Hey friends! I know it’s been a while since I was able to share some business thoughts and this blog is no exception. I did chat this week about business growth and evolution on the podcast. Earlier this year, I was invited to speak at WordCamp NYC at the United Nations building in Manhattan. The conference took place in July and it was such an amazing opportunity. Since it’s now September, I figured I could take time to write about my experiences in the city and why I’m still in love with the city that never sleeps. I also got through this post and realized this needs to be split up so here is the first half of our trip!

Dear NYC, I’ve Been Obsessed With You

For anyone who doesn’t know, I have been, as most people are, obsessed with the phenomenon that is New York City. As a kid, seeing Kevin McCallister take on this behemoth of a place mystified me. So many of my childhood favorite movies and television shows all seemed to center around this beautiful city that just kept evolving. Tibby Rollins obviously lived there at one point so I just couldn’t have been more obsessed with the city. Fast-forward to last February when David got the opportunity to visit the city for the first time with his work, I think my obsession to get to the city became insatiable. After deciding to take on more public speaking roles, I knew I wanted to travel more. It wasn’t until a week before the speaker submission deadline that a message of Winstina Hughes encouraged me to submit a topic to WordCamp NYC in July.

There Are Firsts For Everything

I was in the process of submitting some other speaker proposals so I gave it a go and was surprised to hear back shortly thereafter that I got accepted. Now after jumping on buying tickets from JetBlue and securing an Airbnb, I waited meticulously for the day to arrive to fly into the city. When I say waited meticulously, I mean I talked about it nonstop for probably four weeks straight. For those of you who think this is really not a big deal, let me just lay down some facts about this trip:

• This was my first trip ever to NYC.
• This was my first trip flying with a toddler/as a mom.
• This was the longest trip we’ve taken as a family thus far.
• This was the first time I’ve ever been outside the Southeastern US.
• This was the first time I ever used public transportation.
• This is also the very first time I would ride in an Uber.

Hello Brooklyn!

While WordCamp NYC was taking place in Manhattan, I really thought it’d be easier as a family to stay in Brooklyn. We rented a cute one-bedroom in Bed-Stuy which was only minutes from the two major subway stations that we used the whole trip. I’ve also been obsessed with Brooklyn since the 90s. As a 90s kid, Ghostwriter and PBS helped raise me and you couldn’t tell me that Brooklyn wasn’t the best place in the world to live.

Let’s Never Leave

We spent the first day exploring Brooklyn. We ate pizza. We went to Prospect Park. We walked among the people who called this borough home, taking it all in, and learning how fun it is to get accustomed a fourth-floor walkup. By the end of the day one, I was pretty much convinced that we never needed to leave. I think I had already mentally made a note to call a realtor. I wondered how many things we actually needed to live. I wanted to stay where I was for as long as I could.

Day two, we were out and to the subway station as early was we could be without seeming insane. For the first time since WordCamp Atlanta, our toddler slept in a different place peacefully. In fact, New York completely drained her which was fantastic.  We managed to get around Manhattan and back to Brooklyn in one piece. We did some really cool things which I adored and I also learned a lot in just two days. I know there are hundreds of articles about how to visit NYC, especially for parents. Trust me, I read them all. I watched all of the YouTube videos of adorable toddlers on planes. There were just so many things that I experienced firsthand so I thought I would round them all up in one section to help.

