The essential guide to working from home 

Are you sitting comfortably?

From an ironing board in your bedroom to a corner of the dining room table, a great way to improve productivity when working from home (WFH) is creating a workspace you can call your own. For starters, why not try using a mini white board to jot down inspiration as and when it strikes? Or use A4 folders to store those important documents.  You can even bring a little of the outside in with a few house plants - they'll do wonders for your mood.   

Seating's also important: avoid aches and pains by selecting a table and chair that are at the right height for you – there are plenty of online resources you can use to check your posture. Check in with yourself throughout the workday to make sure you aren’t leaning forward or slouching, as this can cause tension in your back and neck.

Get into the right state of mind

It doesn’t matter how good you feel in your unicorn onesie, swapping leisurewear for a client-facing outfit can help you keep you focused on work. If you are used to the noise of people around you, you might find that playing music or turning on the radio helps you get down to business quicker. Or try a service like Coffitivity, which plays the ambient sounds of a range of social spaces – from a Parisian patisserie to a Brazilian coffeehouse.

But, remember to stick to a routine

Yes you don't need to leave the house at a certain time to catch that train, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep an eye on the time while working from home. Getting into a routine can help you keep focused, so plan to sit down at your desk at the same time each morning, take a regular lunch break and allocate blocks of time to particular projects. You could even try out a time management method like the Pomodoro Technique, where you break your workday into 25-minutes segments,  punctuated by short (five minute) and longer (20 minute) breaks.

Avoid distractions

Where possible, ask family and friends to try and avoid disturbing you during your workday. It might be useful to put up a sign on your door when you really need to concentrate. Silencing or switching off your social media notifications can also help prevent you from reaching for your phone every few minutes – Instagram will still be there at the end of the day.  

Stay sociable

If you're used to collaborating with a team in a busy office, you might feel a little isolated. But you're not alone. Keep the channels of communication open with software like Skype and Slack, schedule remote meetings via Zoom, and continue to grow your network by connecting with other people in your industry via LinkedIn.