Set up a space to work from home
When you get home, find your “office space” and set up your desk. The home office may be a dedicated room for some people and a kitchen table for others. Whatever it is for you, setting it up the night before means you can come straight into a ready space to begin work – just like when you are in the office!
Follow a morning routine.
Always get dressed for work, even if you are more casual than when in the office. Getting dressed helps you get into the right mindset and prepare for the day ahead. Avoid starting work before your usual office start time. Remember, you already have a plan for the morning, so you can have breakfast, work out, or do whatever you usually do.
Track Progress
Write down items you start, progress and complete throughout the day. Keep the list simple; its purpose is to remind you that you are getting work done and to help you identify what you’ve achieved at the end of the day. If it’s still blank by 11.00 am, take 15 minutes to replan the remainder of the day. Take a short break and return to work.
Take Regular Breaks
Take breaks regularly. Getting up and moving about when working from home is essential, so take regular breaks and ensure you are staying hydrated. If you can get outside the house for your lunch break, all the better.
Establish an end-of-day ritual
It can be tempting to work for a little longer when working from home, but that can turn into unplanned overtime hours. Take 15 minutes before your usual end time to review the list you’ve been keeping during the day. Wrap up what you are currently working on and finish at the same time you would if you were in the office.
Put away your laptop and tidy your “office space” when you finish. Even if it is powered off, leaving the computer open may tempt you to log back on later that evening.
Leave work
Find a way to physically “leave work”. One of the benefits of a commute is that it allows us to separate work from home and decompress from the day. Replicate this by going for a short walk, doing some light exercise or meditation, or perhaps simply changing out of your work clothes.
Working from home can be just as productive as being in the office if you approach it in the right way. Follow these tips and discover the benefits of remote working.
If you’ve got the basics of WFH down and want to go a step further—especially with hybrid working now the norm for many—check out our latest post: Let’s Make Remote Work Work (for You). It shares 2025-friendly strategies for getting the most out of your week, no matter where you're working from.