5 Best Practices for Working from Home

More and more people are deciding to embrace the flexibility of working from home.

There are so many pluses, from cutting out the commute to being able to focus without the distractions of open offices.

But it can be a challenge to maintain motivation and productivity when it’s just you and the cat. So how do you organise your life to maximise the opportunities of working from home?

Here are some expert tips to help you stay on track.

Have a Dedicated Office Space

It’s essential to keep the work and the living spaces of your home separate.

Having a dedicated home office is the best solution, but you can also have a desk and computer set-up that you only use for work. The important thing is to be able to separate your working area from your chillaxing, family, and sleeping areas. Using your laptop on the sofa won’t cut it when it comes to being productive and focused.

Stick to a Morning Routine

Having a regular work morning routine will help you to get into work mode. You need to feel professional and prepared before you sit down to check your emails.

Get up at the same time every day, have a proper breakfast, and go for a walk or to the gym. Think of your morning walk as a sort of mimic for a commute. When you come home, grab a coffee and go straight to your desk, and you’ll be ready to start your workday.

Stay in Touch

When you’re working remotely, it’s even more important to touch base.

Isolation can be a real risk for home workers. There’s no one to bounce ideas off or share good or bad news with. Set up regular video meetings with your colleagues and your boss. And don’t forget to maintain the social connections with your team. Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you have to miss out on coffee mornings, lunches, or dinners. You can meet up in person or have a virtual get-together.

Stick to a Schedule

Using a planner or a diary will help you stay on top of deadlines and commitments.

You can either use an old-fashioned but highly effective wall planner and hard copy diary or set up an online calendar system. Daily and weekly task lists will make you more efficient and productive.

Commit to Self-Care

Self-care is super important when you’re working from home. Make sure to take regular breaks and have a proper lunch away from your computer. Schedule walks out of the house at least once during your working day. Drink plenty of water and keep healthy snacks in the house.

Check out the 7 Day Productivity Challenge

Originally published at https://professionalpractice.academy.