Working from home can be deeply rewarding. You get flexibility, autonomy, and space to build something on your terms. Building a work from home mindset practice is as important as landing clients!
But there’s a side of it that doesn’t get talked about enough.
It can be quietly brutal on your mindset.
There’s no one sitting next to you saying, “That was a great job.”
No one notices when you push through something hard.
No one claps when you finally figure out something that took hours.
And after a while, it starts to mess with your head.
You begin to wonder:
- Am I actually making progress?
- Is this real work?
- Why does it feel like I’m doing so much, but nothing is changing?
That’s exactly why I started what I call my Evidence Jar.
This is my evidence jar! I love it so much.
What Is an Evidence Jar?
On my desk sits an old, clear coffee jar.
Inside it are small scraps of paper I painted with watercolors and cut into strips.
Every time I:
- achieve something
- push through something hard
- have a good workday
- make progress (even small progress)
…I write it down, add the date, fold it up, and drop it into the jar.
That’s it.
No rules. No pressure. No minimum standard.
And because the jar is clear, I can see it every single day.
Why I Call It an “Evidence” Jar (Not a Gratitude Jar)
Yes, it’s similar to a gratitude jar.
But this feels different.
Gratitude is about appreciation.
This is about proof.
When you’re working from home, especially solo, your brain can turn on you quickly.
You forget what you’ve done.
You downplay your progress.
You question whether anything is working at all.
The Evidence Jar cuts through that.
It gives you something your brain can’t argue with.
Visual proof.
Proof that:
- you are showing up
- you are learning
- you are building something real
Even on the days it doesn’t feel like it.
This aligns with research in positive psychology, where tracking small wins has been shown to improve motivation and performance. Studies like those by Teresa Amabile highlight that progress, even small progress, is one of the biggest drivers of motivation at work.
I add in big, medium and tiny wins!
What Goes Into My Evidence Jar (Real Examples)
Nothing fancy. Nothing curated.
Just real, everyday progress.
Some of the things I’ve written down:
- Sent a brief to a new client
- Received payment
- Finished a project
- Completed a course
- Figured out a tool that confused me
- Wrote an article
- Created a Pinterest pin set
- Got through a task I was avoiding
- Navigated something technical that felt overwhelming
These are the wins that usually disappear into the void when you work alone.
Here, they stay.
Why This Matters for Your Work From Home Mindset Practice
When you work in a traditional job, feedback is built in.
You have:
- managers giving direction
- teammates reflecting your progress
- structured milestones
- Debriefs and chats around the office
When you work from home, especially for yourself, that disappears.
And without realizing it, you lose your feedback loop.
This is where people start to spiral.
Not because they aren’t doing well.
But because they can’t see that they are.
The Evidence Jar becomes:
- your colleague
- your progress report
- your quiet confirmation that this is working
It helps shift you out of emotion and back into reality.
And that matters more than motivation.
Because motivation comes and goes.
But evidence builds belief.
I love sitting and reading them, so many achievements I have forgotten. Really helps me on the hard days!
The Psychology Behind It (Why This Actually Works)
There’s a reason this simple habit of creating a work from home mindset practice feels so powerful.
It taps into a few key psychological principles:
1. The Progress Principle
Again, research from Teresa Amabile shows that even small wins can significantly boost motivation and engagement.
2. Cognitive Bias Correction
Our brains are wired to focus on what’s missing or going wrong (negativity bias).
By physically recording wins, you’re actively correcting that bias.
3. Self-Efficacy
Psychologist Albert Bandura introduced the idea that belief in your ability grows through evidence of past success.
Your jar becomes a collection of that evidence.
4. Identity Building
Every note reinforces a new identity:
“I’m someone who follows through.”
“I’m someone who is building something.”
Over time, that identity sticks.
How to Start Your Own Evidence Jar
This is intentionally simple.
Don’t overthink it.
You don’t need:
- a pretty jar
- special paper
- a perfect system
You just need three things:
1. Something Visible
A jar, box, or container that sits on your desk.
You want to see it.
2. Something Physical
Pen and paper. Not your phone.
The physical act matters. It slows you down and makes it real.
3. A Tiny Habit
At the end of your workday (or whenever it feels right), write one thing down.
That’s it.
One win. One moment. One piece of progress.
When You’ll Notice the Shift
At first, it might feel small.
Almost pointless.
But give it a week.
Then two.
Then a month.
You’ll start to notice:
- you’re more aware of your progress during the day
- you catch yourself thinking differently about your work
- you feel less scattered and more grounded
And on the harder days?
You don’t even need to open the jar.
Just seeing it is enough.
A Simple Upgrade (If You Want to Take It Further)
If you want to build this into your routine, you can:
- Pair it with your end-of-day shutdown ritual
- Write slightly more detail (what made it hard, what you learned)
- Review the jar at the end of each month
That last one is powerful.
Because instead of wondering what you did all month…
You’ll know.
The Importance of Building Your Work From Home Mindset Practice
When you work from home, your progress doesn’t disappear.
It just becomes invisible.
And invisible progress is where doubt grows.
The Evidence Jar brings it back into view.
So here’s something to think about:
What would you put in your jar today?
What are you already doing that you’re not giving yourself credit for?
Because you are moving forward.
And sometimes, you just need to see it to believe it 🙂
