10 powerful tips for working from home

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever before are working from home. Whether you're new to remote work or just looking to improve, these tips from a pro can help you stay productive and maintain balance.

As of March 2020, more people than ever before were working from home, and quite suddenly. Companies and individuals had no time to prepare for remote work or consider how best to transition teams, processes, and culture to an entirely online environment. No one knew (or still doesn't) how long the COVID-19 pandemic and thus mandatory remote work would last.

If you're new to working from home, whether due to the coronavirus or because you managed to find a remote job, you may have found that you need to change your habits and routines to make working from home a success.

I worked 100 percent from home for over three years, long before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Some of my friends and colleagues did too. Each of us faces unique challenges, not only because of our different personalities but also because of our different lifestyles and the type of work we do. Nevertheless, many of the core issues we face as remote workers are the same.

Everyone working remotely has to figure out when they work, where they work, and how to draw boundaries between work and personal life. What about office equipment, career development, training opportunities, and building relationships with colleagues?

Remote work, especially if you work from home most of the time, means addressing these and other questions. Here are 10 tips for a better and more productive remote work life, based on my experiences and what I've learned from others.Maintain regular hours

1. Maintain regular hours

Set a schedule and stick to it… most of the time. Having clear guidelines on when you work and when you log off helps many remote workers maintain their work-life balance.

However, one of the best benefits of remote work is flexibility, if the job allows. Sometimes you need to extend your day or start earlier to accommodate someone else's time zone. If that's the case, you should log off earlier than usual or sleep in a bit longer the next morning to compensate.

Automatic time tracking apps, such as RescueTime, let you check if you are sticking to your schedule. They can also help you figure out what times of day you are most productive and when you are slacking off. You can use this information to your advantage by protecting the hours when you are most likely to get difficult tasks done. For example, if you are most productive between 9:30 and 11:30 AM, you should not schedule meetings at that time.

2. Create a morning routine

Deciding that you will sit down at your desk at a certain time and start working is one thing. Creating a routine that leads you to the chair is another.

A routine can be more powerful than a clock in helping you start each day. What in your morning routine signals that you are about to start work? It could be making a cup of coffee before tackling your to-do list. It could be coming home after a run or getting dressed. (Wearing pajamas is a perk of working from home for some, but a bad strategy for others). Find an existing habit, such as brushing your teeth or coming back from walking the dog, that serves as a cue. This way, you can attach the new habit of starting your workday.

I say "morning routine," but not everyone who works from home follows a nine-to-five schedule. Your routine might be an "on-ramp routine" at a different time of day. Nevertheless, find an existing habit you have and try to start your workday after it.

3. Establish ground rules with the people in your space

Establish ground rules with other people who are at your home or who share your space when you are working.

For example, if you have children who are learning at home or coming home from school while you are still working, they need clear rules about what they can and cannot do during that time. If you share a space with another adult who works from home, you may need to negotiate quiet times, meeting times, and shared equipment like tables and chairs.

And just because you are home and can let service people into the house or take care of pets doesn't mean other family members should assume you always will. If you choose to divide household chores this way, that's fine, but if you simply take on everything by default because you are home, you can feel exploited and your productivity can suffer.

4. Schedule breaks

If you work for an organization, you should know and adhere to their break policies. If you are self-employed, you should take adequate time during the day to step away from your screen and phone. A lunch break and two 15-minute breaks seem to be the standard for full-time employees in the US. For computer-based work and other sedentary activities, it's important to get up and move around to get your blood flowing, at least once an hour. It also helps to take your eyes off the screen regularly, even if it's just a 10-20 second micro-break.

5. Leave the house

As much as is permitted and safe during the pandemic, leave the house and move your body. Your body needs exercise and blood circulation. Plus, fresh air and natural light will do you good. Ideally, you should go outside for at least a short time before, during, and after your working hours.

This advice also applies to people who work in traditional office environments. Leave the building at least once a day during working hours.

In non-pandemic times, remote workers can also go to cafes, libraries, and co-working spaces to break the monotony of being at home. That's great too, but the really important part is to leave your home, get some air and natural light, and move around.

You don't have to go into crowded public spaces to get away from your solo workspace (and you probably shouldn't right now). Take a walk. Weed the garden. Sit on the stairs. You get the picture.

6. Don't hesitate to ask for what you need

If you are employed by a company or organization that supports your remote work, you should request the equipment you need as soon as you start working from home, or within a few days of realizing you need something new.

It's very important to ask for the things you need to do your job comfortably early on. This includes, for example, the right monitor, keyboard, mouse, chair, desk, printer, software, and so on. Companies accustomed to remote employees often have a budget for home office equipment. Ask what that is and how often it's renewed. It also doesn't hurt to ask if there's a loan agreement or who pays for the return or disposal of outdated equipment. Some companies offer their employees the option of consulting a specialist to ensure their workstation is set up ergonomically.

If you work from home, it certainly makes sense to order a new ergonomic desk. Our height-adjustable electric desk helps you avoid tension and back pain.

7. Maintain a dedicated office space

In an ideal world, remote workers would not only have a dedicated office but also two computers, one for work and one for personal use. This is safer for the employer and allows you to do all your NSFW activities in private.

But not everyone has a spare room at home to use as an office, and having two computers isn't always realistic. Instead, you should provide a desk or table and some peripherals that are used only for work. For example, if your laptop is connected to the monitor and external keyboard, it's time to work. If it's on your lap, that's personal time. You might even want to partition your hard drive and set up a separate user account for work. Even small distinctions between work and leisure help your brain know when you're off duty, contributing to a better work-life balance.

8. Use your perks

For two years, I baked a loaf of bread almost every week. Why? Because I was home and I could. I love baking bread, but you have to be home to attend to it once an hour or so, punch down the dough, shape the loaf, and let it bake. It doesn't take much time, but you have to be there. When I worked full-time in an office, it was difficult to find half a day to bake when I was home.

Working remotely comes with unique benefits. Take advantage of them. You've earned it.

9. Socialize with colleagues

Loneliness, isolation, and detachment are common issues in remote work life, especially for extroverted individuals. Companies with a remote work culture typically offer opportunities to connect. For example, they might have channels in a team messaging app like Slack to discuss common interests or organize meetups for people in the same region.

Figure out how much interaction you need to feel connected and included. Even if you're very introverted and don't enjoy socializing, try a few interactive experiences so you're familiar with them if you ever decide to. If you don't work for a company with a strong remote culture, you may need to be more proactive about cultivating relationships.

10. Keep a separate phone number

Set up a phone number that you only use for calls with colleagues and clients. It doesn't necessarily have to be a landline or a second mobile phone, and you don't need a SIM card. It can be a VoIP service, like Google Voice or Skype.

Similar to the other tips, a separate phone number helps you manage your work-life balance.