Let’s face it. Your home isn’t really designed for you to work. It’s designed to be a resting place where everyone can sit back, relax and unwind. Well, anyone who argues otherwise should explain the kids running around and the dog barking like crazy while you’re working. On the other end of the spectrum, there are 33 million reasons to work from home (WFH) these days. We’re talking about the over 33 million Americans infected by the virus, with over 500,000 dead.

So, the question now is how do you make the most of WFH? It’s truly tough. Already, your precious abode is the center of lots of chores to do: dishes to clean, clothes to wash, food to cook. And if that were not enough, there’s tons of entertainment too, veering you off your office tasks. Why not enjoy your favorite Netflix show? Or how about spending some time on your gardening?

Well, you’re not alone.  Research shows many Americans who are WFH are finding focus and commitment to office work an uphill climb. Don’t be gloomy yet, though. The good news is there are expert ways you can make it all happen: to get productive as can be while working from your precious abode.

Location, Location, Location

Ever heard of these terms: location, location location? It’s an oft-cited term in real estate. For if you want a good property buy, the location is key. But this is also a must in your remote arrangement. You need to find a good place to work to be productive.

Think about it. You might revel in the fact that you can easily set up anywhere with your portable laptop. But doing so right in the middle of the living room means you’re opening yourself up to disaster. The living room is a high-traffic room where kids play, watch the latest blockbuster movie on Netflix and hang around.

In this regard, a dedicated room office with a door should be best. By doing so, you can free yourself of all the distractions by simply shutting the door. You can even put up a BUSY sign outside the door to keep kids away.

For best results, never let the temperature of your home office be left unattended. Study shows the temperature when working can affect your productivity. And that means if you’ve been postponing that AC repair, now should be the best time to let the right professionals in. In the summer months when the climate is sizzling hot, having a working AC is not an option; it’s a must.

Buddy Up

When you’re in a brick-and-mortar office, you have people to interact with while working. They can certainly brighten your day with a chit-chat here and there. But this is not a luxury you can enjoy when working remotely from home. You’re facing the world on your own.

When you’re all alone in your home office facing a task, you can easily slip into that lonesome feeling. In fact, research shows a good 20% of Americans WFH are lonely. That is one of the findings of the 2020 State of Remote Work study.

A good way for you to counter that, find an online buddy or someone with who you can freely chat when feelings of being lonesome attack. Buddy up with someone who’s also working from home. Better yet, create a group chat composed mainly of WFH workers like you.

Structure Your Day

You’ll have to exercise more leadership discipline on yourself when WFH. People at the house aren’t really focused on work and production, unlike a regular office. So you can meet a lot of distractions and resistance along the way. Therefore, planning can play a huge role in your success.

A good way to do that is to plan a day ahead. Think of the thing you need to do both for work and for your precious abode. Prioritize and set a timetable. Once you get yourself a plan, communicate it to your household. When everyone knows what you expect from them, you can best deliver work while at the same time keeping your precious abode a home sweet home.

So, block your working hours ahead of time so you can tell everyone you’re basically out of reach during those times. A good structure can help you achieve more daily.

Zoom Bondings

Also, aim to develop a closer bond with your online teammates. Even if you’re working from home, it certainly doesn’t mean you’re working on your own. A more cohesive team not only speeds up work but also it can boost your morale when working from home. Your work experience heightens.

A good way to achieve such an end is to have a Zoom pizza party. To do that, have the exact same pizza brand delivered to each WFH colleague at the same time. Then, share the experience of eating together in one momentous Zoom party.

That could be the closest thing you can get to bonding in these trying times. But it can surely be a good start to a most productive you while working from home.