300 Tips for Working From Home
1. Turn on all the lights in the room you’ve decided to work in. This will stimulate your brain and make you feel like the sunlight is pouring in.
2. Put on regular people clothes. This way, it’ll feel more like you’re at work and not like you’ve rolled out of bed on a weekend.
3. Drink a large glass of water as soon as you wake up. This will rejuvenate your body and give it the hydration you need to work.
4. Take a hot shower for a nice, easy wakeup. It’ll feel like you’re in a romantic comedy and are getting ready to go out to work. Being clean makes us happier. Happiness makes us more productive.
5. Take a cold shower if you’re extra tired. The shock to your system will trigger things in you, you almost wish you hadn’t. You only have to do it for a second, then turn it to warm/hot.
6. Leave spoons in the fridge. Some people may argue that spoons don’t belong there, but they do, in fact. You can place them over your eyes to reduce puffiness.
7. Don’t put your contact lenses in right away. It’ll hurt and damage your eyes if they’re not ready. Wear your glasses for an hour since you’re able to put them in later.
8. Make a smoothie. This will fill your body with nutrients, and you can drink it slowly as you work.
9. Make eggs and toast if you’re hungry and want to feel like you’re at a diner. Carbs will give instant energy.
10. Make an Earl Grey tea, or your favorite black tea. The heat will help your morning throat and the caffeine will jumpstart your day.
11. Eat breakfast next to a window. The natural light will bring you energy and Vitamin D, which can help prevent seasonal depression.
12. Do something stimulating when you wake up, such as reading a novel you’re very into. It’ll make you feel better about being up so early.
13. If you want to wake up slowly and receive passive stimulation, watch an online video or turn on the television. Let the entertainment wake you up.
14. Smell something strong that will jolt you awake, such as cinnamon, or cumin.
15. Go to bed on time. The workday will be much easier and more productive if you’re running on an adequate amount of sleep.
16. Wash your face to get any sleep out of your eyes. The splash of water will also help you wake up.
17. Moisturize so you feel prepared to work. You can’t work properly if your skin is dry and itchy. If you don’t like lotion, get a dab stick.
18. Put on a facemask. It’ll automatically make you feel more productive as your helping both your skin and mind all at once.
19. Wash your hands with soap. You want fresh, clean hand to be able to type with and feel professional. Google how your hands like a surgeon.
20. Write out a to-do list for the day. Once you finish tasks on it, you’ll feel an added sense of accomplishment.
21. Give yourself rewards for completing tasks throughout your day. This will train your body to be excited for self-given reward.
22. Make a makeshift workspace to get the job done. It’ll jar you out of your comfort zone and allow you to focus on your work.
23. Eat appropriate amounts. If you’d normally eat lunch at noon, eat a large lunch when you normally would. You can’t work well on snacks if you’re used to meals.
24. Take breaks to walk around. Stretching your legs will energize your body to work more productively once you sit down.
25. Get up and water your plants occasionally. It helps your brain to know you’re completing a task, and keeping another living being from dying. Watering plants is relaxing, and gives your brain a chance to calm down and think about your day.
26. Do back stretches as you sit. A simple cat-cow (arching your back forwards and backwards) will help limber up your spine.
27. Raise your computer to eye level if you can. It took years to perfect the human spine, and chairs are ruining it.
28. Move around to keep up with your usual calorie burn. If you normally walk around an office at lunch, don’t stop moving just because you’re at home.
29. Workout at lunch or after work to rejuvenate your body. If you move straight from your work desk to the couch, your body will turn into mush.
30. Call a friend on your break. If you’re used to social interaction at work, don’t get lonely. Call your parents, siblings, or best friends and ask them about their day.
31. If you can’t wake up on your own, use caffeine. A great part of working from home is the unlimited supply of coffee and tea.
32. Turn on music in the background. This will help you work better and keep you focused more often than silence. The silence will make you get in your head and the music will break you out of it. Throw in a five-minute dance party for fun and calorie burn.
33. If your back hurts, lie on the couch or your bed to work. There’s no one here to judge your working position, so do what’s best for you.
34. Get a fidget spinner to stay focused. If you’re thinking, playing with it absentmindedly will keep your mind on task. A Rubik’s cube also works.
35. Get a stress ball to squeeze if you’re sweating about a deadline. It’ll let you release some emotion.
36. Get a hand grip to squeeze if your hands get cramped from typing. It’ll flex the muscles and build up wrist strength. Good for arm wrestling.
37. If you have a friend or partner, get them to massage your shoulders as you work. This way, you can still get work done as you destress.
38. Work out as you work. Stand at your desk and do kick backs. Pump iron as you think of ideas.
39. Put on pimple cream so you can fix your face as your work. You can work on yourself physically as you work professionally.
40. Take a walk around the block if you feel like you’re going stir crazy at home. The fresh oxygen will make you feel more awake.
41. Get an ergonomic desk chair to help your posture. It’s very easy to slouch if you’re leaning over a computer all day.
42. If you’re working with other people at home, get some headphones so you can pay your type of music without disturbing them. Buy an expensive pair. They’ll be on your head all day.
43. Friends bothering you? Tell them that you love to chat with them, but you’ll talk to them at your next break because you’re on a roll right now. Most people don’t understand what it means to work from home. They think it’s like a day off. It’s not!
