How to Work From Home Successfully in 12 Easy Steps

How to Work From Home Successfully

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Working from home (WFH) may now be a popular household term, but not everyone is fond of the concept! If you struggle with routine, productivity or getting in your groove, my guide on working from home successfully offers tips and routines to help you find your rhythm. 

A Little About Me

Hi, I’m Gemma Armit. I run two online businesses, but that hasn’t always happened.

In 2016/17, I was still working full-time as a high school teacher while working on my travel site and online SEO business at night and on weekends.

In 2017/18, I reduced my teaching contract to part-time to free up more time for the websites and to assess whether I could quit classroom teaching altogether.

In August 2018, I made the jump to online work only.

I used to organise and manage classes of 15-32 students every 45 minutes, 4-6 times daily, Monday to Friday, so why was managing just one, myself, such hard work? 

I’ve now refined my routine and made peace with myself during downtimes, and I’m confident that regardless of why or how you work from home, you will pick up a few handy tips from my guide below.

A Little About You

I understand that not everyone’s circumstances are the same. I just wanted to say, hey, I see you!

I am not assuming everyone has a ‘free for all’ timetable; many of my friends are still working the traditional 9-5 from home.

Some of them are trying to adjust to weekdays with kids, too; hats off to you!

While not everyone’s work rhythm is the same, I hope you can pick and choose from the ideas below to help improve your productivity and lift that life-in-limbo feeling.

Working From Home Successfully Tips

1. Create A Designated Space

The first tip for working from home is nothing revolutionary.

To help make space mentally, you need to create space physically.

Set aside an area of your house which acts as your workspace.

Make it work functionally and aesthetically.

This means having some form of desk or table, a chair and space for your laptop or computer.

I also like a mouse mat, phone stand, coaster, notebook and pen on my desk.

While this isn’t an option for everyone, I brought down the barrier I had created about working in the office when I decorated it and removed the large second-hand temporary desk for a neater one.

I felt I could breathe more easily in the space I had created.

I changed the way I sat, too, positioning the computer in front of the window to stop the glare across the screen.

If you are limited in space, stick up some pictures that make you feel happy around your work area.

Don’t get me wrong, having the opportunity to work from bed after a heavy weekend is one of the benefits of working from home, but this should not be your routine.

Not only is it damaging to your mindset, it is also terrible for your posture and back.

I dropped a cup of tea on my laptop, working from bed. It never recovered. Ouch.

I sometimes enjoy setting up the laptop on a box in the kitchen and creating a standing desk for a bit of a break from the norm.

So now we’ve talked about where you will work, let’s work out a routine.

2. Set An Alarm

My name is Gemma, and I am a sleep monster.

Honestly, it does not matter what time I go to bed I can rarely drag my a*s out of bed before 8am.

I won’t say what time you should set an alarm for because everyone works differently.

I have blogging friends who get up at 10am and work through to 8pm and do so efficiently.

It took me a long time to settle into my routine, so let’s look at it.

3. Create a Routine, Include Exercise, Get Fresh Air 

I used to feel guilty when I wasn’t at the desk at 9am, but in reality, I don’t have to be, so I finally made peace with that decision, and this is what my day looks like for most of the week. 

  • Wake up around 8am
  • Check inbox 
  • Quick shower
  • Walk dog
  • Breakfast or protein shake
  • Gym class or yoga
  • Breakfast, if not had before gym, clean house
  • Around about 11, I start work on the computer
  • I stop for lunch for about 30-45 minutes, usually watching a TV show with lunch or listening to a book 
  • I switch off the computer around 7-8pm
  • Dine and watch TV with partner 
  • Dip into work on phone during that time

Do I follow this routine every day? No.

Do I feel better when I follow this routine? 100%

I will talk more about some of the themes in my routine below.

I also asked some friends with jobs where they have to be at the desk at specific times to share their routines.

