10 Proven Tips for Working from Home

Does COVID-19 have you working from home? Here are some quick tips to make the transition from office to home productive.

1. Startup Routine. Set your alarm. Lose the pajamas and put on real clothes. Make your bed. Brush your hair. Make or get coffee. Stick with your regular morning routine so your brain knows it’s time for work. 
2. Plan Ahead. Set your weekly schedule. Send it your supervisor. Communicate progress. Both of you need to be clear on expectations.
3. Separate Workspace & Leisure Space. Designate a dedicated workspace and when you are in your workspace don’t allow non-work intrusions.
4. Log off. One of the most challenging aspects of working from home is knowing when your workday is over. Avoid falling into the 24/7 trap by designating a specific stopping time. 
5. Preprepare Meals. By preparing meals the night before, you can avoid letting lunch and breakfast prep burn up too much time. Use your work meal times for eating.
6. Stick to Your Schedule. At the office, if mornings are the most effective time for you to be writing, then write in the mornings when working remotely.  
7. Set a Productivity Playlist. For some people, working in silence can make them feel isolated.
8. Upgrade Your Hardware. For example, $100-150 can get you a 24” - 27” full HD monitor to plug your laptop into. 
9. Start early.  Get going on your to-do list first thing. The commute to your office, no matter how short, helps you transition from home to work. Without that transition, it can be challenging to get from bed to keyboard, shake out the sluggishness and tackle your work priorities. 
10. Set Rules. If you live with other people who are going to be home during your work hours, make sure they respect your time and space. They must understand that although you’re at home, you’re also at work and should not be interrupted. 

Use these proven tips to stay focused on your work priorities during the workday. 

And remember, the University of Cambridge was temporarily closed in 1665 because of the bubonic plague. Working from home during that closure, Cambridge student Isaac Newton developed, among other things, the theory of gravity.