How to be Productive Working From Home

How to be Productive Working from Home

The coronavirus pandemic has led many organizations to recommend that employees work from home. For most, working from home is new and they’ll need to get used to it.

Most companies are suggesting that more workers work remotely. Employees that work from home can find it to be a lonely endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. For people that are not used to working remotely or who don’t have an organized work station, distractions can reduce productivity.

A lot of people fantasize about working from the comfort of their houses, in favor of more sleep, family, or exercise time. But working from home is a double-edged sword. Sure you get to stay home, but it can be more difficult to focus on actually working.

Staying productive at home can require extra effort. Also, the isolation can quickly become a downer for people that are used to socializing at work. Whether you work from home as a choice or by necessity, it has its benefits. But you also have to motivate yourself and get as much out of your time as you would in the office.

Working from Home Productivity Tips

If you’re not used to working remotely, you’ll need to get used to new challenges that you might not have encountered in the office setting. When it comes to increasing productivity when working remotely, there are strategies you can implement to help keep you focused.

Make work triggers for your brain

When working in the office, you have a daily routine of waking up, getting ready, and commuting. This routine helps your brain get ready for the working day.

However, when working at home, you can create some triggers that will get you ready for work in a similar way, such as exercising, watching the news, or taking coffee.

Have a dedicated workspace

If you fail to have a proper structure, you will be less productive. When this happens, working from home can quickly start to feel like a curse if you lack a designated workspace.


Make a structure with your designated workspace by organizing it with the computer, equipment, or any work accessories you require to effectively work. If possible, avoid working for long periods from places linked with other activities such as eating, sleeping, watching TV, and so on.

One vital thing to become productive when working remotely is the ability to distinguish work mode from comfort mode. Even though clocking in from the couch can be a nice break from time to time, when you do it too much, it can make it difficult to mentally turn off from work and relax at home.

Stay in touch with your co-workers

Working remotely might appear like a solo experience, but it usually still involves communicating with others, whether it’s meeting with your team, getting tasks, making decisions, or giving and receiving feedback. It is therefore necessary to set up ways to collaborate with others while you work from home.


There is such a thing as the hive mind when working from home. You’ll not miss out on internal communications when you work remotely. This means that you have to make an effort to communicate with other employees.

Under normal circumstances, no one will send you a memo about office gossip. Others will not send you every formal decision. When your office implements remote work for workers, ensure you frequently check in with your colleagues. Additionally, make sure that your boss knows about your activities. There are a lot of platforms that provide free conference call services, you can explore them.

Take regular breaks

According to research, the human brain best works in bursts of focused activity, mostly around sixty minutes at a time. It is advisable to take a five to ten-minute break each hour.
To best maximize those breaks, pull yourself away from your workspace and stretch, walk, or have a quick virtual chat with a friend or family member.

Reduce the noise

Excess noise from family members, your neighbors, or ambient traffic can reduce productivity when working from home. You can block the noise with noise-canceling headphones or earbuds.

A survey reveals that a delicate blend of soft music mixed with soothing nature sounds like raindrops, waterfalls, a rushing brook, or ocean waves can activate the calming part of the brain. This will help you concentrate and reduce blood pressure and heart rate.

Get off social media

Unless it’s your actual job, avoid social media during work hours. Social media is created to make it easier for people to open and quickly access the internet. At work, this luxury can lower productivity. To avoid using social media constantly during working hours, remove them from your browser shortcuts and, log out of all your social media accounts.

If you require the internet to work, you should consider primarily working in a private or an Incognito browser.

This will make sure you remain signed out of all your accounts and each web search you carry out will not autocomplete the word you’re typing. Also, it will guarantee that you’ll not be tempted into taking too many social breaks during working hours.

Work when you are most productive

Nobody works optimally from morning to evening. You will be most motivated during certain hours of the day. When you’re working remotely, you need to know when you will be most productive and then plan your schedule around it.

To make the most of your most productive times, save the most difficult tasks for when you know you’ll be in the right state of mind for them. Make use of slower periods to carry out the easier, logistical tasks. These tasks are referred to as small acts of success, and they can help develop your momentum for the demanding projects that you have later on.


When it comes to working from home, always ensure that your attitude is in check. Also, remain creative and don’t let your confined environment lower your tranquility, happiness, or productivity. The greatest power you have is your perspective. It can victimize or empower you.

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