Tips for Maintaining a Routine While Working From Home

For years, the tech industry has led the way in remote work. However, the last couple of years have placed far more people into the still unfamiliar territory of a home office, a new work-life balance, and shifting productivity standards. Let’s explore some tips for maintaining a routine while working from home so that you can better adapt to remote work.

Create a Daily Schedule That Suits You

The first step is to establish a daily schedule to structure your time. Whether you keep this schedule digitally or physically depends on which feels best for you. Some scheduling applications include features like repeat occurrences that streamline scheduling. However, digital options lack the satisfaction of physically crossing out a task that many enjoy.

Remember that the first schedule you create likely won’t perfectly suit your day. Becoming aware of your habits and productivity levels requires careful self-monitoring. Tweak your schedule as needed until you create a routine that holds you accountable for your time and establishes a healthy, realistic balance for your day.

Set Ground Rules (Even for Yourself)

One of the most important tips for maintaining a routine while working from home is to set ground rules. If you live with others, this means establishing an understanding of when your kids, spouse, or roommates must let you focus.

As important as it is to communicate your routine to others, you also need to set and uphold rules for yourself. Consistent sleep and wake-up times are crucial for establishing a healthy routine. You can also consider holding yourself to a certain number of daily accomplishments at work and in your household to create goals for yourself and stick to a more productive routine.

Organize With a Routine in Mind

Some factors that interrupt routines and prevent you from building effective habits include your ability to focus, establish a workflow, and avoid boredom. How you arrange and manage your at-home workspace impacts your ability to stay on top of the routines you work toward.

If you do your daily planning in physical form, use effective color-coding strategies and checklists to organize any to-do activities. It’s also important to create a routine for your actual desk space so that you clearly delineate the start and end of each workday. Finish a day by cleaning your desk of any dishes, paperwork, or writing utensils, and set yourself up for a great start to your next day.

Ultimately, establishing a routine once you start working remotely takes time and practice. Give yourself the freedom and kindness to slip out of good habits now and then, but always keep your goals in mind. Are you looking to set a routine to increase productivity, lower stress levels, or keep tasks from falling through the cracks? Whatever it is, working towards creating a new routine helps you accomplish it, even at home.