Without the physical distance between work and home, drawing a line between our work and personal lives can become a bit tricky, so here are some tips for staying on top of your WFH (working from home) game:

1. Pick A Designated Workspace and Stick to It

When working at home, it can be super tempting to do your work while lounging on the couch or while lying in bed, but this won’t always lead to optimal productivity. Instead, try picking out a relatively quiet place in your house where you can sit upright and focus on your screen. Ideally, this at-home workspace is one where all your necessities and documents are at arm’s reach. This way, you don’t have to worry about wandering around the house all the time and getting distracted along the way.

Setting up a place for you to work can help improve focus by providing you with a constant environment that your mind associates with work. Another plus-side to identifying your workspace is that others will be able to recognize when you’re busy and when you’re not– especially if you communicate this boundary with them.

To keep yourself motivated about doing work, even amidst all the other tempting distractions at home, try spicing up your workspace! Customize it with the appropriate accessories and necessities to make it feel more conducive to your workflow. Plus, don’t forget about the water and snacks to keep yourself hydrated and nourished!

2. Declutter Your Workspace

As they say, a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind! Keeping yourself organized is one step you can take towards keeping the stress away. Doing some housekeeping, whether it’s cleaning up your desk or clearing out all the junk on your desktop, can help you feel less overwhelmed.

3. Eliminate Distractions

Working at home can be full of temptations, but you’ve got to squash that urge to scroll through social media for another hour or binge-watch another show in the middle of the day when you know you should be working.

An easy way to avoid the urge is to place your cell phone in another room, or put your settings on do not disturb with the exception of work-related notifications. Plus, you can also set up browser blockers on your computer to cancel out the distractions.

With all these distractions out of your way, it becomes all the easier to get things done.

4. Set a Routine For Yourself

Although working from home isn’t exactly the same as going to work, they don’t have to be completely different. Setting a routine for yourself every morning can help keep the momentum going, allowing you to feel and be more prepared to tackle the work you have for the day. Going back to your normal workday routine, like dressing up and having a cup of coffee in the morning, is one way to ease yourself back into your productive habits.

With all the at-home distractions and responsibilities that arise throughout the day, it really helps to set up a schedule or routine around all your other to-dos. For instance, if your kids have class from 9am to 12pm and you know they will be occupied, consider that time your optimal working hours in addition to later hours that may or may not be as distraction-free.

Having a routine also entails knowing when your workday stops. Identify what time you want to step away from your computer and set its boundary for yourself. As tempting as it may be to continue, you’ve got to step away once you’ve accomplished whatever reasonable goals you’ve set for yourself.

5. Learn How to Say “No”

Oftentimes, we say “yes” to so many new tasks and responsibilities that we get overwhelmed. To resolve this problem, we have to nip it at the bud and learn how to say “no.” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with establishing boundaries because it shows that you know what you can handle and what you cannot.

Realize that the question “Can you ____ ?” Does not require you to say “yes,” but rather, it gives you the opportunity to decide whether or not this is something within reason for you to take on.

In fact, when setting boundaries, it’s important to know where your priorities lie and to what extent you are willing to stretch your boundaries for others. And remember, as much as you want to please others, recognize how it can take a toll on you.

6. Communicate With Those Around You

Working from home can be especially overwhelming due to the demand of navigating through your personal responsibilities on top of your work-related duties. When you start to realize that there is too much on your plate, don’t be afraid to ask for help. WFH success can’t always be achieved alone. Communicating with your partner, family, and even your boss can help you maintain your work-life balance.

For household-related obligations, communicate with your partner about setting a schedule that works for both of you. Maybe one day it’s your turn to cook dinner while they watch the kids, or take the dog out for a walk. If something feels unfair, as though a boundary has been overstepped, don’t be afraid to let them know.

Another place where communication is proven to be key is in the workplace! If you feel like the workload feels unmanageable or you need more flexible deadlines, try discussing more reasonable expectations with your boss.

Overall, letting people know your boundaries and when you feel like they’ve overstepped them can help you release some of the stress that’s been building up.

Working from home doesn’t have to be a drag. With a bit of self-discipline, communication, and boundary setting, you will feel ready to face the day.

What are your thoughts on working from home? Would you want to continue working from home post-pandemic? Let us know in the responses!