6 essential tips for working from home

Whether you work from home full-time or just one or two days a week, here's how to stay focused, motivated, and connected.

During and after the pandemic, millions of employees said goodbye to hour-long (or longer) commutes and began working remotely. Even though many employees have since returned to their offices, remote and hybrid work arrangements are now permanent fixtures of the U.S. workplace.

Working remotely has certain advantages, such as greater employee autonomy and improved work-life balance. And the flexibility of remote work can be a great option for parents, caregivers, and students. At the same time, some workers struggle with motivation and social isolation when working from home.

So the question that arises among workers is how to thrive in a remote or hybrid work environment. Below are some recommendations for working remotely, whether you have been working remotely for several years or are just starting in your professional career.

Be clear about expectations

Before working remotely, you and your employer should come up with a set of work principles, says Nadia Harris, founder of a remote-work-focused website. Nadia recommends workers ask their employers the following questions:

• What are the working hours?

• What is the expected response time to emails?

• Will I be expected to work nights or weekends?

"Anything that is not clear should be explained so that there is no conflict," Harris adds. Also, find out if your employer has a specific policy for working from home.

Create a comfortable workspace

The layout of your home office can affect your productivity. Choose a room with good lighting and equip it with an ergonomic chair, says Harris. To avoid unnecessary body strain, make sure your monitor is positioned at an appropriate height (i.e., you don't have to hunch over a laptop).

"Working from bed or a chair is not an option," Harris says. "It's very important that you remain seated in a position that won't cause long-term damage."

Separate work from free time

Experts recommend designating a room or area of ​​your home as a workspace to ensure that your work life and personal life remain separate. "The brain needs external cues to enter work/focus mode and personal/relaxation mode," explains Yuxin Sun, a licensed psychologist in Seattle.

When we don't set boundaries between our work and personal lives, we can end up procrastinating or having difficulty concentrating on work and lower motivation, Sun says. Plus, we might not find time to truly rest and replenish.

Schedule regular check-ins

When you agree on your work principles, you and your employer should also agree to meet regularly to check in on your progress and make sure you are meeting expected benchmarks. Through these check-ins via video conferencing software or traditional phone calls, you can measure performance against set goals. Adjust your original plan if necessary.

Take action if you don't feel motivated

When you work alone all day, it's normal to not have the energy and enthusiasm of your colleagues to motivate you.

We all go through moments of low motivation from time to time. If you start to feel burned out, “the most important question I would recommend asking a remote worker is, ‘What is the biggest contributing factor to my waning motivation right now?’” according to Sun. “Once you have an answer, seek guidance from management, coworkers, trusted friends and family, and professionals.”

Connect and learn from other peers' experiences

Remote work can make networking difficult as casual interactions, such as classic “office chats” and after-work get-togethers, don’t come naturally.

Maintain regular communication with your coworkers when you're working remotely, so you don't feel disconnected or isolated. Harris recommends remote workers explore various online workshops and "learn over lunch" sessions offered by their employer or industry professional organizations. Sun recommends finding creative ways to build personal and casual connections with coworkers outside of work. "Find out if any coworkers live in your area and schedule a co-working time at a coffee shop to catch up on your personal lives," she adds.

Whether you work from home full-time, or just a few days a week, communication and motivation are the keys to successfully managing work responsibilities remotely. Put these tips into practice and you'll excel in your profession.