· Guides · 2 min read
How to Stay Productive Working from Home: 7 Science-Backed Tips
Remote work can be lonely and distracting. Learn how to structure your day, manage energy, and separate work from life.
Working from home (WFH) is a skill. It requires a completely different set of muscles than working in an office. Without a boss looking over your shoulder or a commute to decompress, it’s easy to fall into the trap of overworking or underworking.
Here are 7 tips to master the art of WFH.
1. The “Fake Commute”
Your brain needs a signal that “work has started.”
- Technique: Walk around the block before you sit at your desk.
- Why: It creates a psychological boundary between “Home You” and “Work You.”
2. Dress for Success (Mostly)
You don’t need a suit, but don’t work in pajamas.
- Tip: Wear shoes.
- Why: Putting on shoes tells your brain it’s time to be active.
3. The Pomodoro Technique
Work expands to fill the time available.
- Method: 25 minutes focused work, 5 minutes break.
- Tool: Use a physical timer or an app like Toggl.
- Benefit: It prevents burnout by forcing you to rest before you are tired.
4. Dedicated Workspace
Never work from bed. Ideally, don’t work from the couch.
- Goal: Have a specific spot that is ONLY for work.
- Why: Spatial anchoring. When you sit there, your brain enters focus mode. When you leave, you leave work behind.
5. Asynchronous Communication
Don’t let Slack govern your day.
- Strategy: Check messages in batches (e.g., 9am, 12pm, 4pm).
- ** notification**: Turn off all non-urgent notifications.
- Why: Deep work requires uninterrupted time.
6. Eat the Frog
Do your hardest task first.
- Concept: If you have to eat a live frog, do it first thing in the morning.
- Application: Identify your #1 priority the night before. Do it before you check email.
7. The “Shutdown Ritual”
How you end the day matters as much as how you start.
- Ritual:
- Review tomorrow’s to-do list.
- Close all tabs.
- Say a phrase out loud (e.g., “Shutdown complete”).
- Leave the workspace.
Conclusion
Productivity isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters with less energy. Experiment with these tips and find the routine that keeps you sane and successful.
