Tips for Working From Home Productively

To limit the spread of the coronavirus, many employers have traded hours in the office for time clocked in at home. So we've swapped our stiff business clothes for comfortable sweats and can do our work from our couches. While there are benefits to working from home, the boundary between work life and personal life has faded — which can make a routine far more difficult to achieve. Here are our tips to stay productive, even from your living room! 

Create a schedule

Whether you prefer to work your normal office hours or have shifted your day to a later time table, maintaining a schedule you can stick to is a great way to assure that you're not over-working or skimping on must-do tasks. One bonus of quarantine is that you're able to choose your own hours, just make sure it's a sustainable schedule! 

Make an office space

No faster way to lose focus than working from under your blankets or while the TV blares in the background. Find an at-home office space that works for you and keep your supplies, computer and planner in one place, rather than letting your workspace extend all throughout your home. If you're able to have a somewhat private area for work that's even better — it will help you limit distractions to get through your work efficiently. 

Give yourself a break 

In many office environments employees are given two 15-minute breaks in addition to an hour for lunch. While it can be easy to get sucked into the task at hand, giving yourself a breather and step away from the desk can clear your head and prevent burn out. Take a short walk, prepare a healthy lunch from home or do a stretching routine to break up your day. 

Transition in and out

Where we used to have our commute and early morning Starbucks run to mark the beginning of a workday, now we can just open our laptop. To create a better boundary between your work and personal life, create both a morning and evening routine to bookend your day. Even if you begin your workday at noon, having a "morning" routine before you clock in can be a better and more enjoyable way to kick off your day compared to a blaring alarm. Start strong with an at-home workout, freshly brewed cup of coffee or a hearty breakfast — whatever puts you in the best mood to begin WFH. You can finish off your day with a relaxing shower, healthy dinner or by heading outside for some sunshine. 

Socialize

While WFH, we miss out on the natural socializing we get in an office environment. Make a point to check in with your coworkers — whether it's about an upcoming project or how they're keeping busy. A quick Zoom call can break up the monotony of your day and we could all use a bit more social interaction while quarantined. 

Tackle a to-do list

At the beginning of every workday, make a to-do list with the essential tasks. Avoid piling on too many items because it can result in burnout. Instead, stick with the projects you are sure you can do within work hours — once you've completed the list you can always work on longer-term projects or check off a few tasks for the next day. 

Top photo credit: Thought Catalog