Working from a home office looks idyllic—no commute, your own playlist, total comfort. But up close, it can be a jolt to your workflow: mind-boggling, time-warping, and sometimes hair-pulling. Here’s what I’ve learned about staying productive, sane and happy to be working from home.
Manage Expectations
Expectations can be a stressor–whether they come from clients, colleagues, or your own inner critic. Meeting people where they are in their personal and professional journey, and then accepting and appreciating them for who they are and what they bring to the table, is a valuable quality. It’s often much easier to do this with others than it is with ourselves. Working from home can be an opportunity to understand yourself a bit better. So, be patient with yourself, take some notes, reflect on your days (successes/failures) then use those observations to move yourself forward to a more productive tomorrow. Understanding yourself and how you prioritize – tasks, work, life, fitness, social events, etc. can help you be more mindful when scheduling work.
- Clarify deliverables: List exactly what's due and when.
- Track small wins: Jot down today's victories to build momentum.
- Reflect nightly: Spend five(ish) minutes reviewing what worked (and what didn't) so tomorrow goes smoother.
Boundaries & the 24/7 Caveat
Flexibility is great—until work bleeds into every hour. Boundaries are a good thing. Co-workers, peers, bosses, and clients should work together to establish a schedule that respects work load, deep work, personal breathing room and deadlines.
- Set work hours and share them with your team.
- Agree on "deep-work" blocks when you won't be pinged.
- Treat off-hours messages as "nice-to-have," not urgent.
- Find your peak time: Night owl? Morning person? Let your natural rhythm guide you—but don't expect others to keep your schedule.
For some folks having the flexibility to complete their work any time of day, as long as expectations are being met, is a real benefit. Creatives for example might thrive in the wee morning hours. Parents, with small kids or even teenagers, might have a quieter environment in the late evening.
For example, I personally can be a bit of a night owl and if I’m struggling to break through on a creative concept or need focused time writing to knock down a writer’s block, it’s likely to be in the wee hours of the morning where those things happen. I might email a client at 2AM but would never expect them to respond, although I’ve been surprised at how often others do respond at those hours. However, I would never text a client outside of normal business hours.
Have a cooperative spirit, talk with people, and find what works.
Craft Your Space
That enviable home office or workspace. We’ve all seen it in a magazine, on HGTV, a peer’s Twitter or Facebook feed…right, wow they’re gorgeous. Wait, hard stop, danger do not compare! Any space can work—no HGTV makeover required.
Dos
- Good lighting & minimal clutter
- A "do not disturb" signal for housemates (and pets)
- Make a plan with the fam or roommates (schedule breaks and meals, be clear about when you are working and need uninterrupted time)
- Prep the pets (maybe their favorite spot is the pillow by your desk, but if you need absolute silence during that Zoom call, maybe it’s time for them to visit another family member or housemate)
- Post a do not disturb sign (necessary for would-be door knockers and solicitors)
- Fly the nest occasionally. Get up. Hydrate. Stretch.
- Change your scenery. Even in a great workspace, relocating for a few hours can help spark productivity and creativity.
Don'ts
- Consider your laptop and sofa or comfy chair to be your office. This won’t end well! Using your laptop and comfy space as a change of scenery is acceptable, just not a long-term solution.
- Work in the dark
- Expect that you won’t be interrupted
- Spend all your time in your workspace
- Let personal business creep into your workspace (this can be a real challenge when working from home, but I found keeping a specific location for personal business such as health info and bills keeps my workspace, well, working).
Next Up – Have a Plan
This one is simple. Plan your day, and do it the night before. Use a bullet journal or notebook, a digital planner, Google calendar, iCal…one or all it doesn’t matter. Just have a plan. By its nature and definition, priority is singular—or at least it should be—so keep that in mind.
More than all other reasons combined, I’ve experienced more haphazard, barely productive days simply because I didn’t have a plan. When working from home, it’s too freakin' easy to just start handling the email or picking up where you left off on a project, and suddenly…it’s noon. Darn, it!
I’m not always great at this, but having the plan done the night before always works better!
- Use a bullet journal, digital planner, or calendar—whatever works.
- Prioritize 3–5 tasks so you never feel overwhelmed.
- Review first thing each morning, then dive in.
By its nature and definition, priority is singular—or at least it should be—so keep that in mind.
Fuel Up Smartly
You may be a super human, but you’re not superhuman. Sleep, exercise, and eat healthily. Consume plenty of water and coffee (our life fuel). Take breaks, relax, and don’t take yourself too seriously.
It’s never good to spend too much time in your own head. Being in the same space/location for days and having limited contact with other folks can be a pitfall in and of itself. Be careful not to loose perspective on your workload, priorities and time available to achieve your goals. You can Google and find a myriad of supposed strategies for being hyper productive…if you find one that works and can stick to it then KUDOS to you!
Personally, those routines always just feel like something else to manage, so for me keeping it simple is a good place to start – some time not in front of electronic devices, spend time outdoors even if it’s just sitting, a daily walk, throw the frisbee for the dog. Things like a full workout, an hour of yoga, or a 3 mile walk are just icing on the cake.
- Keep water (and coffee) close—but don't let caffeine replace breaks.
- Step away from screens: a quick walk or frisbee too can reboot your focus.
- Skip rigid routines if they feel like "one more thing to manage." Simplicity wins.
Keep it Simple, Keep it Kind
Keep in mind that I’m not a mental health expert, and these tips are simply what have worked for me. Everyone is different, so you do you. Remember to be patient with yourself and others as you settle into the home-office groove. Small, practical habits now will pay off in long-term comfort. next challenge.
Be practical in setting up your working space and managing your workload. Your health is important, and setting yourself up right by practicing good habits now can only improve your long-term productivity and comfort.