8 Real Life Work from Home Tips for Women Over 40 Who Want More Balance and ENERGY

Working from home comes with its own unique challenges, especially for women over 40. Balancing teenagers, family responsibilities, and a business. Over the past thirteen years, I’ve learned what works, what doesn’t, and how to create a routine that actually sticks. Today I’m sharing my favorite work from home tips for women over 40.

From designing a functional workspace and setting boundaries to staying organized and keeping your sanity intact. These strategies have helped me stay productive, focused, and energized while prioritizing my family. Working from home for women over 40 has never been easier and I am excited to share my tips with all of you!

1. wake up before the house does

Those quiet early hours are my secret weapon. I grab a cup of coffee, plan my day, and set intentions before the chaos begins. Even 30 minutes of uninterrupted “me time” helps me focus and sets the tone for a productive day. I love this quiet time to sit down and plan out my to do list for the day without interruption.

2. Use a Planner That Works for You

With client calls, content deadlines, and teenagers’ schedules, a good planner keeps me on track. Every Sunday night, I map out the week, schedule tasks around family needs, and plan business priorities.

I also use a command-center calendar in the kitchen. My husband checks it each morning, and it keeps us all organized and on the same page.

3. PRIORITIZE YOUR TOP 3 TASKS

Instead of overwhelming myself with a long to-do list, I focus on three main priorities each day. Completing these gives me a sense of accomplishment, while anything extra is a bonus.

If something doesn’t get finished, it rolls over to the next day. Grace over guilt is key, especially when juggling family and work.

4. CREATE A FUNCTIONAL AND INSPIRING WORKSPACE

One of my most favorite rooms in our home is my office.  I have completely made this space my own and have everything organized to my liking.  I am truly the happiest and most productive working at my desk because I know it is the one thing in our home that is mine.  

Start your day off with a clean desk, be sure to keep your work space clean and decluttered.  Each morning I file away necessary paperwork and put items back in their proper place before tackling my to do list.

No dedicated office? Carve out a cozy corner, keep it tidy, and make it your own. It really changes your mindset.

5. SET WORK HOURS AND STICK TO THEM

Set business hours and stick to them. One of the hardest things was to know when to “clock out” and end my work day.  I would work all day long if I allowed myself. 

I am a natural people pleaser and would find myself answering work related questions at all hours of the night.  By setting specific business hours and communicating them, you have now set the expectation that you will not be responding to questions until the next business day.

6. GET DRESSED FOR THE DAY

Get dressed every day as if you were going into an office. As a former Corporate Accountant, I used to LOVE dressing up every day.  Ann Taylor and I were besties.  My favorite quote as a career girl was “dress for the job you want, not the job you have”. 

Once I became a stay at home mom, I slowly turned into that yoga pants wearing Mom and barely ever got dressed or did my make up.  It just wasn’t a priority and some things just had to be sacrificed in order to get everything done. 

I slowly found that when I did make an extra effort in my appearance, I would also make an extra effort in my business.  I became more confident in what I was doing because I felt better about myself.  Now with social media videos and Zoom calls playing such an important part in our work from home businesses, I make it an effort almost every day to do my hair and make up incase the opportunity presents itself to create a video.

7. power evening: one night a week

Designate a power evening one night a week.I allow myself to stay up late one night a week to knock out a few items on my to do list that I can’t seem to get done during the day.  I also save the tasks such as filming YouTube videos, writing newsletters or blog posts that require full concentration and without the constant interruptions from my teens.  

Accomplishing more in one power evening than it would take me in a week due to the constant daily interruptions from my family.  I would have to drink an extra cup of coffee the next day, however,  it was worth it knowing how much I had accomplished the night before.

8. SKIP THE post office

Turn your home office into a Post Office. Back when my kiddos were little, I dreaded the task of taking them to the Post Office.  Standing in that long line and keeping my kids focused was like herding cats into a box. 

My son would stand next to me for about two minutes and then run off while my daughter struck up a conversation with the woman five people in front of us.  I was literally out of breath and red with embarrassment by the time we got back into the car!  

I then discovered an amazing gadget called a Postage Scale and never have to go to the Post Office again.  It’s like having a Post Office right inside your home!  The mailman and I are now BFF’s, he knows to expect a lot of packages from me. 

And if you have too many to mail out, leave him a little note in your mailbox asking him to pick up the remaining packages from your front porch. This has truly been a game changer for me.

Here is what you need to transform your Work At Home Office into a Post Office:

1. Dymo Postage Scale
2. Avery Internet Shipping Labels
3. Pay Pal Ship Now Account.
4. Scotch Bubble Mailers
5. Catalog Envelopes

Using the Postage Scale is so easy!  Here is what you do:

1. Pull together your package to be mailed and weigh it using your Postage Scale.

2. Go to the PayPal link. If it does not automatically bring you to the ‘Ship Now’ portal, you will have to key http://www.paypal.com/shipnow to get you there.

3. In the Address Information section, fill out your customers address and your email so you have a record of your shipment and purchase.  

4. In the Shipment Information section, there will be two drop downs you will need to select from. I always choose First Class Mail Parcel 2-5 Days and Package/Thick Envelope. You can certainly change these options depending on what you are shipping, however, this is what I use most of the time.

5. Fill out the weight of your package, the second boxes is the ounces which is what you will mostly use.

6. Click on Continue.  It will bring up a screen with your postage rate. Then click on Print Label.  Another Pop-Up window will show asking you if you want to print a sample label. I printed a sample label with my first couple of packages as I was getting used to the process and to see how my printer worked with this system.

7. Print your label!  I have to cut mine out of the Avery label sheet.  Peel and stick. 

8. Do a happy dance to your mailbox knowing that you do not have to drag the kids to the Post Office.

Working from home successfully in midlife is absolutely possible. With structure, boundaries, and a little grace, you can stay productive, manage family responsibilities, and even enjoy your work.

What’s your favorite work from home tip for women over 40, Bestie? Share it in the comments—I’d love to hear how you make it all work!

XOXO

Karen

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This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.