Working from home is fun and convenient, but it could also become a burden due to everything you do (or don’t do). And I say this from experience.
Four and a half years ago, I started working from home… and never felt better in my life. I am an introvert, and being a blogger became a fulfilled dream that I didn’t know I had.
I wouldn’t change it for anything else in the world, and I enjoy every single moment of being “stuck at home” working on something I love.
However, as I mentioned, working from home comes with its rules, and unless you learn them quickly, you’re bound to become less productive (even if it feels you work more) and eventually get stressed and fed up with the work itself.
What can you do while working from home? Can you take a nap? Could you prepare your dinner for the evening? Could you go out with the dog on a quick walk? Should you stay in bed and work in your pajama? What is the perfect “Do” list and, respectively, the Don’ts of it?
I’m here to bring clarity to all that. See 12 dos and don’ts while working from home.
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Do’s When You Work From Your Home
Do: Prep your working station
Having a designated working spot when you work from home has been proven to increase productivity and helps to eliminate distractions. Regardless if you live in a small apartment or a big house, you can create a space that you only use during working hours. Make it as functional and comfortable as possible. After tall, this is where you’ll spend most of your days.
There are some things to consider when you set up your working station. The first step is to pick up the right spot where you’ll be the most productive. Also, to reduce eyestrain, you’ll want to set up sufficient lighting. Investing in a proper chair is important for maintaining a healthy posture. Finally, don’t forget to decorate it.
Do: Create a morning routine
Creating and maintaining a morning routine will have a huge impact on how you work. There’s no magic formula for having the best morning routine, as it’s about doing what works for you.
Here are some tips to get you started! Firstly, try to wake up at the same time every day. It’s tempting to stay in bed until the very last minute, but that has a negative impact on your productivity. After you got up, make sure to have some time for yourself, so don’t sit in front of the laptop right away. Spare half an hour to get some breakfast or coffee and to set your intentions for the day.
Do: Plan your tasks for the day
Before you start working, you should make a plan and keep it simple.
Having a general guide for what you’re supposed to tackle will help you structure your day and get things done. You can do so in your paper agenda, or you can make use of whatever digital calendar works for you the best.
Make sure to plan the hardest or the most time-consuming tasks first. Do your most important and creative work first when your brain is still fresh. If you spend the first two hours chipping away at an important task or project, then no matter at the end of the day, you’ll feel satisfied.
Do: Plan your breaks
It’s not enough to plan your tasks for the day before you start working. It’s equally important to plan your breaks.
Taking breaks is crucial even when you work from home. Working hard is knowing when it’s time to hustle, but also – when it’s time to step away and recharge. Taking work breaks leaves you feeling mentally and physically refreshed. And doing it regularly should be part of your working schedule. Workers who take regular breaks are more satisfied with their job.
When you plan out your breaks, make sure to communicate them with your team. This way, you’ll keep healthy boundaries between work and personal life.
Also, plan your lunch break to be longer, even if you don’t need that much time to eat. In the remaining time, take out your dog for a walk, read a book or even try to do some exercise. At the end of the day, better breaks mean better work.
Do: Listen to music
Music can boost your productivity while working from home. Beyond providing background noise, music can help you stay focused and even manage anxiety in stressful situations. Many people need a certain amount of mental stimulation to function effectively. And music improves performance because it will increase attention.
One of the music genres that is known to improve productivity dramatically is classical music. Listening to classical composers can enhance brain activity. For example, workers have reported that Mozart’s sonata alters their mood and boosts their performance.
But even if you’re not a fan of classical composers, you might still feel motivated by other types of music. There’s every possibility that Ariana Grande and Justin Timberlake could be equally stimulating, but no one has checked yet.
Do: Maintain a healthy sleeping schedule
The keyword in the subheading was “healthy”! As remote work has been gaining popularity in recent years, many work-from-home professionals have developed disrupted sleeping schedules. Most people treat sleep as something that fills leftover space. The reality is that sleep has a tremendous impact on your performance; therefore, it should be treated and scheduled as a priority.