Tips for Traveling to and Navigating NYC

• This varies per child, but traveling early in the morning was perfection for our eighteen month-old. She slept for over half of the flight was an absolute angel.
• Book lodging that makes sense for you. Hotels are TINY in the city. YouTube it if you don’t believe me. We booked an Airbnb because we’ve exclusively done that for the past two or three years and it was such a good choice. It was spacious. The fridge was full-sized so we could stock up on water and milk as needed. I couldn’t say enough kind things about our Airbnb. It was the best.
• Fly into the closest airport. I was the idiot who booked our tickets and we flew into LaGuardia, which is not so close to Brooklyn. I was nervous because I’d only known people who flew into LGA instead of researching. Also, LaGuardia is tiny which made for long bathroom waits and awkwardly almost getting into the wrong Uber. I know, I’m problematic.
• Be prepared for Uber. I have lots of friends who have used Uber and were freaked out by how much it costs. I mentally made a note that our trip would be costly ($40-45). We were riding with Uber, specifically because they have carseats. There are sites out there that can help you estimate how much your trip will be. Those estimates were significantly spot on. First-time users also can save money from using codes so be on the lookout for those.
• Google Maps Walking and Transit is a lifesaver. I use Google Maps every single day and it didn’t fail me at all in New York. We walked around and navigated the subway system like a boss.
• Bring recyclable bags. Knowing we had to stock up on water and milk at the nearby grocery store, I brought a Baggu recyclable bag with me. Best choice ever! We were able to transport food and groceries without worrying about it spilling over. The best thing about Baggus is that they fold up so small that they fit perfectly in another bag.
• KT Tape. I have plantar fasciitis so KT taping my arches helped me survive the extra pressure I put on while walking.
• BRING A STROLLER. I don’t care what anyone says, bring a stroller. I did not. I carried my near thirty pound toddler for five days and I regret every moment of it. There were so many beautifully amazing strollers that I saw other parents using and I was envious the whole time. I hate everyone who ever suggested not bringing a stroller. You are wrong. While I will say I have the back muscles of an Amazonian goddess now because of it, I still regret not having a stroller.
• The subway is its own boss. I listen to enough podcasts to know that the MTA subways just do what they want when they want. We were delayed ten minutes on one train. The day we were leaving, we couldn’t get into Manhattan because the subways weren’t working. Since it was Monday, we just opted to stay in Brooklyn. Either way, just be prepared for things to go awry. We were fine and mostly everyone on our subway trips were super awesome. I got offered a seat on every trip. The SunRail would never.

Like I said, this article is way longer than I thought it would be. Who knew I had so many thoughts about my trip? I’ll add in some things about visiting the UN, becoming the unofficial representative for Wakanda, and our favorite places to eat and shop next week.  Have you been to New York? Tell me everything you loved so I can plan our next trip!

PS – There are definitely referral links to Airbnb and Uber in the post!

The post A First Trip and Love Letter to New York City – Part 1 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Happy July! It’s been such a long time since I’ve been able to write here because June was obnoxious. I’m gearing up to head up to New York City for WordCamp NYC. We’re spending five days in the city and it’s my first visit ever. I really can’t expect to be excited about returning but I’m looking forward to a change of pace, even if it’s a little quicker than I’m used to. With all that’s been happening in Orlando, dealing with an emergency room visit with David that I didn’t expect, and the over-abundance of murders and attacks, it’s so hard to focus.

As a multi-faceted creative running a creative business, it’s imperative to funnel my creativity to what my clients need. One of the reasons we offer so many different services at Sevenality is David and I’s preference for many different creative outlets. We thrive on solving intricate puzzles and combined with the power of creativity, creating design-centered solutions for small to medium sized businesses. It’s our dream job and I love everything I do; but, when you’re a creative at heart, it’s hard to funnel your creativity and really focus on your day-to-day tasks. Through my experiences in the past few months, I’ve found some ways to really help figure out how to pay the bills and be creatively fulfilled at the same time.

[Tweet “You shouldn’t have to stifle your creativity when it’s part of your healing.”]

Taking Time to Process

I’ve been drawing, writing, and making different things my whole life. Writing and art is a huge part of my daily creative process. As far back as the end of elementary school, I can remember having those soul-gauging needs to make something. I needed to write or I needed to draw. I would have to stop what I’m doing and work on making whatever my heart was leading me to. I’ve pretty much thrived on fulfilling those needs and making those needs part of my business. When I experience loss or life-altering experiences, instead of creative block, I feel an overpowering need to process those emotions through different mediums.

