Earlier this week we were snowed in… and now we’re iced in. It’s been a strange week. During the winter, getting snowed in is a distinct possibility for much of the country. That means that if you typically work from home or end up doing so on a snow day to avoid a dangerous commute, you need to approach it with a game plan! The next time you’re snowed in, use these tips to stay productive:
Don’t Clear the Snow Right Away
This may seem counterintuitive. Obviously, if there’s enough snow to keep you home, you’ll need to do something about it. If you have a plowing service, great, let them worry about it. Otherwise, I’d say leave it for now. You’ll want to clear it during the daylight, but try to get some work done first. Otherwise, you’ll probably end up expending a lot of energy and then just want to go back to sleep or make a big breakfast without having done any work for the first part of the day. Once you’ve crossed some things off your list, go ahead and clear that mountain of snow. Getting some fresh air will let you clear your head and break up the work that you’re doing.
Ignore Overdue Home Responsibilities
There’s something about being from home that reminds you of all the things you’ve been putting off doing for weeks, months, or even years. If you don’t ignore chores and projects around the house, you won’t get anything done. You’ll end up taking down holiday decorations, vacuuming, or building that bookcase instead of doing the work you’re getting paid to do. Act like you would at the office and try to forget about home.
Keep Other Residents of Your Home Busy
Parents have it the hardest on snow days because kids are home from school, which creates a seemingly insurmountable distraction. Stay productive by encouraging kids to play outside or giving them safe craft projects to work on their own. Break up the day into defined chunks so that kids know when you’ll be working and when you’ll be available to play or watch movies.
You may also be distracted by pets while trying to get work done. Give pets a new toy or put them in a separate room to avoid playing with your furry friends when you should be working.
Reward Yourself for Working Hard
If you live someplace where you’re likely to have a snow day, then chances are that you probably like snow. Reward yourself for working hard with time to go outside in the snow at the end of the day when your to-dos are all crossed off. Go sledding, skiing, ice skating, or snowshoeing as a reward for a job well-done!
Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Business Blogging and Web Copywriting. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and son and enjoys cooking, watching sports, and spending time together as a family. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about current marketing trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!
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