Work From Home Tips: How to Stay Productive

Working from home is a skill. Here’s how to do it well.

1. Create a Morning Routine

Replace your commute with a transition ritual:

7:00 — Wake up, no phone
7:15 — Shower, get dressed (yes, real clothes)
7:45 — Breakfast away from your desk
8:15 — Walk around the block (15 min)
8:30 — Start work

Don’t roll out of bed and open your laptop. You’ll feel sluggish all day.

2. Dedicate a Workspace

Your brain needs to associate a specific area with work:

• Use a separate room if possible
• If not, a dedicated desk in a corner
• Keep your work area separate from relaxation areas
• Don’t work from your bed or couch

3. Set Boundaries With Others

If you live with other people:

• Use a visual signal — closed door, a sign on your desk, a light
• Communicate your schedule — “I’m unavailable from 9-12 for deep work”
• Set expectations — “Unless it’s an emergency, please don’t interrupt”
• Schedule lunch together — so they know when you’re free

4. Over-Communicate With Your Team

Remote work requires more communication, not less:

• Daily standups — async or sync, 5-10 minutes
• Over-share status — update Slack with what you’re working on
• Ask early — you can’t tap someone on the shoulder
• Use video calls — tone and body language are lost in text

5. Take Real Breaks

At the office, breaks happen naturally (water cooler, walking to a meeting, bathroom). At home, you need to schedule them:

• Pomodoro technique — 25 min work, 5 min break
• Walk away from your desk — don’t eat lunch at your keyboard
• Get outside — even 5 minutes of sunlight helps
• No screens during breaks — look at something 20+ feet away

6. Know When to Stop

Without a physical office, work can bleed into evenings and weekends:

• Set a firm end time — and stick to it
• Shut down your computer — don’t leave it open “just in case”
• Change your clothes — signals the work day is over
• Have an after-work ritual — a walk, a podcast, cooking

7. Combat Loneliness

Remote work can be isolating:

• Schedule social calls — 15-minute non-work chats with colleagues
• Use coworking spaces — 1-2 days per week for human contact
• Join online communities — Slack groups, Discord, industry communities
• Walk-and-talk meetings — take calls while walking outside

8. Dress for Work

You don’t need a suit, but changing out of pajamas signals your brain that it’s work time:

• Wear what you’d wear to a coffee shop
• Nothing you’d sleep in
• Shoes optional (but some people find them helpful)

9. Use the Right Tools

10. The First 90 Minutes Rule

Your first 90 minutes of the day are your most productive. Protect them:

• No email in the first 90 minutes
• No meetings before 10 AM (if possible)
• Work on your hardest task first
• Save low-focus work (email, admin) for after lunch

Related: Set up an ergonomic workspace and learn video call etiquette.