This is all so awesome except it’s hard to do that when life needs to happen. Your clients still need their projects completed, your kid still needs your attention, and you still need to do your day-to-day tasks. As an adult, it’s hard to breakaway from your everyday to fulfill your creative needs. Fortunately, through the process of healing, I’ve found that taking the time to process is imperative. I’ve made it  a priority to have at least an hour to focus on my craft. If I need to get through a yoga session, write, take time for photography, or design something that I want to do—I make it priority to do that. You shouldn’t have to stifle your creativity when it’s part of your healing.

Creative Block vs Creative Overload

When I worked a 9-5, more than often I thought I was experiencing creative block. I couldn’t create. I felt my brain was clouded and I didn’t want to create. I focused on my work and when I came home, it was all about socializing and unwinding. However, no matter how much I didn’t create, I still felt unfulfilled. I still had all of this energy that I couldn’t dispose of. No matter how much I worked out or focused on my actual work, nothing was helping. It wasn’t until we decided to slowly take on more projects that I was able to writing. I began focusing more on blogging and things really started to make sense.

Knowing the difference between creative block and creative overload was something I learned in adulthood. I am an INFJ and those with the same personality type feel burnout often. We are creatives at heart and we use that creativity endlessly. It’s very easy for me to get burned out but what I thought was burnout, was often me not focusing that creativity in the right way. Sometimes you need to trust your gut and go outside of your comfort zone. By working on projects I never thought I would enjoy, I’ve started to lose the overwhelming unfulfilled feeling.

[Tweet “You will always been evolving as a creative and your creative business should be evolving with you”]

Making Creative Work Feel Natural

Client work isn’t always easy. Often times, it can be stifling which is why it’s so important to focus on working with the clients who help you feel fulfilled. Our ideal client owns a small-to-medium business, understands creativity, but wants solutions to help grow their brand. We usually don’t work with other creative businesses as service providers but as partners. We find ourselves providing services for non-profits, healthcare companies, restaurants, schools, and other smilier businesses because those industries are intricate and unique. There is no one answer to solve problems which is why problem-solving is a part of my creative process.

It takes time to figure out how to build your business around yourself creatively. You will always been evolving as a creative and your creative business should be evolving with you. Your clients should not look the same. Your work should not look the same. Creative work feels more natural when there’s a natural progression over-time towards growth. When you force yourself into a box that you no longer fit into, you will find your creative work becoming mundane. Here are some simple things you can ask yourself right now to check your creative process:

• Am I doing the work I enjoy today?
• Do I enjoy my client communication process?
• Am I comfortable with my current rates?
• Have I felt creatively fulfilled by my business recently?

If you answer no to any of those questions, it’s time to really think about what you can do to help get your business on track to where it needs to be. As creatives, we really have to measure our creativity daily and it’s not easy but it’s so rewarding. Being a starving artist is hard work right? 🙂

Let me know how you manage your creativity when it’s all over the place!

The post How to Manage Creativity Overload appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

This month has been so great for me as I was able to share four incredibly amazing illustrators. I was inspired to step away from writing and sit down to work on creating content that I wanted in this space. I’ve been having a similar conversation with Kayla Hollatz of #Createlounge on Twitter about getting back to the blogs we loved reading. Three years ago, I think the creative blogger was at its best. We were sharing from personal experiences. We were all sharing what we were learning. There was more of a vulnerability from creatives that I grew to adore which made it easy to create communities authentically. A lot of other things also happened in 2013, between the downfall of sidebar ads and the upheaval of blogging advertising networks, there were many changes happening when it came to making money from blogging. We began to focus on creating original content, which has been fantastic; but somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the authenticity and moved towards the narrative of formula-based content creation for the sake of passive income. I can’t be the only person who can’t tell sites apart or articles apart from one another anymore. I’m not even sure who is who in the space which is why it’s terrifying to see creatives obsessed with the rules that have been created to be successful online.

[Tweet “You’re capable of doing what you’re passionate about without following someone else’s mold. “]

Rules Don’t Always Matter

As creatives, we’re taught technique but we’re encouraged to think outside the boundaries to create your own work. Somehow the formula of make your site look this way, use this CMS, have this type of Instagram feed, and use this tone of voice has become the go-to response when one is defining success online. I wrote about being accountable for giving advice online a while ago when I saw this type of thinking taking over my blog feed. I’m less than impartial to this type of systematic thinking being the standard today. I have a hard time understanding the rules that don’t allow for creative growth or thinking. How can following someone else’s steps replicate personalized success for yourself? There are rules that are old, tried, and true like always crediting work that’s not yours. You’re capable of doing what you’re passionate about without following someone else’s guidelines.

