Covid affected society in many ways, one of which being that work from home jobs became more common than ever. 

Working from home brings so many benefits like no commute, a more relaxed work environment and the comfort of your own home. 

But working from home can also be a huge adjustment for those who have worked in an office environment for years. Staying on task and being productive can be a challenge for people working in their own homes where distractions might be aplenty.

Here are 10 tips to effectively work from home: 

1. Create a designated workspace. It’s a lot easier to get distracted if you don’t have a designated home office or space that you know you are working from as this can cause you to feel disorganized and get distracted easier.

2. Maintain a regular schedule. Just because you have more flexibility than you know what to do with doesn’t mean that you don’t need routine. Set a routine for yourself that still allows you the flexibility of working from home, without feeling like you have no structure. Time blocking your calendar will help you stay on schedule. 

3. Get dressed. If you are in your pajamas, you are way less likely to be productive versus if you are dressed for the day. No, that doesn’t mean a blazer and khaki pants, but if you pick an outfit that makes you feel somewhat put together, while still comfortable, you will be way more productive. For me, I break out my best athleisure.

4. Put your phone on silent/do not disturb. It’s easier to get distracted on your phone when you know that someone else isn’t checking up on your productivity. Don’t go down the rabbit hole- unless it’s work related let it wait until work is over. 

5. Sign out of your social media accounts. If you are signed into Facebook on your computer and start getting notifications, odds are you will get distracted and click on them. Save yourself from the distraction and sign out. 

6. Establish a hard start and stop time. It’s very easy to blur the lines with working hours when you are working from home, due to the convenience. If you don’t set designated work hours, you risk working outside of working hours and burning yourself out. 

7. Take established breaks. If you don’t set a time to take a few minutes away from the computer or grab lunch, you’ll get sucked into working an entire day without taking a few minutes to reset. Set time in your schedule for a quick break. 

8. Continue to interact with other humans. Being a WFH employee can be lonely at times. If you’re used to having interaction with your coworkers daily, you need to continue to connect with those around you. Slack channels or group chats are an easy way to stay in contact with your coworkers and stay connected. If you have annual company retreats or work trips, this is also a great time to connect!

9. Set ground rules with the people in your work space, aka your family. If you are on a work call, and you are constantly being interrupted by your roommate, boyfriend, spouse, kids, parents, etc. it is going to make for a hostile work environment. Ensure that others know your work hours and have a conversation about respecting your professional boundaries even though you might just be in the next room from them. 

10. Leave home when you need to. Part of the joys of working from home is the flexibility. Use that to your advantage! If you are feeling isolated in your home office, take your laptop with you (if your job allows) and go work from a local coffee shop that has internet. You can also take your laptop outside in your yard and soak in some Vitamin D. Don’t be afraid to utilize the perks of being able to work from anywhere!