks to get to, and that I am, in fact, able to still get things completed and help propel my business forward.
Set Boundaries & Stick To Them - Once you’ve set your time blocks and office hours - let your family, and roommates know too. If you need to, post your office hours on the fridge, or directly on the door to your home office. You can also take it a step further and keep your office door closed so that anyone else at home gets the message that you can’t be interrupted.
If you don’t have your own office at home, then set clear boundaries with anyone else who shares the space during your working hours. If you have kids at home doing virtual learning or who haven’t gone back to school yet, explain to them why you need the quiet and why you’re not available to help them with every little thing. If it’s a spouse or a roommate, have a frank conversation about boundaries and listen to their feedback too. The respect has to go both ways, so you can’t hunker down in the kitchen and expect silence all day when other people also need access to the shared spaces and necessary snacks. Working out a schedule for your busiest days will help alleviate that stress, and keep a harmonious home!
Working from home is hard, especially for DJs who are naturally social beings that feed off the energy of others. But by utilizing the above tips to help keep you focused, you can help yourself stay on track and prevent creative burnout. You’ll be able to set time blocks and boundaries to truly put the energy you need into getting your work done, and keep your business moving in the right direction. Plus it will help us appreciate what we have even more when things start to go back to normal!
But how do we spend so much time at home now and still find the drive to stay focused and productive, AND keep our creative juices flowing, when everything seems to change by the hour?
Here are some of my top ways to work from home and continue to slay all day.
Create a Timeblock - Even when you’re working from home, you should have scheduled “office hours.” This means that every day you “clock in” from 9am-5pm (or whatever your workday needs), and everyone knows that these are the hours to contact you about business. That doesn't mean you can’t start your day earlier, or even break for a meal and come back later. But at least this gives you, your team, and your clients some sort of structure and helps maintain a work-life balance so your focus isn’t pulled in different directions all day.
Listen to a Playlist - There is a part of your brain called the locus coeruleus that handles the decision making. Among other things, it’s impacted by sound, so listening to the right kind of music can increase focus and productivity. Music can also cause a release in dopamine in your brain, which is scientifically linked to making you feel good and easing stress and anxiety. So for those rough work-from-home days, music can actually help improve your mood, sharpening your focus, and improving your mental and physical performance.
The type of music you choose is key as well - mainly something without lyrics so you don’t get distracted by singing along or googling song lyrics all day trying to finally master the lyrics and flow to “Regulators.” Try classical, spa, or nature sounds. If you aren’t into that, look at electronic music, lofi hip-hop beats, or ambient EDM.
Turn off Notifications & Turn on DND - I recommend turning off notifications on your phone, that way you aren’t distracted by text message beeps, email dings, and FaceTime rings all day long. In addition, turn on your Do Not Disturb setting so that no phone calls can come through either. This will help you to mentally stay in your timeblocks for maximized focus and productivity. This also allows for you to time block responding to those texts, emails, and calls, keeping your clients and coworkers taken care of when you can give them the attention they need.
You can also let people know that you’re not actively looking at any messages until a certain time and cannot break concentration, that way they aren’t expecting an immediate response and they can focus on their own tasks. Give certain trusted people who will respect your time blocks a separate way to contact you in case of emergency, or make them a DND exception in your phone settings.
Write Down Your To-Do Lists - I am usually the type of person that has an app for everything, and even my to-do list has its own to-do list! However, I’m finding in the quiet time of working at home, I’ve simplified my approach to a colorful Sharpie marker and a handwritten paper list. There is something super satisfying about crossing off each item as I complete it, and being able to look back at the entire list at the end of the day and realize that yes, I did a lot of things to help me succeed during this super stressful time, gives me a sense of accomplishment. When the world seems so unorganized and I can feel my brain being pulled in 8 different directions, this helps me remind myself of the important tasks to get to, and that I am, in fact, able to still get things completed and help propel my business forward.
Set Boundaries & Stick To Them - Once you’ve set your time blocks and office hours - let your family, and roommates know too. If you need to, post your office hours on the fridge, or directly on the door to your home office. You can also take it a step further and keep your office door closed so that anyone else at home gets the message that you can’t be interrupted.
If you don’t have your own office at home, then set clear boundaries with anyone else who shares the space during your working hours. If you have kids at home doing virtual learning or who haven’t gone back to school yet, explain to them why you need the quiet and why you’re not available to help them with every little thing. If it’s a spouse or a roommate, have a frank conversation about boundaries and listen to their feedback too. The respect has to go both ways, so you can’t hunker down in the kitchen and expect silence all day when other people also need access to the shared spaces and necessary snacks. Working out a schedule for your busiest days will help alleviate that stress, and keep a harmonious home!
Working from home is hard, especially for DJs who are naturally social beings that feed off the energy of others. But by utilizing the above tips to help keep you focused, you can help yourself stay on track and prevent creative burnout. You’ll be able to set time blocks and boundaries to truly put the energy you need into getting your work done, and keep your business moving in the right direction. Plus it will help us appreciate what we have even more when things start to go back to normal!