[Tweet “There is power in setting your own values to help create the rules you need to thrive.”]

Following Your Values, Not Trends

The word “trend” is defined as a general direction in which something is developing or changing. There aren’t any qualifiers of whether something is going in the right direction for you. That reason alone is why it’s important to set values for yourself. I love everything Kelsey wrote in her post about finding your values. Doing value-based business can be contributed to the success I’ve found in my businesses. As part of finding my values, I also learned to define success in my own terms. Worrying about someone else’s prerequisites to being a successful creative will fail you every time. There is power in setting your own values to help create the rules you need to thrive.

The problem with following trends is that they’re so short-lived and not always the best for you. There are some great trends that have helped me become a better creative in life and business. I’m learning to live a more minimalistic lifestyle, being healthy is so much easier today than it was a few years ago, and I’ve enjoyed learning more about the art of hand-lettering. It’s ok to like things because you just do. Steph Crowder of Fizzle had an amazing interview with the ladies of the Creative Empire podcast. She said something along the lines that one person decided gold foil and calligraphy was popular and it somehow set the standard for design for women. It’s ok to like those things and it’s totally ok if you don’t. Don’t let society define the way you create. Create the way your heart knows how to.

[Tweet “The reality is that it’s up to you to create your own rules for success.”]

Creating Rules for Success

The thing about advice online is that it’s simply that, advice. You can learn amazing things everyday from people who have built admirable empires. There are people whose talent and success is beyond my reach.  I look forward to hearing their stories. You can learn from their mistakes and those stories can push you to do better. The reality is that it’s up to you to create your own rules for success. It’s not anyone else’s job to create the life that you want but your own. You’re responsible for how well you’re doing. No matter how many  Facebook groups you’re engaged with, it ultimately comes down to you utilizing the resources to fit your needs. There are people who are passionate about seeing other creatives succeed and their work gives you the tools you need to define your success. There are also equally as many people who see this as a lucrative way to make money and won’t hesitate to sell you things you never needed so they can meet their own terms of success.

This is why creating your own rules is so important. When the dust settles and there’s no one else available, how will you meet your goals? How will you use what you’ve learned to keep growing? Taking a formulaic approach to creativity is a quick way to become disingenuous. I can tell you about my day-to-day schedule, what tools I use, when I work, and what techniques I use; but without your own authenticity, you’d only become a carbon copy of me. (No one wants that!) You may even be what you feel is successful but you would never know how successful you could have been on your own.

There are more people online speaking up for originality and I’ve really be enjoying those articles. Yes, it is nice to be noticed. It’s great to receive engagement online but those things don’t matter if you’re not being true to yourself. Even more so, what type of longevity will you have if you’re constantly following in someone else’s footsteps? I challenge you to create the way you want, not the way that is popular right now. Do something outside of the box. Push your limits and challenge yourself to create the way you want. You can start by making your own rules.

The post Learn to Make Your Own Rules appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Happy 2016! I can’t believe that I’m going into my tenth year of blogging. I’ve spent a decade creating content via WordPress, making blog friends (some who are my closest friends!), and getting to know more about the Internet to help build a business. In the past decade, I’ve moved, gotten married, began working for myself full-time, and now I’m the mother of a one year old (see above!). One whole year of adding parenting into the mix has made things challenging but survival is possible. I’m sharing some things I’ve learned in year one of parenting that have helped me continue to grow our business, write from this space, and transform Studio 404 Paper.

