Working from home: Some people love it, some people hate. But when left with no other choice, we do it. So how can you make your home office as efficient and effective a workspace as possible?

When the ‘work from home’ movement started over 20 years ago, some would scoff at it and say, ‘How can you be productive? Do you sit on your couch and eat bonbons all day? Are you really working or are you just taking an extra day off during the week?’

Most assuredly, it wasn’t an extra day off during the week. As a matter of fact, the days working from home could easily turn into the most productive days, and here’s why:
• No commute- long or short, it’s still time spent
• No interruptions throughout the day from sharing an office with other people, like water cooler talk

Making the adjustment from office to home

Making the transition from going into the office every day to going downstairs or to another space in your home to start your day can feel foreign and difficult, but it doesn’t need to. There are definite perks to working from home.

• Comfort of working in your own space
• Productive breaks, like being available for a delivery or running your dishwasher
• Flexible hours depending on your workload and appointments
• Homecooked meals instead of takeout

A daily routine is key

The key to success on being able to work both effectively and efficiently from home is to institute a daily routine. Routines make us comfortable: we know what to do, when to do it and where to do it. We don’t need to think much about it, we go on autopilot. By establishing a consistent daily routine, you will not only feel secure in what you are doing, but you will also be more productive throughout your day.

It also establishes trust with your coworkers to know that even if they can’t see you in the office working, you are still doing your part and are a responsible, productive member of the team.

1. Wake up at a consistent time while enjoying the extra sleep time from not having to commute! Have time for a relaxing breakfast, catch up on the news or browse the internet, maybe even get in some exercise. Get yourself ready for the day by your designated start time and head to your home office, say 9am.

2. Put in a few solid hours of work in the morning until a lunchtime break. Take advantage of being in your own space by cooking yourself lunch or having something fresh rather than takeout.

3. Work for another few hours after lunch, with a break around 3pm to stretch your legs and have a snack.

4. Finish your day within 30 minutes of your normal work hours, say 5pm. Some days you might run late, some days you might need to finish at a certain time to accommodate another appointment. The flexibility of work-from-home hours should not, however, mean you never stop working! You still need to step away from your workspace at the end of the day. This fosters a healthy work/life balance with time to take care of your personal needs and mental health after work is done.

A routine is different for everyone. Maybe you like to start earlier in the day or finish working later. Adjust your schedule to have an extended break at lunchtime for exercise and a meal instead of in the morning. Take a 5 minute break each hour to walk around your space. It doesn’t really matter what your work routine looks like, as long as it is a routine and you are being productive while going about that routine.

Designate a work area in your home and don’t deviate from it

Create an area in your home that is designated as your work space. Try to find a place that offers good lighting, enough room where you can spread out and have everything that you will need throughout the workday, like files, printer, paper, pencils, phone, etc. A place you are comfortable with a comfortable chair and table/desk. If at all possible, find a space in your home where you can either close the door or partition away from others that are home so that you are able to have quiet and privacy when needed from your partner, spouse, kids, pets, etc.

Decorate your space! Especially if you’re going to be working from home for the foreseeable future, decorate your space so you are most comfortable. Hang art prints, set photos on your desk, add plants to your space, paint the walls a soothing color. It helps your mood which always helps with productivity.

Have a schedule and create normal work hours

Although it is nice to work from home and be flexible about when you can begin and end your day, it is important to remember that you should keep normal business hours. This not only keeps in line with the need to have a routine, but also keeps you on schedule with others in and out of the office, like co-works, supervisors, clients and vendors. Also, staying on a normal 9 to 5 work schedule, or whatever your normal work hours are, helps to ensure that you have a good work/life balance.

Be sure to take breaks during the day

Taking breaks improves both your productivity and the ability to focus. They help settle and refresh the mind and body. Taking a quick 10 minute break every two hours can work wonders. Some break suggestions include going for a quick walk, chatting on the phone, wiping the kitchen counters, changing a load of laundry, grabbing a snack, reading a chapter of a book or simply sitting quietly and enjoy some silence.

Minimize distractions and interruptions

It is so easy to be distracted when working from home. Everything from the doorbell sounding to your phone buzzing, interruptions happen. And when they do, it is easy get off task and take care of the distraction. So what can you do? Silencing your phone, wearing noise canceling headphones and letting others around you know that you are working can cut down on these distractions. Do you like background noise or silence? Choosing an area with a TV can either be tempting for a distraction or welcome background noise, depending on your preferences.

Be sure to set boundaries

Boundary setting goes for not only the people in your life, like family and friends, but it also goes for your co-workers as well. Setting boundaries is so important when working from home, because even though your schedule is more flexible than it has ever been, it does not mean you are available 24/7.

In your personal life, those around you may think you have unlimited time to hang out, grocery shop, talk on the phone or have leisurely lunches, but this is not necessarily true. Just as coworkers should not be calling you at 7, 8 or 9 at night asking questions and expecting you to be working if you are normally finished by 5pm. Setting boundaries and work hours with all the people in your life will allow you to not only accomplish the tasks at hand, but also allow you to have the free time and flexibility working from home affords you.

Dress for success

Yup, you read that right. Dress for success. Sure, you are working in your home, but it helps to get up, shower and get dressed before sitting down and starting your day. I am not talking about putting on a dress or business suit, but be sure to change out of your loungewear. You never know when a Zoom call may ensue. And you never want to be so comfy that you become lax in your productivity and efficiency.

Working from home has its benefits. You are not only afforded more time to yourself, but you will are also spending less time commuting. The social interactions at the office will surely be missed and the ease of collaboration during an in-person meeting can never truly be mimicked by a phone or video call, but there are definite perks. Whether you’re forced out of the office or fully embracing working from home, these tips can help you make the most of your new workspace and embrace the change!