Working from home isn't always easy. You might find it hard to focus on work when you see chores that need doing. It can be tricky to set up a good workspace in your home. And some days, you might feel isolated from your team.
These problems might make you think that working from home isn't right for you. But working from home might still be your best choice; especially if you live far from your office, or you need to look after your children or older parents. Or maybe everyone on your team works from home and you don't have an office.
Whatever your situation, before you decide that working from home is not for you, try a few tips in this blog. They will help make working from home productive but also enjoyable for you.
Limit Distractions
The key to limiting distractions is creating an environment that naturally promotes focus, rather than forcing your mind to stay on task. This approach makes work feel easier and more natural.
Think about your home office setup. Maybe your desk faces a window with a busy street view, constantly pulling your attention away. Try facing your desk toward an internal wall instead of the window. Or perhaps your workspace is the dining table near the living room, where family members often walk through. If possible, set up a dedicated work area, even if it's just a corner of a quiet room.
Sunsama has been fully remote since 2019 so our team has a good bag of tips when it comes to limiting distractions. Here are the some we've collected for you:
- Try the "10-minute rule." - When you feel the urge to do something distracting, tell yourself to wait just 10 minutes. Often, the urge passes and you stay focused.
- Create a "work uniform." - Having specific clothes you wear only for work can help your brain switch into work mode, even at home.
- Set clear boundaries with family or roommates about your work hours. - Put a 'working currently' or 'DND' sign outside your room to let them know you're in focus mode.
And here's a clever tip from Sunsama's CEO, Ashutosh that will help you not only stay focused but also reduce your screen time —
Schedule Everything
One great tip for working from home is to plan your whole day, including breaks, chores, and personal activities, in your calendar. For example, plan short breaks between work sessions, set aside time for household chores, and even schedule your meal times. When each activity has its own time slot, it's easier to concentrate on work during work hours, knowing that other tasks will be taken care of later.
Scheduling everything can also improve work-life balance. By planning personal tasks and family time, you make sure these important parts of your life aren't pushed aside by work. Make sure you treat scheduled personal activities with the same respect as work tasks.
But even after careful planning, Unexpected work calls or family needs can throw off your schedule.
How do you adapt a fully scheduled day to real-life unpredictability?
Schedule slightly shorter work blocks than you think you need, leaving small gaps between tasks. You can also add a longer buffer zone (30-60 minutes) once or twice a day. This can be used for unexpected work calls, family needs, or to catch up on tasks that took longer than anticipated.
And if you don't want to add all personal life items to your calendar, add certain blocks for them. For example, here's what Ashutosh, had to share about his method of adding personal tasks to his calendar —
"I set aside 45 minutes each day for a task called “Shower and Meditation” because it’s something I do in the middle of my work day and I need to account for the time it takes up. I’ll also add personal items that “feel like work” or where the stakes are high e.g. paying rent, car registration, applying for a visa before a trip."
Get the Right Tools
If you've ever found yourself trying to meet a deadline from your in-laws' guest room or sending emails from a beachside café, you know that remote work can happen anywhere with just a laptop, Wi-Fi, and a power outlet.
But imagine working with a poor posture, bad lighting, or no planner every day. It's going to wreck your productivity. Let's explore what you really need to turn your living space into an effective workplace, looking at both physical and digital tools.
- Ergonomic chair, and a work desk: Look for adjustable features like lumbar support, armrests, and seat height. Pair this with a work desk at the right height to create a comfortable workspace.
- Noise-cancellation headphones: A noise-canceling microphone filters out background noises, ensuring that your voice comes through clearly. When your audio is clear and free from distractions, it gives the impression of a more professional setup, even if you're working from your kitchen table.
- Desk lamp: A good lamp with adjustable brightness and color temperature can reduce eye strain and help you stay alert. Look for one with multiple light settings to suit different times of day.
- Adjustable standing desk: When you feel that afternoon sleepiness creeping in, simply raise your desk and work on your feet for a while.
Some digital tools you should try:
- Sunsama: Combines task management and calendar in one, helping you plan your day more effectively and track time spent on tasks.
- Loom: Allows quick video recording of your screen and camera, useful for asynchronous communication and explaining complex ideas.
- Notion: All-in-one workspace for notes, tasks, and collaboration, helping organize both personal and team projects.
