Like so many people worldwide, you might now be a subscriber to the WFH (Work from Home) philosophy. It is crucial to be ready and have a plan that will help you establish productive habits while also ensuring that you stay healthy and feel good about yourself while working from home!

WFH Tip 1: Establish a Morning Routine

One of the most popular working from home tips is to establish a morning routine! When we aren’t all doing our work from home, most people have a journey to work. We might take them for granted, but these journeys help get you into the mindset for a productive day’s work.

A morning routine can be as simple as making the bed. Feeling a sense of accomplishment can help start the day on a good note. “Clear head, clear mind” is a famous phrase for a good reason! A short meditation might help clear the mind too. In addition, many people benefit from reading or listening to music or podcasts on their commutes; try allotting time for these in your morning routine!

One of the best ways to work from home and still maintain a sense of wellbeing is to have a routine for when you finish work – you don’t want to be distracted by work as you’re heading to bed.

Getting some fresh air has many positive effects; it’s an excellent opportunity for exercise, and the change of scenery can help switch you out of ‘work mode.’ Of course, home workouts or yoga sessions will have similar benefits.

These small routines can positively impact your remote work if you’re concerned about how to work from home effectively.

WFH Tip 2: Set Yourself Rules and Boundaries

There are always distractions when you’re working from home. A working from home tip is to separate your workspace from your living space – but this isn’t always practical in small Japanese apartments. If you can’t separate the spaces, it might help to set up a dedicated working area at the start of the day and disassemble it at the end of your working day.

News and social media can be a big distraction. So, if you’re looking for how to work from home effectively, make sure to set timers for yourself and turn off notifications on your phone.

However, make sure to take breaks and stick to your working hours! If you’re ill, take sick days. Even though you’re at home, you still need time to recover!

WFH Tip 3: Communicate!

We are social animals and thrive off of interacting with people – they can make each day feel unique and eventful. So, please make sure to socialize with your colleagues to make your remote work feel less isolating. Set up ‘break room’ chats to keep in touch.

Organizing casual ‘hang-outs’ after work where you can unwind together can help lift the team’s spirits.

WFH Tip 4: Keep Moving and Look After Your Body

One of the best ways to work from home and stay productive is to keep looking after yourself. But, unfortunately, our motivation to stay healthy can be negatively impacted when you’re doing work from home, especially in a confined space.

Getting out of your house is essential for maintaining good physical and mental health. You can incorporate exercise into your morning and evening routines like walking or riding a bike. During your workday, take small breaks to make yourself a cup of tea and walk around or do 5 minutes of stretching.

Small changes in your work from home space can help you to look after your body. For example, a laptop stand could help with neck pain, and they are relatively low-cost; you can find them on Amazon for as little as ¥1500. There’s a huge variety of ergonomic furniture – it’s worth asking your company if they can provide any of this before you start spending your own money.

One of our working from home tips to stay healthy is to stand while you work. Try out a standing desk. Alternatively, try sitting on an exercise ball instead of a chair. I’ve even heard of people setting their laptops up at treadmills to walk whilst they are working – although I don’t think this is very practical if you need to do a lot of typing!

WFH Tip 5: Keep a Positive Attitude

If you are working from home because of the pandemic, do not be too hard on yourself (or others)! There is a lot of pressure on how to work from home effectively, but ultimately everybody is adapting and trying to cope with the situation.

Though much easier said than done, staying positive is important. There are a lot of pros and cons of working from home so try to focus on the positives. Maybe you get to spend more time with your family – or maybe it’s easier to keep in touch with family abroad. It might give you more time for cooking, exercising, playing music, or anything that keeps you happy. So, make sure your incorporating things into your day that will bring you joy and take the time to appreciate that you can do the things you love.

Experiment to find out what works for you. Working from home can be a great exercise in learning how to adapt to things. It can be an opportunity to get creative and set up some new productive habits.