Professionals that work from home struggle with sleep mostly because the lines between personal and professional life are blurred. But how can you establish better sleeping habits? For starters, as hard as it sounds, try to go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time every day. By getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep, you’ll also eliminate the temptation of a late-day nap.
Don’ts While Working From Home
Don’t: forget to move
In times when we are pushed to re-think our attitude towards health, it has never been more important to take care of our physique.
Unfortunately, many people that work from home feel discouraged to engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors. Partially due to the transition from the office to remote work. Exercising, especially when you’re forced to work from home, can have a positive impact not only on your body but on your mind as well.
The benefits are countless – a boost in brain function, improvement in memory, and even handling stress more effectively. That’s why (and I cannot stress this enough) DO NOT forget to move.
If you’re interested in knowing more about staying active when you work from home, check out our article on the topic.
Don’t: Be on screens 24/7
Even if you’ve managed to stay focused during working hours avoiding social media, it’s tempting to immediately switch to your phone as soon as you get off the clock. And, let’s be real here, Netflix is often option number two for passing the time.
However, all this screen time can make us feel brain dead as you are more tired when you finally get off the screen than after work. Therefore make sure you get at least 2 hours of off-screen time in the evenings. Try to pick up a hobby if you don’t already have one. Baking, cooking, reading, writing, or crafting can be great for giving your brain time to recharge.
Don’t: Snack all day
Eating at your desk is an unhealthy habit that many professionals developed as they transitioned to a home office.
Snacking all day results in blurring the lines between work and leisure even more. If you’re feeling like you need to eat something, but you don’t want to get a full meal, feel free to take a break and snack at your kitchen table. Otherwise, you’ll start eating unconsciously and without giving much thought.
Individuals who work from home have said that since they’ve been spending most of their days at home, they experience an increase in appetite. As we spend hours sitting in one place, we might be snacking more because we are closer to our kitchens. Therefore, try to take a mindful pause to eat away from your desk.
Don’t: Go on a social media spiral
Social media is one of the biggest distractions and the number one example of what not to do when working from home. Almost everyone has been hijacked into addictive scrolling through the social platforms’ feeds at least once since they work remotely. Falling into a social media spiral decreases work motivation.
If you don’t have self-control, the first step is to turn off notifications and text alerts altogether. Many phones have options for placing timers on social media apps. Or, if that doesn’t work, then you might want to consider placing your phone in a different room while you work or as far from your desk as possible.
Don’t: Work from your bed
It’s a common belief that the main benefit of working from home is the flexibility that it provides you with.
Having the freedom to wear comfy clothes and spend the whole day in bed doesn’t sound so bad. But in the long run, it’s one of the worst habits one can develop. If you start working from your bed regularly, you’ll notice that the quality of sleep decreases. Also, you might start feeling more stressed as the bedroom doesn’t feel relaxing anymore and there’s less separation between work and home.
Furthermore, one of the most common tips on dos and don’ts while working from home is to get ready for work as if you’re getting ready to go to the office.
Well, that doesn’t mean you have to put on a full-on suit (even though some people do it), but at least spend some time looking decent. This will help your brain make the separation between work life and home. And whatever you do, DO NOT work from your bed.
And to answer the question from the beginning of this post – No, sleeping during work hours is not okay (unless your boss doesn’t care when the work is done as long as it’s done).
Don’t: Do housework during working hours
Doing household chores during working hours can be distracting and could force you to take longer to complete projects. If you feel more productive when your workspace is clean and organized, invest more time tidying up in the morning. But once you’ve started working, don’t do any of the chores until the end of your working hours.
Conclusion on Dos and Don’ts While Working From Home
You can take walks and enjoy some delicious homemade meals, but you can’t skip work and cook in the middle of the working day. You can sleep more, but you can’t seep in. You can create your own unique morning routine, but you can’t stay in bed and work from there.
The dos and don’ts of working from home aren’t really such a surprise, are they? And yet, most of us are breaking all these rules and still staying productive. What are your limits? What is it that you absolutely can do while working from and it doesn’t conflict with the quality of your work?
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