  • Workout at 7am – cardio and then core
  • Shower at 8am 
  • Coffee and log on for 9am
  • Full staff conference call at 9.30am
  • Protein shake at 11am
  • Big walk at lunch – sometime between 12 and 2
  • Lunch – make a point of having it in the kitchen, away from the laptop
  • Fifty squats – usually around 3pm, keep dem glutes fired up!
  • Team conference call – 4pm, for blethers only and no work chat
  • Log off – I have been trying to be good, and no later than 6pm
  • Evening workout – either more cardio or kettlebells and bodyweight, with core
  • Dinner – between 8 and 9pm
  • TV, mindful colouring-in until 11pm

* TikTok 3-4 times throughout the day

  • Get up at a reasonable time but allow myself a bit of a longer lie, so around about 8am
  • Log into the laptop and check that nothing urgent has come up or see if I need to be on any early meetings
  • Shower and get dressed, in loungewear obviously!
  • Make a cup of tea and breakfast, take it to the office
  • TV on, news usually in the background, helps me just to have a bit of noise going on, like in the office
  • Work, calls, maybe stick a washing on
  • 12:30 take the dog a walk; need the fresh air
  • Make lunch, tidy the kitchen
  • Back at desk for 1:30, work/calls etc
  • Meetings usually finish at about 5pm
  • Spend some time clearing out emails
  • Tidy up the office and spray something nice around, as I like it to smell fresh in the morning!
  • Ensure everything you need is out of the office to stop you creeping back in and answering ‘just one email.
  • SHUT DOWN LAPTOP AND SHUT THE OFFICE DOOR
  • Massive commute to downstairs to chill for the rest of the night

Here’s a dedicated guide to keeping fit while working from home.

4. Get Dressed

As the saying goes, ‘dress for the position you want, not the position you have’.

The threads you wear for your working-from-home day will determine your mood. I promise you!

I used to work at the desk at Avis Rent A Car, and when I put on the blazer it was time to work!

My mindset changed and I was no longer just Gemma, I was Gemma that upsold you insurance and gas and found damage and charged you for it.

Man, I am glad I don’t do that job anymore.

But surely one of the positives about working from home is wearing gym pants?

Heck yes, wear your comfies for the first week but eventually you will probably start lacking motivation.

I find the way I present myself has a significant impact on my mood.

It’s also a free weight control identifier!

While I don’t wear make-up daily, I will do so if I feel meh.

Shower. That should go without saying.

Poor personal hygiene is a sign of neglect and while you may be electing not to wash, eventually that could turn 360 and be a sign of feeling down.

Hot showers are mood changers.

5. Diet and Water Consumption

Eat well and eat often.

Plan your meals, avoid the biscuits and buy healthy snacks.

Getting up and away from your desk to grab healthy snacks, glasses of water and hot drinks is recommended to get you moving.

Drink water—lots of it.

I am guilty of not drinking enough, so I bought a nice glass and bamboo straw to increase my intake.

It’s sad, but it works!

6. Set Goals and Record Goals

I set quarterly goals, weekly goals and daily goals.

This helps me keep up with my workload, which I need to create myself.

I write out my daily goals and score them off once completed.

The key is creating realistic goals you can do in one day.

Don’t underestimate how long admin tasks can take; don’t beat yourself up if you don’t complete your goals.

You are only human; unless you spend most of the day on Netflix and TikTok, give yourself a break.

If you spend most of your day on Netflix and TikTok, you may need a day off!

The thing with goals is you have to complete them for them to be successful.

I also use whiteboards that hang up in my office and a month-to-view calendar pinned to my door.

My events and meetings are also added to my phone calendar.

If you work with or manage others, check out Notion, Asana or Trello.

They offer space for your team to share instructions and update the progress of projects.

7. Stay Connected 

Video calling software and apps such as Zoom and Google Hangouts have made staying connected while indoors easy.

If you work as part of a team, you’ve likely already taken part in a conference meeting and, hopefully, a work pub quiz, too!

Zoom is ideal for conference calls as it allows up to 100 people to join a chat, you have to pay for premium if your meeting is longer than 40 minutes; you can mute the audio while someone else is speaking, share screens and message the group or privately.

