Five tips for effectively working from home
With our present circumstances, working from home and remote working has become the new norm, resulting in makeshift, home offices springing up the world over.
The extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic have transformed working from home into a ‘new normal’ for many workers. This shift has provided employers and employees with practical insights into the effects of home working on business operations and wellbeing.
For some of us, this is a new experience, and for others, who have some experience with working remotely, this will be the longest amount of time they’ve done it for. As you develop your own working from home strategies, it’s important to consider the longer term perspective and plan for future improvements. In one way or another, we’re all entering uncharted territory together, so in that spirit, here are five tips for productively working from home. Official guidance and support are also available to help you navigate these changes.
Take care of your mental health
Look after the proverbial golden goose by staying on top of your physical wellbeing, which means keeping active and eating well. Develop a healthy working routine and habits to support both your mental and physical health while working from home. If you’re an avid gym-goer or runner, for instance, that’s off the table for the moment. However, even if you didn’t have a regular exercise routine, small bursts of activity, such as during your commute or walking around the office – which add up – also aren’t there anymore. Consequently, you find ways to keep your body moving, even if it’s standing up and doing a few simple stretches. Spending time outdoors or dedicating time to well-being activities can also help you maintain a balanced routine.
Taking regular breaks is essential—aim to take a short break every hour, following techniques like the Pomodoro method, to prevent burnout and maintain focus. Regular movement and fresh air can help manage stress and improve productivity. Be mindful of the risk of working longer hours at home, and set clear boundaries to protect your work-life balance.
Similarly, it’s all too easy to let your healthy eating habits slip– especially when you feel particularly stressed or isolated. However, sugary, salty, or fatty food, while sublime in the moment, make you feel sluggish and sap your motivation. Instead, swap out the crisps and sweets for fruit, veg and seeds – especially if you’re a grazer. If you are struggling with low mood or motivation, don’t hesitate to seek advice and support from appropriate resources.
The increased flexibility of remote and hybrid working can be especially beneficial for people with a disability, as well as for parents or carers. Make sure you have ergonomic equipment to prevent strain and support your physical health. Employers should encourage their staff to take regular breaks and remind them of the importance of taking their leave to avoid burnout and support overall well-being.
Carve out time for social interaction
Talking to people every day is huge for your mental wellbeing. Working from home can sometimes lead to feeling isolated from colleagues and the organization, making it especially important to stay connected. All the little interactions you had every day, from conversations with colleagues to simply acknowledging people on your commute have been temporarily taken away, so you have to seek them out.
As well as obligatory work discussions, leave room for levity – just having a chat and sharing a few laughs, just like in the office. Using phone calls and video calls is an effective way to stay connected and reduce feelings of isolation. Regular communication with colleagues and your manager helps maintain team spirit and supports mental wellbeing. In fact, approximately 25% of fully remote workers report feelings of loneliness compared to 16% in office settings, so making the effort to stay connected really does matter.
If you need more advice or support, consider seeking out resources or speaking to your manager.
Establish a routine
Leaving the house to go to work provided structure, so, now, you have to establish your own routine to create your own. When working from home, it’s important to focus on your tasks and set boundaries to separate work and personal life during the working day. Flexible hours can help accommodate different working styles and time zones, making it easier to balance work and personal commitments. Establishing a consistent routine, including simulating a commute, can enhance productivity and help you mentally transition into and out of work mode. If your managers have provided your team with a daily schedule, so everyone is on the same page and available at the same times – fantastic. On the other hand, if you’re permitted to do your job however you want, provided you deliver, that’s going to require a little more work on your part.
Three key aspects of your day are your morning and evening routines and taking regular breaks. Your morning routine is the series of steps you take from waking up to being at your desk. Conversely, your evening routine is how you wind down for the day: how you switch off and focus on personal life. Taking regular breaks, meanwhile, ensures that you’re not seated for long periods of time – which is bad for your health. If you’re aware it’s something you’re bad at, set a 30-minute timer reminding you to stand up and stretch. For those splitting their working week between home and office, routines may differ, so it’s important to adapt your schedule to maintain consistency. Minimizing digital distractions is also key—try scheduling email checks and using ‘Do Not Disturb’ features to stay focused. In fact, a typical office worker is interrupted roughly every 11 minutes due to frequent distractions in open-plan layouts, so working from home can actually lead to increased productivity thanks to fewer interruptions.
