Remote work has continually increased in 2023 and experts say that it is here to stay. It has been said that employees have turned out to be more productive working in the comfort of their own homes. The peace and quiet of their own desks in their home “office” – may it be the privacy of a spare room, the makeshift office in the living room, a desk in their own bedroom, the dining table / office / kids’ homework desk / mess area. For some it also is a chance to get away from co-workers, or constant ‘real-time’ with their boss. Best of all, working in their pajamas, and no more morning commute to work. Whatever the reason, it worked.

As much as it is preferred to work remotely by most, there are problems being faced from working at home. As each individual faces different challenges, it causes unproductive behavior and frustrations all around. So, let’s dive into a few things that could possibly prevent these matters from happening.

#1. Get Your Own Space

You need to get your own space. Meaning, it’s yours and yours alone. You don’t share it with your kids, your partner, you don’t eat there, you don’t play there, you don’t do anything else there, but work. This way you won’t feel overwhelmed being there when you actually need to be there.

Granted, sometimes we eat while working, like snacks or working lunches but when preventable, try not to eat your meals at your desk. It separates your working life and home life.

One major issue I had was when my kid did homework’s on my desk. My kid doesn’t really need help with homework, he just likes sitting at my desk. Sometimes my kid would even sit there while I’m working and it’s very distracting. So I moved my desk to another corner so he can no longer sit at my desk. Sneaky mommy right..

Bottom line, your workspace really needs to be your own.

#2 Create a Work Schedule

Create a schedule as if you were in your office. Like 9am to 10:30 work, then take a 5-15 minute break. From 10:45 to 12:00 work again. Then 12:00 to 1:00pm is lunch, and so on. Something that fits you and that suits your day.

A good example that I’ve been reading a lot about is taking frequent short breaks - like for every 52 minutes of work, take a 17-minute break to get some fresh air, some sun, walk around, drink water, stretch, or take a healthy snack. This makes you much more constructive, creative, and effective. If you don’t take a break at the right time or wait much longer, it could be too late. You would have missed the chance to be more productive and may have gotten yourself burned out, exhausted, easily distracted or used up all your creative juices.

So, set a schedule and take more frequent breaks. Do what you are more comfortable with or what you have been used to. Either way, stick to a schedule. It will make the day go smoother.

#3 A Desk and A Chair

Since time and memorial, we have been working on desks. We have been taught that work somehow equates to a desk and chair. Open work spaces have been the structure for offices since 1906. In the 1960s, cubicles have been established. Then an open workspace started coming back in the late 90s but became immensely popular when Google and Facebook adopted this method.

The point is this. Regardless of how you work at home, a desk and/or a chair is needed to get into that work mindset. Working on the bed, dining table, or sofa upsets that work-life balance. If you prefer to work with a standing desk. That works beautifully. It is said that standing desks are more productive. Having the right chair is also ergonomically better for your back and neck. Lesser back pain. Where your arm rests as you type also makes a significant difference for your posture. Which all affects your productivity.

Let's Talk About Space | ProductiveandFree — Photo by Jeffery Erhunse on Unsplash

Now, if, for example, you prefer to work on the balcony, as long as you have some kind of table and chair there, go ahead. It doesn’t have to be the traditional box desk or the swivel leather chair. Be as fancy or as flexible as you want it to be. As long as it is your table and your chair, it is your workspace, and it works.

Remember the dining table is for eating, the bed is for sleeping, the sofa is for relaxing. None of those are meant for working. Separation is the objective here.

#4 Room Dividers

If it is not possible to have your work area in a different room, try to put barriers, dividers, or even simple plant to separate that space to the rest of the house. My favorite is this room divider from Amazon so you don’t have to always see your workspace and be tempted to go to “work” or the “office” when you don’t need to be.

Here’s a great article about different kinds of plants that you can consider to keep at home. It’s a great read on the pros, cons, and care requirements for each plant.

Separation of your workspace from the rest of your living space can give you a sense of comfort, routine, and wellbeing to know that when you are at “work” it is work time and your mind will know that it has to work. When you are in your living space, your mind and body will know it is time to relax and unwind.

Imagine having to see your “office” all day long. Wont that cause you some anxiety and distress when you’re at home? Imagine playing with your kids and seeing that unfished report? How would you feel or what would you think? When you’re having dinner with friends and see that pile of papers due the next day what would be going through your mind? This is where out of sight-out of mind would come in. We don’t need unnecessary worry if we can prevent it right.

#5 Move Your Desk

Another suggestion is moving your desk to another spot, corner, wall, or even rotating it. It’s just a matter of changing your view or perception. Perhaps a way of seeing things in a new light.

I myself tend to rearrange my desk a couple times a year. I get the need to have a different “view” and a different “space” even if it just means looking at a different wall to get me working productively again.

“To change ourselves effectively, we first had to change our perceptions.”

— Stephen R. Covey

#6 Face Away from the Bed

Now, if your desk is in your room, if you can manage to rearrange it in such a way that your desk is not facing your bed, do it. This way when you are working you will focus on your work and not keep seeing your bed and keep getting distracted by the bed and your mind will think of going to sleep or rest or doing something else, hence lose focus on what needs to be done.

I saw this sample arrangement to help you visualize what I’m talking about in hopes that it helps. There are more samples there if you want to check it out.

I now prefer my desk closer to the window and I open the curtains when I work. I used to hate the sunlight during the day, but now I am loving. So, if you can manage to work near the window, I highly suggest you do. That morning or daytime light is beautiful and inspirational. I can no longer remember why I hated the light all these years.

#7 Change Your Location

If all else fails, I work in the balcony, where I get fresh air, sunlight, and the sights and sounds of the buzzing street – in other words, get out, go to the library, go to your favorite coffee shop, or anything to get out of your space and get the blood flowing again. Anything to find inspiration and creativity.

I saw this really ingenuous over the balcony rail table on Amazon that could make working at the balcony a pleasurable experience. It’s quite pricey, but one can wish and have a wish list right. For now, I will stick with our foldable table from Ikea.

#8 Noise Cancelling Headphones

One good investment are noise cancelling headphones. When space is an issue, these are a big solution. When you have roommates, children, a lot of people in your home and/or working in a noisy place aka, living room, coffee shop, etc.. Noise cancelling headphones are a gift from the gods.

I use mine a lot – like when my kid, my husband, and my husband’s friend are all hanging out at our place, and I really don’t want to listen to their stories about Pokémon or Dungeons and Dragons while I’m trying to work – NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES.

#9 Preferred Time to Work

Your favorite time or preferred time to work. Specifically, when my kid goes to bed and a few hours before my husband comes home. The peace and quiet where I can actually think while Alexa is playing music from Spotify. It’s heaven. That’s my heaven. If you could find your own “heaven,” I say go for it.

This is my best time to work undisturbed and productively.

Just don’t forget to take those breaks, as I’ve mentioned on #2. You will be more productive and produce more results as effectively and efficiently in no time.

Remember

Sometimes we forget the simple things. How home life and work life should be separated. Or how work-life balance is very important in our daily lives – for our health and wellbeing. For those who work remote full time or hybrid, find ways to make your workspace more comfortable and as separated to your home space as possible. Remember to set a work schedule and stick to it so you can spend family time or personal time or time with friends soon after.