You can also change your background. Jazzy!

8. Stop Scrolling Social Media

Staying connected isn’t just about formal meetings, though.

A quick five-minute chat or share of a meme via Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp sometimes helps break the work block.

However, logging onto social channels to chat with others can be detrimental to your workflow if you get sucked into unnecessary chat or start to scroll.

I close out of all social media channels when I’m doing the big jobs of the day, or I’d never get anything.

There’s always a piece of gossip, joke or work question lurking behind that app, and I am weak when procrastinating!

My friend Amanda, a full-time freelancer, adds this tip for those who can’t trust themselves!

Move your social media apps into a new folder and save them to another screen on your phone so you have to swipe to get them.

9. Limit Screen Time 

Overall, it is worth noting that with the increased screen time for work, limiting your social screen time is wise.

This is especially true for those who can’t sleep.

If you bounce between apps, ask yourself, is this relevant?

Other things to try instead include listening to a podcast, reading a book, cooking, or crafts.

10. Silence or Background Noise?

Everyone’s working style differs, but I’m a completely silent worker.

I like the hum of the computer for company, and that is all that is welcome.

If I do easy tasks like Pinterest pin creation, I’ll sometimes stick on a TV show on my phone.

11. Other Challenges

There will be other challenges that come with every industry which I won’t even pretend to understand but I do sympathise.

Please drop any issues you face in the comments below, and I can ask for tips.

Or, if you have a solution to a problem I’ve not discussed, hit the comments.

For example, my friend who manages teams is used to people swinging by her desk in the office to say hello, chat for five minutes, and ask a quick question.

There’s no way to do this when working remotely officially, so team members blocked out 30 minutes of the schedule to ask the quick question.

My friend asked her manager if there was any way around this, and the department sent an email asking people to refrain from blocking out time for this.

Teaching friends have complained about the number of emails they receive, as most of their morning is spent replying to them and not working with students online.

12. Positive Sleeping Patterns 

My best advice for those who are struggling to sleep at night are as follows:

  • Set an alarm at the other side of the room
  • Get out of bed, shower and get changed
  • Drink plenty of fluids and eat well, reduce beige and sugary foods, eat healthily
  • Do not drink coffee from the afternoon onwards
  • Skip the wine at night
  • Do a mix of cardio and yoga exercises to tire yourself out
  • Have a bath at night with the lights lowered, don’t wash your hair
  • Skip screen time
  • Spray some lovely lavender spritz UK/US on your pillow
  • Go to bed
  • Repeat

I don’t use this myself, but others find the Headspace or Sleep With Me apps helpful when they struggle to sleep.

Note: You should seek medical advice if you struggle to sleep frequently.

4 thoughts on “How to Work From Home Successfully in 12 Easy Steps

  1. Andy says:

    Apologies for being picky…. but.. In section 4, about clothing…. ‘the clothes you dawn..’ etc, in my humble opinion the word dawn is wrong…. the correct word is don.

    I work from home and find suggestions like these very helpful, but I also find words used in the wrong place very irritating…☺

    • Gemma I Two Scots Abroad says:

      Thanks Andy. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know of the mistake. I hope you are having a less irritable day today.

  2. Lauren Cirkot (Always Find Adventure) says:

    Thanks Gemma! This is a great article. I’ve been working from home for a few years now, but I started working full-time from home (or wherever in the world I am) for a year now. All the tips you’ve talked about 100% help me too. I’m a big sleeper so I allow myself the sleep too unless I need to be somewhere. It’s not always easy to get into a routine, especially if you are just coming out of corporate and working from home for the first time (like many people are right now) but all of these tips should totally be helpful for the first-timers.

    • Gemma I Two Scots Abroad says:

      Thanks, Lauren! Yeah, I found it tough being controlled by a bell to nothing too. It’s strange to think now a bell told me when to use the loo and when to eat! Welcome to the big sleeper club.

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