3 Work From Home Tips That Will Set You Up for Success

Maybe you’ve thought about working from home or pursuing a job that offers remote work as an option. Or, you work from home occasionally but haven’t set up a dedicated office space. With little time to spare and perhaps most of your work currently being done at home, now is the time to make it a priority.

While the idea of remote working is great, at home you might be faced with more distractions than in the office: kids, pets, even the temptation of turning on the TV for a quick break are only a few steps away. Here’s how we recommend structuring your space—and your day!—to get the most out of your “new normal.”

1. Set your schedule

One of the easiest things to do when working from home is to lose track of your day. Set time aside to outline your tasks for the day, approximately how much time should be spent on each, and then account for chores, errands, and other to-dos. Structure is important, and adhering to a schedule will keep you organized and productive in your new setting.

2. Dedicate your space

A common mistake is not having an office-style setup to work from home. While you’re not in the company’s office, studies have shown that a similar work space—even a remote one—can improve focus and productivity. It’s also a good way to limit distractions and stay on task.

3) Master your tech

We’re in a perpetually connected society, and work is no exception. The challenge is to separate your personal tech use and work use during your “working” hours; we recommend keeping your work-essential devices in the home office space and anything that’s exclusively personal in a different room. (Consider checking them a post-work treat.) And if possible, don’t build your home office space where someone else is playing video games or watching TV.