Folks, you\u2019ll know today\u2019s guest contributor author Gretchen Rubin from her bestselling books on happiness, habits, and human nature, her inspiring talks, and her popular daily blog GretchenRubin.com<\/a>.\u00a0Gretchen also shares practical, manageable advice on her podcast\u00a0Happier With Gretchen Rubin. <\/a>We are thrilled to have Gretchen on ProBlogger today, giving us her best tips on how good habits can help you stay sane and on track when your workplace is also your home.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re a blogger, and you work from home, it can be tough to stay productive and creative. You can always knock off some household chore \u2013 or take a nap on the sofa!<\/p>\n In Better Than Before<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, my book about how to master habits, I identify the 21\u00a0strategies we can use to make or break our habits. I use many of these strategies on myself, to keep myself on track as a blogger.<\/p>\n To do the serious work of original writing\u2014my most challenging kind of work\u2014I take my laptop to a library that\u2019s a block from my apartment, and there, I don\u2019t connect to the internet. It\u2019s easier physically to remove myself from the lure of my three monitors than to use self-control.<\/strong> Many people accomplish the same thing by using software to shut down the internet for certain intervals every day. Look for stumbling blocks, plan for failure!<\/p>\n It turns out that working<\/em> is one of the most dangerous forms of procrastination<\/strong>. So when I tell myself, \u201cat 10:00 a.m., I\u2019m going to write that blog post,\u201d at 10:00 I don\u2019t allow myself to think that while I\u2019m writing, I can also clean my desk, check email, post on Twitter, go over my calendar, or indulge in my personal favorite, do \u201cresearch.\u201d At the designated time,<\/strong> I do the task that I\u2019ve identified, or I stare at the ceiling. <\/strong>Even when I don\u2019t feel like working, I soon buckle down, out of sheer boredom.<\/p>\n Some days I go to the gym, or take a yoga class, or have a strength-training session. We also just got a new puppy, so I\u2019m going for many more short walks during the day. Research shows that exercise helps me stay energized and focused\u2014and for me, it also helps me keep my rear in the chair when I\u2019m working, <\/strong>because otherwise I get very restless. Plus, as Nietzsche wrote, \u201cAll truly great thoughts are conceived by walking.\u201d<\/strong> I often find that I get a big insight or make an important connection when I\u2019m out for a walk.<\/p>\n How many posts am I really<\/em> doing each week? We do a better job with just about everything (exercise, diet, spending, etc.) when we keep close track of what we\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n Weirdly, I\u2019ve found, it\u2019s easier to post just about every<\/em> day than to post some<\/em> days<\/strong>. I usually post 5-6 times a week, so it\u2019s part of my ordinary day. I don\u2019t agonize, \u201cShould I write something? I wrote yesterday and the day befofre, shouldn\u2019t I get today off? I have a good idea for tomorrow, so should I take today off? I didn\u2019t sleep well last night, I\u2019ll write better tomorrow\u201d, etc. But if I posted, say, three times a week, I\u2019d go through that every time, I\u2019m sure.<\/p>\n As it is, I just have to post. If you want a daily time log, to help you monitor how you\u2019re spending your time each day, download it <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The Strategy of Treats is the most fun<\/em> We should load ourselves with healthy treats, because when we give<\/em> more to ourselves, we can ask<\/em> more from ourselves<\/strong>. Reading is my favorite thing to do, and when I give myself plenty of time to read for fun, I feel energized and cared for. Also, my reading gives me new ideas, illustrations, and insights, so it makes blogging easier, too. But I spend a good amount of time each week reading exactly what I want to read, not what I think I \u201cshould\u201d read.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a strategy that I don\u2019t need, but many people do: the Strategy of Accountability<\/strong>. In Better Than Before<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, I divide people into four categories: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels<\/strong><\/a>. (Take the quiz here<\/strong><\/a>.) For people who are \u201cObligers<\/strong>\u201d (which is the largest category, by the way), the Strategy of Accountability is crucial<\/em>. Key. Essential!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re really good at meeting other people\u2019s expectations, but find it hard to meet your expectations for yourself, you must give yourself outer accountability<\/em>.<\/strong> Start an accountability group (starter kit here<\/strong><\/a>, if you want to start one) where people hold each other accountable. Work with a coach. Find a client. Report to a buddy. Do whatever it takes\u2014because for many people, writing regularly on a blog is something that just won\u2019t happen, no matter how much they want to do it, if there\u2019s no external accountability. Know yourself, and plan accordingly!<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to read more about how to use habits to make your life happier, healthier, and more productive, check out my book, <\/strong>Better Than Before<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. It turns out that it\u2019s not too hard to change your habits\u2014when you know what to do<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"5](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/problogger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/5-Ways-I-Use-Habits-to-Stay-Creative-and-Productive-When-Working-From-Home-1.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n5 Ways I Use Habits to Stay Creative and Productive When Working From Home<\/h2>\n
1. I use the Strategy of Safeguards to put myself out of the reach of temptation<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
2. I use the Strategy of Scheduling to do certain tasks at certain times<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
3. I use the Strategy of Foundation to make sure that I move around a lot during the day<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
4. I use the Strategy of Monitoring to keep track of how much I\u2019m posting<\/strong>.<\/h3>\n
5. I use the Strategy of Treats to make plenty of time to read.<\/strong><\/h3>\n
BONUS<\/h2>\n