Working from home. When I tell my friends that I work from home most days Mon-Fri, they picture something very different from my reality. They imagine lazy mornings, sitting around in your PJs and maybe a spot of daytime TV for entertainment.

Now, don’t get me wrong. There are always going to be days when I do take advantage of the opportunity for a long lunch or move my working day by an hour or so. But I’ve learned the hard way that if I want to have a productive and successful day ‘in the office’, I need to take it seriously.

Whether you’re self-employed or working from home due to the COVID-19 sitation, here’s my tried and tested top tips for working well from home.

Have a dedicated office space

I first discovered the importance of having a dedicated office space when at University. I was studying History and, let me tell you, that required a LOT of self-study time. In my first year I would head to the library to pick up books and set them in a pile on my desk at home.

Where was my desk? Sitting at the bottom on my bed. So the first thing I saw as I fell asleep and the first thing I saw as I woke up was a bit old stack of unfinished work. I’d sleep terribly and did not make me excited to start the day, I can tell you.

It’s the same thing when working at home.

Rule number 1: if you can, try to avoid the bedroom office.

Instead, try to set up a dedicated office space elsewhere, away from where you’ll be hitting the hay at the end of the day. You could try setting up a desk in the living room, at the kitchen table, or maybe (if you’re lucky enough to have one) in a spare room.

Dress Up, Show Up

One of my best friends once told me this:

“No matter how you feel. Get up. Dress up. Show up.”

At the time I thought it was a bit silly. Gimmicky even. But then I slowly learned the power in dressing up for the occasion, no matter how comfy those PJs might be.

Now, I’m not telling you to dress to the nines but I would recommend getting out of those PJs. Even if it’s just to switch into fresh ones!

After working for myself for 3 years, I can confidently tell you this: Those days where I give in to comfort of the ‘soft office’? They’re the least productive days. I often find myself 6 hours into the day with what feels like little to show for it. Super frustrating.

When I do my hair, put on some lipstick and wear a nice top the story is very different. Much like making your bed in the morning, it says to my subconscious “hello, I’m taking this whole thing seriously today”. It’s all about psychologically setting yourself up for the day ahead.

Now, this doesn’t mean you have to always put on those jeans or tailored trousers. Video calls only require you showing up from the waist up. So I’m all for incorporating stretchy waistbands into your look if needed.

Stick to a schedule

“That’s so cool that you’re self employed and work from home. I bet you can set your working hours to whatever you want.”

Exactly what I thought when I started out. But, as I learned, you almost definitely need a structure to your day.

For 99% of us, our bodies crave routine. Going to bed and getting up at the same time each day can ensure you’re making the most of your bodies energy and brain power during the working day. Yes, I’m BIG on sleep being crucial to successful working - whether it’s at home or not.

When I get to the end of the day, that’s it. The laptop is closed and paperwork is tidied away. I try to start and finish work at the same time each day too to really give myself the best chance of working effectively.

Give yourself a break (or 10)

Imagine being in a bustling office. You’re always heading out to grab a coffee or chatting by the water fountain, right? These little breaks we don’t even realise we are having in a typical office are what we miss out on when we’re at home. And they actually are so beneficial to working effectively.

If you’re struggling to get into the swing of taking frequent breaks, try the Pomodoro Technique. No, this doesn’t involve a tasty pasta sauce but it will help you to structure your day. The idea is to work in intervals with breaks in between.

Simply set a timer on your phone for a set amount of time (traditionally 25 minutes but I like to go for a little longer). Then when the timer goes off, that’s it. Whatever you’re doing cut it short right there and then. Set your timer for a quick break and then start all over again.

On days when I’m feeling overwhelmed or struggling to motivate myself, this is the PERFECT tonic. And for every friend that I recommend this to, it gets nothing but positive feedback.

Get Social

The big downside of working for myself is definitely the lack of colleagues to natter to on my breaks. I can’t help but feel that pang of jealousy when I see

But I wouldn’t change it for the world. So I’ve got to come up with alternative ways to get social when working from home. Here’s my top suggestions that are friendly for those social distancing or in self isolation.

1. Join Facebook communities
2. Show up and engage on social media
3. FaceTime your friend on a break
4. Join a community or membership programme
5. Write a blog

Remember, it’s all about finding your groove. Whilst these tips have helped me to work effectively during the day, you might find something else just as useful. Play around a little with your day and access how well you’re working to find your sweet spot.