Written By Max Hoffenheins

Working from home is a pretty big deal. Today, many people are working from their homes for the first time ever because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

There is loss of structure, children who need guidance for homeschooling, and lots of several activities going on at the same time. All of these can be exhausting and quite disorienting.

I’ve worked remotely for several years, and I know colleagues and friends who have done so too. In the absence of a corporate office to go to, unique opportunities open up for you to tailor your workday and create a better work-life balance.  

Let me quickly say here that it is possible to work productively from home, remain positive, and connect while also balancing a wonderful home life and the bonus of no work commute.

Here’s how to properly do it:

1. Dedicate an Area For Work

Focus is vital when you’re working remotely. It is best to create a workspace dedicated for work and work alone. It could be a wall or a curtain that separates this area from your living quarters. When you’re not working, you should not be in that space.

Having a separate work area in your home will help you mentally recreate the boundaries between ‘home mode’ and ‘work mode’ you had worked from a physical office.

You can turn your desk to face a window or your wall. 

Use plants or stack boots to create a distance. If all these don’t work, you can also use noise-canceling headphones to keep other housemates at bay.

2. Stick to Regular Work Hours

Do you want to maintain an outstanding work-life balance? If yes, then having clear guidelines set for work hours and when you call it End of Day (EOD) is a no-brainer. Have a plan, set a schedule, and then work as hard as you can to stick to it. 

I find that getting a productivity app that helps you stick to time and complete bursts of work uninterrupted. A good example of such an app that I use is Trello as it helps me track my workflow and stay organized. 

However, we also need to realize that flexibility is one of the perks of remote work. Sometimes you might need to start your day early or extend your day to accommodate another person’s work zone. It’s best to end your day more prematurely or rest in a bit the next morning in such scenarios.

3. Recreate Your Morning Routine

The process of preparing for and commuting to work helps put you in the mental headspace for work. You can replace that with a new morning routine that includes doing simple tasks like making a coffee, listening to music, and going for a jog with your nose mask on (best to be safe during the pandemic!). 

It could even be as simple as getting dressed and going to your dedicated workspace at home. Trust me, this helps set you mentally prepared for work.

4. Take Breaks

Another important way to remain productive while working from home is to schedule your break times as well. If you are self-employed, consciously take out time during the day to take a lunch hour and walk away from your screen. Punctuate short bursts of work with intermittent breaks and long uninterrupted work hours with longer intervals.

With all of these stated, something to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t joke with communication as it can make or break your remote work life. Make sure to check-in frequently with your colleagues. It is better to be known for over-communicating than otherwise. 

There should be multiple means of communication (e.g., email, slack, skype), all serving different purposes. Follow your company’s terms of engagement on these diverse platforms, and there should be clear expectations on response times.