Boost your productivity and well-being: Top tips for working from home

Read time: 5 minutes

In today's work landscape, remote work has become a significant aspect of many professionals' lives. In fact, according to data collected by WFH Research, currently 12% of full-time employees are fully remote and 27% have a hybrid arrangement.

Working from home offers flexibility and comfort, but it also comes with unique challenges that can easily disrupt your work-life balance. According to a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research, remote workers typically spend nearly an hour more working each day compared to their office-based counterparts. Despite the many distractions at home, remote workers have not seen a drop in productivity. In fact, they are working longer hours while achieving a healthier work-life balance and experiencing less stress.

Whether you're new to working from home or seeking ways to boost your productivity, this blog post will provide effective strategies to help you enhance your well-being and maintain a balanced, efficient work-from-home experience.

Table of Contents:

1. Creating a Dedicated Workspace
2. Establishing a Routine
3. Utilizing Technology
4. Efficient Time Management
5. Frequently Asked Questions

4+ Essential tips for working from home

1. Create a dedicated workspace

Whether it’s a home office or a desk in your dining room, a well-organized and dedicated workspace can significantly improve focus and productivity. Here’s how you can set up an ideal work area for your WFH days:

• Choose the right location: You may not have a room you can designate as an office, but when you’re figuring out where to put your desk, do your best to select a quiet spot with minimal distractions, away from high-traffic areas in your home.

• Invest in your remote work setup: You will be spending a lot of time working, so make sure you invest in a comfortable chair to support good posture and reduce physical strain. Choose a desk that's spacious enough to meet your needs, and consider alternatives like a standing desk or a bike desk if you're looking for more flexibility than a traditional setup offers. (Note: Some companies will even offer stipends to help offset the costs of a WFH setup!)

• Personalize your space: Enhance your workspace with decor that inspires you, like plants, artwork, or motivational quotes, to make your working hours more enjoyable.

2. Establish a routine

Neuroscientists and mental health experts agree: our brains thrive on routines. Keeping a structured routine when you are working from home is key to staying productive and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Here are some simple steps to help you get started building a healthy WFH routine:

• Stick to consistent start and end times: Set specific work hours to establish a boundary between work and personal time. Try physically signaling you’re done with work by closing your office door or even just shutting your laptop. If you’re having trouble separating work from non-work time when you’re working from home, try taking a brief walk before your workday begins and after you finish for the day. Remember to not give in to temptation to check your work email or Slack when you’re off work to give your brain some time to actually rest – checking in on work emails/chats later into the night can contribute to burnout.

• Morning rituals: Did you know that having a morning routine can boost your productivity and focus throughout the day? Set yourself up for success by starting your day with energizing activities like exercise, meditation, or a healthy breakfast.

• Take breaks: Being productive while working from home doesn’t mean you have to stay glued to your desk all day. Just like in the office, it's important to take breaks. Regularly stepping away from your work allows your brain to recharge, helping you maintain consistent productivity throughout the day.

3. Utilize smart technology

It's no secret that staying connected with colleagues and clients is crucial for successful remote work, which is why tools like Zoom, Slack, and Dropbox are so popular. But have you considered how technology can enhance your remote work experience beyond just communication?

• Smart vacuums: A common concern with remote work is getting distracted by household chores. Why not lighten your load with a smart vacuum and mop device? It’s one less thing to worry about, letting you stay focused while working from home.

• Smart speakers: For remote work, a smart speaker can be a valuable tool. Whether you enjoy listening to music, catching up on the news, or need a quick answer, it allows you to manage these tasks with simple voice commands, helping you stay focused without the distraction of reaching for your phone. You can even use it as a timer to help yourself keep to a consistent start and end time.

• Smart locks: When working remotely, it can be distracting to get up to answer the door or let family members in. To minimize interruptions, consider investing in a smart lock with features like remote locking and entry code management. This can provide you with convenience, peace of mind, and reduced security concerns so you can focus when you’re WFH.

• Smart home hubs: Consider setting up a wake-up routine using your smart home hub, like Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa. Automating your morning routine not only adds consistency but is especially beneficial if you work from home, helping you maintain a structured start to your day and ensuring you and your family are awake and ready to tackle the day ahead.

4. Efficient time management

Whether you’re in the office or working remotely, effective time management is key to balancing work tasks and personal responsibilities. Here are some strategies to help manage your time when you’re working from home:

• Prioritize tasks: Utilize a daily planner or digital to-do list to prioritize and track tasks based on their importance and urgency. This approach will help you stay organized and focused while you’re working remotely, ensuring that key tasks are completed efficiently and deadlines are met.

• Time blocking: Set aside specific time slots for focused work, meetings, and breaks to boost productivity. Block out time on your calendar for each task, including daily routines. For added efficiency, consider using a hexagonal alarm to manage your time quickly and easily.

• Limit distractions: Identify common distractions and implement techniques to minimize them, such as turning off non-essential notifications or as we mentioned earlier, investing in a smart lock so you don’t have to get up to let your family in.

• Make use of convenient services: Working from home can be overwhelming when balancing household tasks with work responsibilities. To lighten your load, consider using a grocery delivery service like Walmart+ InHome, so you can avoid the hassle of trips to the store.