3 Easy Tips to Create a Work From Home Schedule

Working remotely… for plenty of people that’s the ideal scenario, right? The good news is that working from home is informal and largely without structure. The bad news: Working from home is informal and largely without structure—hah.

Though we’ve happily ditched our commutes, ironing boards, and elevator small talk, the office environment admittedly provided a more predictable schedule. These days, the line between work life and personal life is blurred: You forget about lunch when there isn’t anyone around you who’s also taking a break, or you’re still pounding away at the keyboard past 6 p.m. when you no longer have to beat rush hour traffic. Sound familiar? 

Whether you’ve been working from home for years or the pandemic has recently thrown you into a remote situation, it’s a good reminder that creating a schedule can help maintain your productivity and give you a much-needed mental break. Everyone will have a different comfort level as to what works for them, but here are a few places to start:

Determine your working hours
Create a morning routine where you mark the start of your work day (e.g. make a cup of coffee). Then, break up your work schedule into “shifts.” For most people, your working hours might look something like 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m. At the end of the day, completely shut down your computer (it makes it less tempting to quickly log back on) and create a little ritual that has you looking forward to something, like a quick walk around the block (your mini “commute” home!).

Avoid procrastination
Without your manager or coworkers randomly stopping by your desk, it makes it easy to get distracted with something funny on YouTube or scrolling mindlessly on Instagram. But giving into these temptations during the work day is probably attributing to logging in longer hours. Start by setting your phone on airplane mode and starting fresh with a new internet browser window (those 29 tabs would make anyone anxious). Also, get to the root of the issue as to why you’re procrastinating: Maybe you have too much on your plate or the task at hand is too overwhelming. Try breaking it down into mini tasks to make your day more manageable. Use the Poppin Assorted Task Pads to recommit yourself to your to-do list.

Schedule breaks

You’re not a robot that can work hours on end—everyone needs breaks to refresh and perform their best. Make break times official by blocking off the time on your work calendar and/or setting yourself as "Away" or "Do Not Disturb" on your company’s communication platforms like Slack. Jot it down on your Poppin Jumbo So Long Weekly Task Pad as a physical reminder (because, let’s be honest, you won’t take your break otherwise!). Use these times to do the things that will keep you healthy and happy: do a short workout, have a snack, or call your mom. Try a shorter 15-minute break in the morning, and a longer one (20-30 minutes) in the afternoon, if your schedule allows. Some days it might just mean a quick stretch at your desk and that’s okay!

It might take some time to figure out what’s best for you, but creating a schedule while working from home can be a game-changer for productivity.