5 tips to stay productive when working from home

Is working from home or hybrid working – where you split your week between the office and home – your new normal? If it is, you've probably had to dig deep to consistently find the most productive version of yourself.

Being thrown out of your routine can leave you feeling unbalanced and alone. And suddenly, filing your nails or doing your laundry can seem like the most important item on your to-do list. If you’re a known procrastinator, now is the time to work on those issues!

It’s not all downside: a 2019 study found that many workers consider themselves more productive when working from home. You just need to take a few steps to set yourself up for success. Try these tips to stay productive, stay focused and keep yourself from climbing the walls.

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1. Stick to a schedule

A lack of structure is the first thing that can send you off the rails when working from home. Set yourself regular start and finish times for your working day – sticking with your regular work hours if possible. If you usually get up early to work out or walk 30 minutes to your office, stick with that same routine. If you head to the gym after work, turn off your computer and do your home workout to put a full stop on the workday. These familiar cues or segues will help you maintain the divide of ‘work time’ and ‘home time’.

And remember, working productively at home doesn’t mean staying at your desk for several hours after you normally would. You still need to rest so you can come back fresh tomorrow.

2. Make a dedicated workspace

Working with a laptop from the comfort of your bed may sound great, but it’s not really sending out professional and efficient vibes, is it? If you don’t have a home office or study, create a designated workplace for yourself, even if it’s just one end of the kitchen table. Make sure it’s all ergonomically sound. If you can’t shut the door on your workspace at the end of the day, pack it up and put it away, or cover it over – let your home be home again.

3. Communicate with your colleagues

Moving from a crowded, buzzing workplace to a quiet home environment can feel quite isolating. Social interaction is essential for our mental well-being and for team bonding. While your watercooler chats with Emma from accounting may seem unimportant (did arguing the merits of the Succession finale help you get that project done?), after a few days of working from home you’ll really start to notice that lack of interaction. Connect with a coworker online or on the phone – it’s likely they need someone to chat with too.

As for your workload, maintaining open lines of communication with your boss and your team is essential. Many offices now have group chats, but a 10-minute phone or video hook-up at the start of the working day could help clarify what is expected of you.

4. Get out of the house

Does your commute home from work help you switch off, or a lunch walk in the fresh air help you reset? Your brain and body still need this room to breathe when you’re working from home. Structure some breaks into your day and find reasons to get outside at least a few times a day. If you can’t go any further than your backyard or balcony, do a few laps to stretch your legs or sit and feel the sun and breeze on your face for a few minutes. Make the most of any outside time you can.

5. Set boundaries

We all need to be a bit more flexible and understanding in a hybrid working environment, but that doesn’t mean your time should be a free-for-all. No, it’s not going to completely derail your workday if you make your child a sandwich or message a friend about getting dinner later. However, constant interruptions will see your productivity levels – and the quality of your work – drop.

Set some ground rules with any family in the house (“When I’m in the study, I’m at work”) and tell friends you'll get back to them on your lunch break or after work.