Tips for Working from Home

How we work is changing fast especially over the past few years, with many of us now having to set up an office space to allow us to work from home.

If you have never worked from home before, the initial thought may be excitement at being able to sleep in, then jump out of bed and start working in your pyjamas. However, the reality is this can lead to poor work habits and unproductive days.

Add in the mix that you may have children around, so trying to manage your work schedule around kids can be outright crazy.

Updated 2024

(This post contains affiliate links so you can easily locate items to make your home office an efficient and inviting space)

What is your work from the home situation?

There is a range of reasons why we may work from home; some include:

• Running a business from home
• Circumstances changes – so perhaps you work in a company office in the city, but due to changes, you can now work from home
• You are a stay at home Mum that does part-time work from home

Some work from home questions you may be contemplating

For some, it can be an anxious time because you may have never had the opportunity to work from home before, so you are worried about what to expect or how to stay on top of work and not get distracted.

You may be asking yourself, What is the best way to work from home? How can I stay busy and productive working from my home office? And how do I adapt to working from home?

So, today we are sharing 10 tips for working from home that will help you create a structured and organized day while keeping your sanity levels in check.

Tips for working from home

1 Develop a morning routine

It is so important to keep up with a morning routine. Starting the day off in a positive way with purpose will place you in the right headspace for the rest of the day.

An example morning routine may include:

• Set alarm 7am
• Exercise 7.15am for  20 – 30mins
• Shower
• Get dressed – avoid placing pajamas back on, try and dress like you have a video meeting on with the big boss, so you need to look presentable
• Breakfast at 8.15am
• Start work at 8.30am

2 Create a designated workspace

It is so important to have a specific workspace that is just for you. This allows you to feel organized, and your family learns that if you are at your designated space, you are focused and busy. Everybody’s home is different, so you may have to get creative on where your new workspace is going to take shape. Here are some ideas to get your inspired:

• A spare closet that you can turn into a beautiful office space
• Outside office space – do you have a sleepout or a shed that you can transform into a new working area? Perhaps you have a double-sided garage that you can afford to give up one space to create a dream office.
• Corner of a room – tight on space? Find an unused corner of a room. Maybe you have a large dining room that you can fit a desk in the corner. Think outside of the box.
• A spare bedroom that you can designate into an office. Do you have a guest bedroom that sits empty for 90% of the year? Then turn that into an office space with a sofa that turns into a pull out bed. Can you rearrange your children’s spaces (shared kids’ rooms) to create a spare room?
• If it is a long term arrangement and you have no other options, you may like to consider a rentable room or cabin space that can be placed outside.

If you want to find some ideas on home office decor to create a productive space, check out the post we did here.

3 Try not to work when you shouldn’t

Just because your office is now at home doesn’t mean you have to dedicate your entire life to work. It is easy to find yourself working after hours because everything is within instant reach. Try and keep to a strict schedule, so you don’t burn yourself out.

4 Keep a good diet

Whist working at home, it is so easy to snack. It is easy to reach for the quick grab snack items that are not necessarily the best for us, for example, chips, crackers, biscuits, lollies, chocolate. If you stick to a healthy diet, you will have more energy, you won’t feel tired or lethargic.

Some ideas include having breakfast at the usual time. If you use to pack your lunch, keep doing it, so you know what you have to eat for the day. Meal plan. Plan our your lunches and snacks for the week. This ensures you will always have healthy snack options on hand.

5 Schedule in breaks

It is so essential that you schedule breaks into your day just like you would if you were working in an office. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you aren’t entitled to morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea. Schedule these into your day will not only give you relief as you have a planned break but also helps keep your day productive because you know how much time you have left to get work finished before a break. If the sun is shining try and get some time outside – it will do your mental health and eye sight a world of wonders!

6 Organize your day

It is so important for the success of your working day to schedule and organize your day out. Write out a daily plan that you can keep handy on your desk. On your plan place, your work hours, so, your start and finish time, your breaks, any meetings you have, and then slot in to-do items for the day. See the example below.

If you like the above example, you can find your own template by clicking here.

7 Set times to check ur own Social Media

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and every other social media platform can be distracting and time-wasting, making your day extremely unproductive. Setting a time to check your own personal social media will make it so you don’t get distracted and find that by the end of the day, you have been watching TikTok videos all day! If need log out of your social media accounts so you don’t get interrupted by the notifications.

8 Have outside activities or interests

Spending so much time in the house can lead you to get cabin fever (i.e., irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors). Since you are at home all the time, it is imperative that you have your own outside of the home activities and interest to keep you balanced. Whether it be you go for a walk or run, join a club, develop a hobby, or play a sport, this will help keep your sanity in check.

9 Communicate with your family

Keep communication a priority in your family. If you have kids, set expectations of what is okay and not while you are working. I.e., if mum or dad are in their office with the door closed, you can’t go in there. Discuss things with your spouse or partner and set a plan, so everyone knows what the rules are while working from home.

If you are struggling with the new setup, talk about it. If you are feeling isolated, talk about it. Keep communicating with your manager, so you know what their expectation of you is.

10 Make sure you have everything you need

While setting up your home office, make sure you have all the tools, equipment, software, and programs that you need to be able to work effectively and efficiently at home. If you have lots of video meetings, make sure you have the right programs installed like zoom or skype, a headset can be super useful.

Have a good camera and a microphone. If you have specific databases you need access too, make sure these are all set and ready to go. You do not want to be spending hours in your typical workday trying to sort out access problems or software issues.

Useful Home Office Items Include

Leather Desk Pad – Perfect for protecting your desk from scratches, stains and spills and hot items.

Foot Rest for Under the Desk – Make sure you are sitting correctly with the use of a foot rest.

Laptop Stand for Desk – Help keep your desk space organized with a laptop stand. This also allows for the laptop screen to be at a better height to prevent neck strain.

Paper Shredder – Arrange any personal documents from the office that need to be binned discarded into a paper shredder. Keeps you safe and any clients information safe.

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Ultra Slim Combo – Keep your office looking polished and tidy with this stylish keyboard and mouse set.

Clear Plastic Drawer Organizers – Keep your stationary and desk items organized and easy to find with these clear plastic drawer organizers.

Desktop Vacuum Cleaner – A super popular mini vacuum make especially for your desk. A great way to to keep your desk looking spick and span – Check it out here!

What if I am a stay at home Mum?

Working from home while you have little ones can be difficult. Some tips for working from home include using the above-attached planner, try and plan out your day as best as you can. Kids still nap? then this may be the time that you designate to work time.

If you can get your kids having quiet time reading or keeping busy with busy bags, then you may find this the best time to jump on the computer. If your day is too hectic to be able to accomplish work, perhaps you can set aside some work time in the evening when your partner or spouse is home, that way you know you have 1 to 2 hours where you can focus on work.

What are your tips for working from home?

So, there we have our best tips and ideas to help you create the best working from home experience. Have you got any other suggestions? Please share with us, we would love to know what they are.