- Focusmate: Pairs you with an accountability partner for virtual co-working sessions, combating isolation and procrastination.
Make Deep Work a Team Sport
When working from home, it's easy to fall into the trap of constant communication with your colleagues, which can hinder focused work. But achieving meaningful productivity in a remote setting isn't just an individual effort—it's a team sport.
For urgent matters that need attention within a day, use standard @mentions in your team chat or project management tool. This alerts the person immediately.
For less urgent but still important communications, implement a tagging system. Instead of directly mentioning someone, tag the conversation with their name or a specific tag you've agreed upon as a team. These tagged items don't send immediate notifications. Team members can then set aside specific times to review all their tagged items at once, perhaps once or twice a week. This allows everyone to batch-process non-urgent communications when it fits their schedule, rather than constantly interrupting their deep work.
Encourage your team to respect each other's focus time. Make it a cultural norm to protect and value periods of uninterrupted work. Sunsama's Focus Mode can be a powerful tool in this effort. It allows you to enter a distraction-minimizing view where you can fully concentrate on the current task.
When deep work is a shared goal, it becomes easier for everyone to achieve. Without this team approach, those trying to engage in deep work might be seen as unreliable or disconnected. By making it a collective effort, you're creating an environment where everyone can thrive in their remote work, balancing focused productivity with necessary collaboration.
Know When to Stop Working
Working from home sustainably is about more than just shifting your office to your living room. It's a mindset shift that requires us to rethink our relationship with work and personal time. When your home becomes your workplace, it's easy to fall into the trap of constant availability and never-ending tasks. But true sustainability in remote work isn't about being perpetually plugged in – it's about knowing when to unplug.
This might sound counterintuitive in a culture that often equates productivity with constant activity, but it's crucial for a healthy work-life balance.
Set a "shutdown time" each day. This is when you completely stop working - no more emails, no more messages, no more "just one more thing." But don't feel like you have to wait until this time if you've finished your work earlier. It's okay to end your day when you've completed your tasks.
Here's a simple shutdown ritual you can try:
- Close all work-related programs and websites.
- Tidy up your workspace.
- Say out loud, "Work is done for today."
- Change out of your work clothes.
These steps help your brain understand that work time is over.
If you use Sunsama, you'll be able to set an intention for when you'd like to stop working. When that time arrives, Sunsama will give you an in-app nudge to shut down for the day. This opens the daily shutdown ritual, which gives you a chance to review your work for the day, reflect, and then pack up and go home (or just stop working).
You can also schedule something after work, like a workout or a call with a friend. This gives you a reason to stop working on time.
Use Your Energy Cycles
Humans have a unique rhythm, often called a circadian rhythm, which dictates when we feel most alert and when we tend to feel sluggish. By paying attention to these patterns, you can optimize your work schedule to match your energy peaks and troughs.
For instance, many people find that their energy and focus are at their highest in the morning. This is a great time to tackle complex tasks that require deep concentration and critical thinking. If you have reports to write, strategic planning to do, or creative work that needs your full attention, schedule these activities for the morning hours when your mind is sharpest.
As the day progresses, you might notice a dip in your energy levels, often after lunch. Instead of pushing through this slump with low productivity, do less demanding tasks during this period — responding to emails, organizing your workspace, or attending routine meetings.
Later in the afternoon, many people experience a second wind of energy. This can be an excellent time to return to more demanding tasks or to wrap up any work that requires a final push of effort. It’s also a good time for brainstorming.
The beauty of working from home is that you can tap into these personal patterns. Instead of forcing yourself into a strict 9-to-5 schedule, you can design your workday around when you feel most productive.
Develop a Daily Planning Ritual with Sunsama
One of the biggest challenges of working from home is maintaining structure and focus. Without the usual office routines, it's easy to feel adrift or overwhelmed. That's why developing a strong daily planning ritual is crucial for remote work success.
Start each day by mapping out your tasks, prioritizing your work, and setting realistic goals. This simple practice can significantly boost your productivity and reduce stress. It helps you stay focused on what's important and creates a clear boundary between work and personal time.
To make daily planning into a habit that sticks, you can use Sunsama. It allows you to schedule tasks, integrate with other tools you use (Trello, ClickUp, Notion, etc.), and even share your plan with your team - which is great for maintaining visibility when working from home.
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