Working from home is awesome, right up until the cat throws up on your computer. And your neighbour, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all sorts of power tools and noisy machinery across the street.
- Communicate expectation with anyone who will be home with you.
Of course, you might be working from home but still have "company." Make sure any roommates, family members, and dogs (well, maybe not dogs) respect your space during work hours. Just because you're working from home doesn't mean your home.
- Take clear breaks.
Breaks, like making and eating lunch, can recharge you to do better work. Don't assume you need to be working 100% of the time while you're home to be more productive."
- Interact with other humans.
Go outside and find a human to interact with — ordering your coffee, running an errand, whatever. It keeps you sane.
- Prepare meals the night before.
Preparing food ahead of time ensures you can use your mealtimes to eat and that you aren't performing non-work tasks that spend energy better used at your desk.
- Pick a definitive finish time.
In lieu of co-workers, who’s packing up and leaving the office reminds you to do the same, set an alarm at the end of the day to indicate your normal workday is coming to an end. You don't have to stop at exactly that time, but knowing the workday is technically over can help you start the process of saving your work and calling it quits for the evening.
- Eat and sleep.
As soon as I take a break, I automatically drift towards the kitchen for some snacks.
An unhealthy diet can affect productivity and drain energy. When I switched to a healthier diet, it made me function better and get the most from my routine.
So, eat well when working from home.
It's also vital that you keep to a proper sleep schedule. Save binge-watching your favourite shows for the weekend. With the right food to keep energy levels high and sound sleep to refresh your body and mind, you can make a success of working from home.
