Top tips for staying productive when working from home

The global coronavirus outbreak completely changed how people work, train, build relationships and even dress. Around the world, employees have turned their homes into offices, often blurring the boundary between work and personal life. To help address this, journalist and senior associate editor at Harvard Business Review, Paige Cohen, offers advice on staying productive when working from home.

Watch the video

Harvard Business Review YouTube channel

You can enable captions on YouTube under Settings > Subtitles/CC, or read the transcript below:

More and more people now have the opportunity to work from home, which is great. Sometimes, though, circumstances such as the coronavirus force people to do so. Working from home has many advantages: wearing pajamas, avoiding a long commute and spending time with your dog, which I love.

But there are also real challenges. With less structure, some people work and concentrate too much, becoming mentally exhausted. Others experience the opposite: they cannot focus or be as productive as they were in the office.

What is the key?

The key to overcoming both challenges is to set boundaries around your time and workspace, distinguishing when you are working from when you are not.

You may want a dedicated workspace, away from distractions such as television, music or the kitchen.

A second important point is to create a schedule and stick to it. It may sound simple, but it helps enormously. Get up at your usual time, have a cup of coffee and sit down at your computer. This is a good way to discover what works for you and what does not.

Many people feel this way when working from home. That is why celebrating your wins matters: perhaps write them down and review everything you accomplished that day. Daily reminders can create a positive cycle, helping you feel a little more focused and making things easier the next time you work from home.