Another aspect of remote work and routines should be to utilise a leave management tool to both track who is off, as well as keeping yourself informed as to who is currently working. When all workers are remote working, this becomes more important as the visibility of who is working is less visible. Improving your process by exploring new software or tools can also support better collaboration and workflow. Employers should encourage employees to develop new skills and participate in training to adapt to remote work, and provide relevant guidance on hybrid and remote working to support everyone’s success.
Choose a dedicated workspace where you work
If your living space permits it, choose a specific place where you only carry out work. For those working from home with children, be aware that young children may not understand boundaries and can cause distractions, so setting clear boundaries is important. Ideally, this is a specific room but simply having a desk is enough. Employees should demonstrate that their workspace meets health and safety requirements for working from home. Departments should provide and maintain equipment for employees who regularly work from home, and employers should keep a record of any equipment or work-related materials taken home. Using an online service or tool can help manage workspace and equipment needs efficiently. Working in a particular place puts you in a state where you associate being there with being productive, getting your brain in gear faster. The increased flexibility of remote and hybrid working is especially beneficial for parents, carers, and people with disabilities, and can improve employee retention by allowing flexibility to meet childcare needs and reducing commute times. You’ll also be better able to separate between work mode and your free time.
Managing finances and benefits
When working remotely, it’s important to keep a close eye on your finances and make the most of the benefits available to you. Many employees don’t realise that home working can make you eligible to claim tax relief on certain expenses, such as a portion of your utility bills or the cost of essential equipment needed for your dedicated workspace. You can claim tax relief either at a flat rate or based on the actual amount you’ve spent—just remember to keep receipts and records to support your claim.
It’s also a good idea to review your employment contract to understand your entitlements, including flexible working arrangements, hybrid working options, or the possibility of fully remote working. These flexible working requests can help you better balance your work and home life, especially if you’re splitting time between the office and home or managing family members and other commitments.
Don’t forget that your well-being and mental health are just as important as your financial situation. Staying connected with colleagues and accessing support from your employer can help manage feelings of isolation and keep you engaged. By proactively managing your finances and benefits, you’ll be able to create a productive, comfortable workspace and maintain your overall well-being while working remotely.
Data protection and security
Working from home means you’re often responsible for safeguarding sensitive company information outside the traditional office environment. To protect your business and support your team, it’s essential to follow best practices for data protection and security. Start by ensuring you have the right equipment and up-to-date software, including antivirus programs and encryption tools, to keep company data safe.
Familiarise yourself with your employer’s data protection policies and make any reasonable adjustments needed to comply, such as using a secure internet connection and regularly updating your passwords. Be vigilant about potential cyber threats—avoid clicking on suspicious emails or attachments, and always use strong, unique passwords for work accounts.
It’s also important to set clear boundaries between your work and home life. Remind other members of your household not to use your work equipment or access company data, and keep your dedicated workspace secure. By taking these steps, you help maintain the integrity of your business’s data, support your colleagues, and ensure you can work remotely with confidence and peace of mind.
Give yourself a chance to adjust
Whether you’re accustomed to working from home or not, a lot of uncertainty has been thrust upon all of us, so it’s important to give yourself time to adjust. Dealing with emotional challenges such as frustration, loneliness, or lack of motivation is common when working from home—consider strategies like setting boundaries, maintaining routines, and seeking support to help cope. Working from home can negatively impact mental health if you struggle to find a routine or feel isolated, so it’s important to encourage yourself and colleagues to reach out for advice or support when needed. Proactive communication is essential to remain visible to leadership, as remote work lacks the casual interactions of the office. The global workforce is shifting towards an intentional hybrid model by 2026, with some companies requiring a full return to the office, and future work-from-home strategies emphasize disciplined routines and clear physical and mental boundaries. Encourage your colleagues and yourself as everyone adapts to these new ways of working. As well as a new way of working, many of us will have to get used to new software, increased responsibilities, things taking longer to complete than they used to, and, crucially, working alone. They’ll be times when you feel particularly frustrated or unmotivated – and that’s fine. Just remember that everyone else is in a similar boat and that we’re all going to find a way to successfully adapt together.
