The Optimum Work From Home Routine

“The conveniences of working from home aren’t always as good as they seem. The lack of commute is fantastic, and it seems that everyone is enjoying the perks of being able to work a little more flexibly. One thing that most people are finding most difficult though is creating a clear work-life balance, and being productive with your whilst at home, which can prove rather challenging at times. To add some structure into your work from home life, you will need to look into creating a new routine. That’s why we’ve put together the optimum work from home routine, including a suggested schedule to help you make the most of your day at home.
How to start your morning
Morning routines are important for everyone, but we know that implementing a clear morning routine can be challenging. Although working from home can encourage you to hit the snooze button several more times, studies have shown that the early bird does in fact get the worm. See our top tips on how to establish a morning routine:

Get up at the same time

There is no doubt that you should take advantage of ditching the alarm clock in the morning, but it is important to avoid an inconsistent sleep schedule. Going to bed at the same time and waking at the same time will help you regulate your circadian rhythm, otherwise known as your ‘body clock’. Getting into the routine of waking up at the same time each day will make you feel more awake in the morning, meaning you start the day feeling positive.

Exercise

It may come to no surprise that starting your day with a bit of exercise is good for you, both mentally and physically. Though it may sound pretty daunting, getting up and spending time exercising in the morning boosts your metabolism. Whether you spend 10 mins doing sit ups, or run for an hour, any exercise is a good way to start the day.

Eat breakfast

Breakfast isn’t known as the most important meal of the day for no reason. Studies have linked eating breakfast everyday to good health and better levels of concentration. With more time in your mornings when working from home, why not spend a little extra time making a meal you wouldn’t normally have when going into work. Take a look at some great breakfast recipes here.

Working hours
Implementing a good work routine is essential in order to be as productive as possible. Although every day differs in terms of tasks and emails, it is always a good idea to follow a schedule. Start by always following your work hours, as well as lunch breaks, so that you are sticking to an important work-life balance. When working, consider logging into your emails once every hour, replying, and then closing the app until the next hour. Minimising distractions such as these will help you get into the habit of focusing on tasks, whilst still ensuring good communication throughout the day.

Be sure to keep an hour for your lunch, with small interval breaks throughout your day. In these breaks, consider reading, going on a run, or simply just having a sit down on the sofa. This will also create a good balance between work and home life, and will help you stay motivated throughout the day.
After work
Not sure how to busy yourself after working hours? Here are some of our tips.

Relax

After work, it is definitely time to relax. Avoid looking at your laptop, and turn yourself off from work. There are many ways that you can do this, such as trying out meditation or spending some time simply relaxing. There are a number of great meditation apps which can help relieve stress and anxiety, which you may have from work. Take a look here for a few examples.

Dinner

Similar to breakfast, with the commute out of your way you will most definitely have more time to start experimenting with cooking. Why not spend some time after work trying out some new recipes in the kitchen for dinner?

Setting a sleep schedule

Setting a sleeping schedule can be hard, especially when you hit the pillow and find yourself lying awake. There are a number of ways you can encourage your body to fall asleep quickly, involving slow breathing methods, avoiding naps during the day, useful sleeping positions, and so on. However, we suggest taking a warm bath or shower, and encouraging yourself to head up to bed sooner rather than later. Bear in mind that adults need roughly 7-9 hours of sleep.

Our routine
Still looking for some inspiration on how to start your working from home routine? We’ve put together a useful daily schedule, so feel free to follow it!

Time

Monday

7:00 AM

Wake up, stretch and take in some exercise before having breakfast

8:00 AM

Shower and prepare for the day

9:00 AM

Start work – check the schedule for the day and make a checklist of tasks

10:00 AM

Take a 5-10 minute break to make a coffee before getting back to work

12:00 PM

Lunch hour begins – make something tasty to eat

3:00 PM

Take another 5-10 minute break. Perhaps play with a pet or step outside for some air

5:00 PM

Finish up work for the day and prepare a list of tasks for the next day

7:00 PM

Cook dinner – why not try a new recipe?

8:00 PM

Take some time to relax – meditate and chill

10 PM

Head to bed – try and unwind and turn off your phone

Working from home with kids? Be sure to check out our other blog here, which uncovers all the best ways to do so productively.”