How to Stay Productive If You Work from Home

I've been lucky enough to work from home for a little over a year now, and it's everything I hoped it would be. While I did love certain aspects of working in an office – complimentary espresso, tea & treats included – working from home is definitely (and will always be) my preference. I love being able to stay focused on tasks without office chatter and the ability to use a restroom that is always clean with no line.

For those lucky enough to work from home, there are a few things to consider in order to stay productive and make the most of the experience. Here are seven of my suggestions:

Have a Dedicated Office Space

Our condo has a den area that we use as an office/workout space/guest room, but it's primarily an office with an actual desk. I got to take my office desktop home, so I make sure to only use it for work-related things and move to my laptop at the end of the day when work is over. By having two separate computers in different parts of my home, I'm not tempted to hop on over to Pinterest or look at anything I would typically do during non-office hours.

Don't Watch TV

There's no TV in the den/office, but even if there was, I would absolutely not watch TV while working. Some may be able to multitask, but I don't think that watching the latest episode of The Bachelor while getting paid to work is the best way to help your own productivity. Just like I did when I worked at the office, I'll listen to soft singer-songwriter tunes or classical music to stay focused throughout the day.

Don't Forget to Drink Water!

At the office, I was definitely consuming the right amount of water a human should have per day – partly because getting up and going to refill my glass was a break from work. When working from home, I don't feel the need to take as many "breaks" – but it's so important to actually get up, stretch your legs, and walk over to the kitchen to fill your glass when it's empty.

Take a Lunch Break

I'm still working on this one... Everyone thinks that working from home means you're constantly having fun lunch dates with friends during the day or cooking delicious meals; however, it's quite the opposite. Some days I get so into my work load that I forget to eat lunch until 2pm... when I was on a strict 12pm lunch schedule at the office. I also need to remember that it's okay to go out to lunch every once in awhile and take a full hour to eat, rest, and recharge for the afternoon.

Set Office Hours

Luckily, our office follows the same 9am-6pm schedule that we had before working from home... but it can be tough to separate "work" time and "home" time when your workspace is just steps from where you eat dinner and relax on the sofa. To make sure you don't go crazy, force yourself to turn off your work computer, stop thinking about your to-do list, and spend time with your loved ones once the official work day is over.

Follow a Schedule

A lot of people think that those who work from home stay in their pajamas all day and roll out of bed into their desk chair. While I do wear leggings most days (note: they're a different pair than my "relaxation" leggings I change into after work, haha), I always make sure to follow a morning schedule. I wake up at the same time that I did when I worked at an office. I workout every other day and spend the other mornings enjoying a cup of coffee while catching up on Instagram, cleaning up around the house, or hanging out with my pup. Since I don't have to commute, I usually spend that 30 minutes before work on stuff for me (blogging, reading a magazine, stretching, etc.) before jumping into a full day of work.

Take a Walk

My FitBit steps are definitely way lower during the week since I mostly sit at my chair all day and don't have an office where I need to walk from the parking garage up flights of stairs to my desk, but it is important to stay active. Having a dog helps since he needs to go outside every so often, and it's nice to get out and enjoy the weather.

If you work from home & I missed some tips that you use to stay productive throughout the work day, please leave a comment sharing your advice!