Knowing My Goals

I knew throughout my entire pregnancy that I wanted to being a working mom. I think it’s easier to test the waters between parenting and working the first year to see where you stand. My goal was to continue working because I love what I do. Stay-at-home parenting will probably never be an option for me and I’m ok with that. I have to be busy to be fulfilled which is right for me and not everyone else. Knowing what I wanted to do helped me combat the barrage of unsolicited advice and weird comments people make to WAHP (work-at-home-parents.) I haven’t been bothered or distracted by other people’s thoughts because I know what’s best for me. Whatever you do as a parent, be sure it is what you feel is right and not what others say.

Doing What I Can

What I thought was great about working from home was being able to work whenever I felt like it. I loved taking the days to explore downtown Orlando when I was pregnant because I knew I could come home in the evenings and churn out work. Babies sort of have their own schedules (I have a toddler at my feet as I write this) and you need to time to adjust. Instead of using my previous HUSTLE-ALWAYS mentality, I took the approach of doing what I could when I could. Three hour nap times were a haven for me to relax and work on things if I felt I could. I scaled back quite a bit here on the blog to focus on my clients and creating quality work. Stay focused on what is important and worry about everything else later. My blog is still here and I can put more time into it.

Being Aware of My Shortcomings

The lead times to my work changed significantly throughout this past year of parenting. What could normally be sent in a day or a couple of days turned into at least a 7-10+ business days. I knew early on that I would not be as fast as I was before and I always informed my clients of this. I was fearful that being slower would make me lose clients but the quality of my work speaks volumes. I developed great relationships with my clients who were more than forgiving for my shortcomings this year. Always prioritize developing client relationships in your business. Projects are smoother and have less hiccups when you work with people you want to work with.

Branching Out

While I did scale back in this space, I completely branched out in other ways. I spoke at my first conference this year, joined different groups, and met even more people who have helped me tremendously in growing. Parenting is all about learning new things and I wanted to increase my knowledge in business and parenthood as much as possible. I am launching a exciting new endeavor this week with one of my favorite people and I don’t think I ever would have done this prior to becoming a parent. Doing new things can be challenging but often rewarding. I have loved letting my little on experience all of these business opportunities with me and being in a industry that allows me to do that as a mother.

I seriously could go on and on about all of the things I learned but this past year has really molded me. I am able to get so much done in a short amount of time. It’s easier to see what things are a waste of time and what things aren’t. I’m enjoying teaching my daughter every day about business (even as a tot!). She’ll be starting part-time in childcare two days a week which is a godsend but my goal was to spend year one together. We don’t have an immediate support group so she’s been here with us every single day so don’t get discouraged. It’s totally possible to raise a tiny person and run a business.

Photo Credit: Jacquelina Photography | Create HER Stock

The post The Art of Work-At-Home-Parenting appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

During Monday’s newsletter, I shared some tips on overcoming obstacles. In the age of connectivity, it’s so easy to become overwhelmed when your business is your priority. I don’t think I’ve logged onto Twitter without seeing peers being overwhelmed by the inboxes or client demands that seem to never end. Owning a business is hard work, parenting is hard work, having a social life is hard work, and on top of that, there’s that marriage thing. When do you find time to be able to get things done in a way that’s healthy and allows for diversity in your schedule.

I do so many things, which isn’t always a good thing. I always say I’ll blog about it but I decided against maternity leave and started slowly working around week two postpartum. I had an easy labor and recovery. A is sort of an easy baby so it hasn’t been difficult for me to jump into things and sometimes too many things. So today I’m going to share some ways I handle being overstimulated and how I can still end each week successfully.

Obstacle: How to Put a Hippie on a Schedule

I’m sure if you divulge into any of my old posts, especially from 2013, you will know how much I hate the idea of having a daily schedule and routine. I could not identify with bloggers and business owners who forced themselves into a steady schedule. I really work best when I’m in tune with how I feel. Babies do not. How do I mix in my crazy brain while still raising an infant who needs 12-15 hours a sleep a day?

