7 Ways to Maximize Working from Home

While working from home and flexible work schedules have gradually become normal for many people over the past several years, for some, it’s still a major change and adjustment. As with all change, adapting can take time, but having a framework to minimize distractions, communicate with your team, maximize your productivity and structure your day will help you fall into a new working rhythm more easily.

Here are seven work from home tips to help you stay focused and productive.

1. Maintain Your Normal Routine and Act Like You are Working in the Office

The human brain responds well to routine. So, when working from home, trying to mirror the same routine as you would otherwise have can be helpful.

Set an early alarm, get up and dressed (e.g., dress as if you are working in the office), have breakfast and aim to be at your working space 10 to 15 minutes before you are due to start work. People often use their commute to fully wake up and transition from home to work, so you can use this time to get settled and ready for your day.

2. Choose a Dedicated Workspace

If you are fortunate enough to have an office or workspace in your house, try to use this same space consistently to create routine.

A living room or on a couch, while not great for posture, can also pose distractions with TV or other family members being close by. Try to find a quiet place where you concentrate and minimize work from home distractions. It’s also important that once you are finished working, try to move to a new area in your house to signal to your brain that the workday is over. Ultimately, it’s important to find a workspace that allows you to get work done so find the option that’s best for you and stick with it.

3. Structure Your Day to Maximize Productivity

Have a structure and plan for what you want to achieve each day, just like you would if you were working in the office.

Use your calendar to block out time and be disciplined in sticking to those blocks so you can maximize productivity. If you are easily distracted at work and tend to rely on your manager to help keep you on track, consider asking a partner or colleague for support. Try setting mini deadlines for yourself to keep you accountable and ask a colleague to check in on you to add an additional layer of accountability.

4. Take Regular Breaks When Working Remotely

Just like in the office, to help ensure you are mentally and physically fueled for work, make sure you set aside time to eat and have regular breaks when working remotely.

If you are working from a kitchen, the temptation to snack or drink coffee more regularly can be even harder to combat. Try to strike a balance by setting aside time in your day for snacks or even reward yourself with a refreshment break once you have completed a particular task or hit a deadline.

5. Minimize Work from Home Distractions

Once you have your workspace set up, the best way to minimize distractions is to remove them from the room completely.

If technology is distracting, then close apps on your computer or device during working hours if they take your focus away from core work responsibilities. If you live with other people, let them know your intentions and agree that your workspace is out of bounds while you work. Equally, working in complete silence can be tough. If this applies to you, try putting music on in the background only just loud enough to hear — classical music can be great to break the empty silence but not enough to distract you.

6. Communicate with Your Team

If you’re not used to working remotely, the absence of people around you can be mentally tough and test how motivated you feel throughout the day. However, there is an abundance of different technology platforms and applications now available (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Webex) to help you more naturally stay connected with your coworkers when working from home. Leveraging webcams and chat features can help bring meetings to life and simulate more organic interactions like you would typically experience in in-person meetings.

7. Maintain Your Work/Life Balance

When your home becomes your office, over time it can impact your mental health. Your brain doesn’t always know when it is working and when it’s time to rest and be at ease.

To help maintain a healthy work/life balance, aim to stick with your working hours and committing yourself to switching off from work at a set time. Turn off all technology if you can, change your remote work location and even change what you are wearing when your workday ends, just as you would if you were coming home and changing out of your office work attire.

To contact a recruiter to learn about new work from home opportunities, reach out to your local Aston Carter office or browse Aston Carter’s job board to learn more about remote jobs in your area.

*This article was originally developed by Aston Carter EMEA and adapted for Aston Carter North America.