How to Stay Productive When You Work From Home

The schedule that makes you start early, and mimic the office hours works best, as you end up being free earlier too. However, night owls may find working at night to be more productive or comfortable for them.

Maintaining a schedule in a routine, while incorporating regular exercise with it, works best.

Set pre-determined completion targets and time constraints to finish up your work, otherwise, you will get distracted and the time it takes to complete your work will start to inflate.

Your family and your friends will not understand why you would need to prioritize work, or at what time. They can ask you for the (never-ending) tasks around the house, or come for lunch.

You will need to repeat to them that your work priorities and say 'no' quite often.

Devote a space solely dedicated to work, maybe a desk or a room converted into an office.

This will train your brain to stay on your assignment when you start to work, creating a physical boundary.

It is common advice to get up, shower and dress for work, in your work clothes. This too creates a form of mental transition for you.

If on some days you feel you are better off in your nightclothes, working in a relaxed manner, then, by all means, do that. It is better to do what works best for you.

Clear communication is the life-line of remote working.

Physically, a WFH employee or a freelancer is not part of the office team, so the daily emails, chat or phone calls are the ways to represent oneself. Use these tools in the best possible manner.