• Schedule meetings and social events early. I’ve talked about how my husband and I share a Google calendar. This is the basic foundation of how I navigate the week. Having important functions set in stone early allows me to see how much wiggle room I have to work and head out.
• Prioritize. Knowing what’s important is key to getting things completed in a timely manner. I still work with clients who have insane (less insane these days) deadlines. I have to prioritize social time, work time, and family time. Decide every day what needs to be done and work on those things. Do not allow yourself to be stressed over things that you cannot get done.
• Need a timeout? Take the baby out. My kid is only eight months old and goes insane when she’s inside of the house too long. We were out and about really early and it’s always been that way. Having regular outings (baby workouts, library storytime, mommy walks) allow for some prime bonding time while allowing me to hit the rest button on my creative brain.

Obstacle: Nothing Seems to Get Done

We all know that feeling? Something is happening, a big project, a newborn, a family crisis and we just cannot win. You are struggling every day to keep up and it seems like you haven’t made a dent in progress. How do you keep on going when it seems easier to give up?

• Where is your to-do list? If you are not writing down the things you are doing, it will seem like you haven’t done a single thing. I always write a to-do list for every day so I can know what I’ve accomplished. The days I feel the laziest, I’m surprised at how much I managed to work on.
• Break your block. Find out what is keeping you from solving the problem or just moving forward. Do something to get yourself moving. Try something new or move onto something else so you can continue to be productive.
• Everything is a phase. We are all going through phases and parents can co-sign. Your baby isn’t sleeping at night, won’t give up the pacifer, etc. Those things are temporary. Look at everything that happens as something you can overcome and you will! You’ll be surprised at how much time you can waste wishing something were over already.

Obstacle: I’m Falling Behind While Everyone is Getting Ahead

This is a BIG one for me personally every day. I see my friends doing amazing things and then I remember, they weren’t pregnant for ten months and they don’t have kids. #FOMO is real but don’t allow it to take you out of the game.

• You can always start over. Never think that you’re too far removed to be able to contribute, especially if you are a creative. Your voice, your work, and whatever talents you have are always appreciated. Start where you are not where your friends are.
• Everyone has their struggle. While you are worried about only having 1,000 daily page views, the person you are comparing yourself to is comparing themselves to someone else. Get out of the comparison game. It’s time to worry about yourself and what you can do. Everyone is struggling with something today.
• Find your inspiration. At the end of the day, you have to find your drive. As much as I have tried this year to come back to this space, I just found my drive and that’s ok. I am reading new blogs, learning new things, and finding my groove every day.

How do you overcome obstacles and stay productive?

The post Overcoming Obstacles & Productivity appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

1. This Hi Baby Helvetica Blanket was on my registry for obvious reasons. It’s so beautiful and makes a great addition to the nursery.

2.) Finding blocks with good type can be hard to do. These wooden blocks are the perfect size for a busy toddler and look great as well.

3.) Thinkbaby is such a great brand and this four-piece feeding set is BPA-free and design conscious.

4.) The Ju-Ju-Be is the must-have diaper bag for any mama who loves storage. The platinum petals Better Be is the bag of my dreams!

5.) I am the mom who buys books filled with beautiful illustrations. This board book of Anna Karenina is a favorite!

6.) I got this Pantone Color Puzzles book at Creative South this year and Tad Carpenter signed it for Baby A. It’s gorgeous and includes an activity as well which is a win-win for any mom.

7.) I found Milk Barn through my friend’s baby registry and I’ve become obsessed with their brand. This orange hedgehog muslin swaddle blanket is high on my must-have list. I use swaddle blankets for pretty much anything but swaddling so the cuter the better in my opinion.

8.) Is there anything better than adorable baby leggings? This pair is one of my favorite and it helps that they’re organic as well.

Design mamas, what are some of your favorite finds?

The post Dream Baby Registry for the Design Mama appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Last month, I wrote a post focused on working from home. I wanted to follow up with some extra tips and tricks that I’ve learned from working at home in the past year.

Get Organized

If you haven’t already done so, you might want to get organized. I have a lot of meetings and what saves me when working on different projects, is being able to go back to the notes. One of the best things about having a to-do list is that I can easily sit down and look back on the things I’ve done. When you work at home, especially as a creative entrepreneur, you can often work so long on one project that it’s hard to tell if you’ve made any progress. Being organized is the only way my business stays afloat. If I didn’t keep track of things, I’m sure I’d be in a terrible place.

