The Busy Girl’s Guide to Working From Home

From career tips to outfits that keep you chic but get you out the door fast, The Busy Girl’s Guide is a column for the go-getter who wants to have fun while moving forward with life.

I’m sure you busy girls can relate to the struggle: it’s a non-busy day for the first time in forever but instead of curling up with Netflix, you find yourself faced with some work that you forgot about or just put off, be it for your side hustle or classes. You know you should do it, but that doesn’t make it easier.

However, just because you have to work on your day off doesn’t mean you don’t get to relax! This week, we’ll be looking into ways to make your day working from home both productive and relaxing!

Dress the Part

Products: Shirt – Aeropostale, Pants – Target, Cardigan – Hollister, Shoes – Nordstrom, Notebook – Miss Selfridge, Mug – Etsy

Maybe it’s just me, but when I have to work on my designated lazy day, I like to dress up just a little bit. (See our guide to work from home outfits for even more ideas like this one!)

The collared shirt is just polished enough to put you in a professional mood while still being low-key enough to hang around the house. The cardigan is perfect for staying comfortable when the AC is set on high, and it helps amp up the coziness factor.

My favorite thing about this outfit? The pants are pajama bottoms. (Yes, really!) The fit makes them perfect for looking like an off-duty model if you need to run errands in some slipper-like flats. Staying indoors? Brew up some tea or coffee and keep your notebook and to-do list close because you’re about to get a lot done!

Unwind While You Work

I know, I know: you were super excited to rewatch all of Game of Thrones on your day off. You can still do that– but first, let’s get to work.

Whenever I know that I’m going to be stuck inside on my laptop or studying for a long time, I look for little ways to be both productive and indulgent.

For instance, I love face masks. On my busy lazy days, I’ll put on a 15-20 minute mask and sit down to work. When the timer goes off, I’ll take a break to take off the mask and to do something I enjoy, be it playing on an app or watching an episode of Friends. It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to keep me refreshed. (It also gives me little tastes of freedom, and that makes me want to finish my work even faster!)

Everyone has their own small things that make them happy, and I can guarantee that you can fit some of it into your busy lazy day schedule.

What about Food?

No lazy day is complete without comfort food, but before you reach for the phone to call for pizza, consider something a bit different: pre-made meals, and not the kind from the freezer aisle at the store.

I love the idea of meal prepping for those days that you know you won’t want to leave the house because, for one thing, it’s delicious and healthier than eating out. For another, it’s rewarding because, hey, you did all that work and you cooked yourself dinner? Big adulting win! (Yes, it totally counts as making yourself dinner if you made it a few days ahead.)

If you know that you’ll be having a busy lazy day soon, take the time to whip up some of these make-ahead recipes, and enjoy the minimal effort that you’ll be putting in for the rest of the week. (It’s worth it, I promise!)

What do you think?

Do you have some busy days ahead of you? How do you stay on top of your schedule like a boss? What are you busy girls up to–and what do you want for tips? Let me know in the comments!