• Shop Supplies. The fun thing about having you own office space is that you’re able to decorate it however you’d like. Buy supplies that make sense for your job or business. If you never use paper, you probably don’t need a stapler. One place that’s awesome at providing gorgeous office supplies is Poppin.
• Manage Your Office. As with any office, you need to make sure your home office is managed well! Are you using equipment? Is your software up to date? One of the things that I learned in my years of office work is that it’s easier to know everything about what’s in your office than to spend every three months trying to figure out where to buy ink from. Have spreadsheet that lists all of the supplies you need, when you last bought them, the price, and from what vendor. You’ll also be thanking yourself at tax season when you can go back and reference what you’ve bought.
• There’s An App For That! Why do things like tedious project management and accounting when there are apps for it? Using apps like Asana, Zoho, and Freshbooks allow me so much flexibility in managing my business on the go. Remember all of those meetings I was talking about? Even when I’m not in my office, I know what’s happening in my office. Also, unlike most of my peers, I work with a partner so I need to know what he’s doing as well.

Stay Focused

If there is anything I hear from my traditional office peers, it’s that working from home would provide too many distractions. There’s the TV, the fridge, and the bed all located in walking distance. How is anyone able to get anything done when Daredevil is on Netflix?!!! The key to surviving in your home office is to keep your mind on the prize. Distractions don’t pay the bills!

• Know Your Discipline Level. I have friends who have no problem working from home with the television on and still get everything they need to done. There are many people who cannot. Please don’t encourage yourself to be distracted with TV or constant snacking. Treat your office like it’s any other office.
• Trick Your Brain. If you don’t have the brain signal that tells you to start working, you may need to trick your brain. Still set your alarm, get dressed, and even put on your shoes if you need to. Do what you need to do to get your brain in productivity mode.
• Stop The Music. Working with music is great and I love it but what makes me more productive are podcasts. There’s something about being educated while working that motivates me to keep going. I keep music for my workouts and my car, and let podcasts guide me through my workday. If you absolutely can’t work while people are talking, switch up your music to something light. You could also try working with noise apps like Coffitivity.

Be Social

The second thing I hear from my traditional office friends is that they love having co-workers too much to leave the office. I’ve only worked in one place where I had traditional co-workers that I worked with every day and now those people are some of my closest friends, so I understand. There is something quaint about going into a building and being able to say hello to the receptionist who knows your name, going a group lunch or coffee run, and office potlucks. However, what I remember most about office are office politics and spending a lot of time in my office with the door closed praying to remain uninterrupted. There are ways to be social with your home office without necessarily needing the office.

• Work Outside of Your Office. The great thing about working from home is the ability to pick up your laptop and take it anywhere you want. Last year, I spent so much time outside of the office. I would work at Starbucks, other coffee shops, at the park, and absolutely anywhere my laptop to connect to WiFi. Try to take some time to work somewhere else if you miss people! Co-working spaces like Canvs here in Orlando or The Hive in Philadelphia are great options as well.
• Go Out To Lunch! There is nothing about working at home that stops you from grabbing lunch with a friend. If you need some social time, meet up with a friend and eat. You can do it on their schedule, which is amazing, and you don’t have to worry about time constraints on your end.
• Join A Meetup. Meetup is fantastic. It has introduced me to so many amazing people, events, and groups in this city that I wouldn’t have ever known about. All you do is put in your interests and you’re connected to a world of amazing new opportunities. If you’re not sure where to start connecting with others or you’ve just moved to a new place, I would recommend attending a meetup to get to know some people. This also forces you to get out of the house!

I think I’ve covered everything that I can think of for now in this series. I really love working from home and having the freedom to do what I want, when I want, in my office while still doing what I love. Does your job offer working at home as an option? Try it out!

First Photo Credit: Unsplash

The post On Working from Home: Part 2 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

I realized that I have never ever discussed my transition from working a full-time job and working part-time at home to working full-time in my home office. It’s been over a year now so I have some thoughts on what has worked for me thus far. Mostly every day, I get up and make my way into this office where I spend time designing, organizing, maintaining, meeting, and planning. Working from home isn’t always easy and it’s not for everyone. I’m going to share some tips on what works for me and how I’ve survived this past year, even while I was pregnant!

Having A Designated Space

When we moved into this condo almost three years ago, it was very important for the both of us to have separate office spaces. We always worked on Sevenality projects after our “9-to-5” jobs and we learned that having an actual office space was so helpful. My office is actually a pretty good sized sun room where everything lives for Studio 404 Paper and Sevenality. It was important for me to have a space where I could store everything and have a pretty good sized desk. Nothing happens in my office except for work. I rarely eat at my desk. It works best for me to designate this space specifically for work so that I’m mentally prepared to give it my all when I sit down at my desk. Here are some things that might help you find your sweet space:

• Separate a space from your common living areas. Having a space that is your own helps motivate you to get in the game! It also keeps guests out and allows everyone to know when you’re in work mode.
•  Know your needs. Prior to even opening Studio 404 Paper, I knew I needed a large desk to hold multiple screens and space for hand lettering. If I had to close things and move things around just to get crafty, I would become irritated by my space. This was often a problem at my 9-5 jobs, being stuck in a very small space with lots of paper work.
• Make it yours. I love having a personalized space to work in. I have never ever decorated a desk, cubicle, etc and any job because it didn’t feel like my space. This is my space where I can have pictures of friends, prints I love, and the furniture that works for me. Add in a personal touch to help yourself stay motivated!

Learn to Prioritize

If you haven’t already, prioritization is key in working for yourself. There are so many ways to get distracted at home. You have social media pinging, you friends are texting, the TV is right there, and who wouldn’t want a midday nap? You have to learn to prioritize your work over your distractions. When I switched from listening to music to podcasts while working, I really increased my productivity. Hearing inspiring entrepreneurs talk about their businesses or listening to other creatives inspired me to do my very best. This helped me fight the temptation to catch up on my favorite shows and ignore that client project.

• Organize your work by priority. If this is something you’ve struggled with in the past, working from home is a great way to perfect this skill. Without the distractions of office noise, it’s easy for you to sit down and write up a to-do list in order of importance.
• Stay focused. It’s easy to be distracted at home as well! You’re in walking distance of your refrigerator which is bad enough. Find something that gets you in work mode.
• To-do lists. This is what helps me stay afloat. Once I have a new task, I automatically write it down. I know apps like TeuxDeux work for people and help them stay on top of things. I work best with pen and paper and if I forget a notebook, I list things down in my Evernote notebooks. To-do lists were so helpful in dealing with my pregnancy brain! I would forget where my cell phone was all of the time but never forgot a task that came from a meeting.

Stay Healthy

I think as an industry, tech has become very aware of lifestyle and health choices. I have an occupation that generally requires me to sit for long hours at a time. If I wanted to, I could be doing this completely alone for 8-12 hours a day. I became very aware of my needs while I was pregnant. I am notoriously terrible at eating while working. I would never take lunch at my day jobs just because I felt like it was a waste of time. Now I am much better at taking an hour of my day to sit down, eat, and reset.

• Take a break or a few! It’s important to get up from your computer and take a break. I am also very bad at this so I’ve started to take Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation) every hour. This gives me an opportunity to stretch while walking away from my computer. To make sure I committed to this, I got rid of my area rug in the living room and leave out a yoga mat.
• Make healthy eating choices. One benefit of being at home is the ability heave healthier lunches. I admit, with having a newborn, it wasn’t easy but now that we’re settled into a routine, it’s much easier for me to cook lunch. Try to take some time to eat some brain food. It will definitely help you get through the afternoon slump.
• Keep up with your fitness. It’s easy to fall out of your fitness routine when you’re no longer travelling to an office. If you need to, find a gym that’s close to home. Try taking a morning or early afternoon class. Make sure your workouts continue to be a priority for you. It’s much easier to stay focused when you’re feeling great.

I realized I have so much to cover so I’ll have to break this post up!

What has helped you work from home?

The post On Working from Home: Part 1 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.