44. If your kids need attention, don’t give in every time. Children must learn how to deal with boredom and stay entertained by themselves.
45. If your child is having a tantrum because they’re bored, put on a movie. It’ll distract them for hours.
46. Eat foods that help you concentrate and nourish your body. Eat a vegetable between bags of chips. Veggies keep you fuller for longer.
47. Play the song Work from Home by Fifth Harmony on repeat until you get the message. For added exercise, learn the dance to the chorus.
48. Wake up early, just as you would for work. Spend that extra time getting mentally prepared for your day.
49. Use a back roller to prepare your body for sitting. Stretch out your muscles and your body will thank you.
50. Put on makeup if it makes you feel like a normal person. If you do it for other people’s benefit, then leave your face clear.
51. If you need to mix up your workday, make iced coffee at home instead of regular. The cool temperature will jolt you awake faster than a hot coffee.
52. Go to a coffee shop or local area to work if you need the extra push. Working around other people can help boost productivity.
53. Tell your friend or partner to slap you if you’re not doing work. It’ll help keep you on your toes and improve your self-defense.
54. Turn off your phone if you can’t keep your hands off of it. Or, put it across the room.
55. If you need your phone for work, just put it on Do Not Disturb. Notifications won’t come up until you feel like checking your phone.
56. Turn your morning commute into a fifteen-minute exercise session. If your commute wakes you up, use another type of movement to wake you up.
57. Listen to podcasts on your breaks to hear human voices. If you’re used to that in the office, it’ll make you feel like you used to.
58. Make new work friends with your roommates or partner. Ask them how their day is going and spread some office gossip.
59. Log out of your social media. This way, you can go on your phone and text people without getting distracted.
60. Don’t clean the entire house just to feel productive. Do work to feel productive and do tiny bits of cleaning in between if you must. It’s always best to pace out the cleaning. Otherwise you get bored and hate it. Just do a tiny bit each day.
61. Set up healthy snacks for yourself so that you don’t gain twenty pounds before leaving the house. Since food is so readily available in the kitchen, it can be hard to resist, but stay strong.
62. Try switching up your lighting if you’re having trouble getting into the zone. Get a natural light lightbulb if you think it’ll help.
63. Don’t get jealous when your work friends move on. If you’re not in the office, who else are they supposed to hang out with?
64. Send your old work friends funny messages to stay in touch. Just because you’re not in the office doesn’t mean you’re not a co-worker.
65. Try to still “commute” when working from home. Make your commute a meditation period. People like the commute because it separates work from home. Try relaxing to separate them mentally.
66. Don’t turn on the news. When you’re working, the most boring news subject will become entertaining.
67. Take a break to play a video game. If you’ve been focusing for a long time, take a quick break to play an online game and get reenergized.
68. Play hangman with your housemate. This quick mind game with release tension and create a nice midday break for everyone.
69. Get a Fitbit, or a smartwatch that tracks your steps. These encourage you to get out of the chair every hour.
70. Make yourself a fancy latte the way your favorite barista would. Have a fake conversation with them. Sounds crazy but it can be fun.
71. Babysit a dog while working from home. You get to snuggle a puppy while making extra cash.
72. Know when the end of your day will be. If you push timelines, you’ll be up all night and will have no free time afterwards.
73. Set a schedule of what you want to accomplish. If you pace yourself, you’ll get more done. If you try it all in one go, you’ll feel drained.
74. Download a time tracking app and set reminders to tell you when you should start a new project.
75. Download apps that track when you’re most productive in the day. Then save the most difficult parts of your job for those times.
76. Turn on music to stop people from bothering you. If your housemate or partner wants to chat, turn on a song and start jamming to end the conversation easily.
77. If you’re self-employed, pay your taxes every quarter. If not, you may get a penalty for underpaying.
78. Tell your housemates or partner you can’t complete the same level of chores during working hours. Just because you’re home doesn’t mean you have unlimited time.
79. Don’t get in fights with housemates. These will distract you from work and make it difficult to concentrate once you get back to it.
80. Take breaks throughout the day as you would at work. It may feel like you’re getting a break just from being at home, but you have to take 15 minutes to turn your brain off every now and then. Try to stay away from electronics when you do this.
81. Leave the building and walk around. If you’d normally get fresh air for lunch at the office, get the same fresh air to stimulate you at home.
82. If you don’t have the proper equipment to work from home, ask your employer to get it for you. If you’re working for them, you need the proper conditions.
83. Set up a separate phone number so that you can have a phone dedicated to work calls. This way, you won’t be distracted with personal matters. You can get a cheap virtual number through Skype and companies like that.
84. Set up a separate work email to respond to. This will help further separate work and personal messages.
85. Set up a VPN (virtual private network) if you’re working in public Wi-Fi. If you’re working with confidential information this would be beneficial.
86. Go to meetings even if you think they’re pointless. It’ll feel good to be part of the team and help contribute to the success of the company. Hold virtual meetings if you don’t want to leave the house. Just make sure whatever you’re using is secure. Don’t want any eavesdroppers!
87. If you’re an extrovert, make sure you’re still spending time with other humans. Eat lunch with friends or call your family.
88. If you own your own business, get insurance on orders coming to the house. Your personal insurance may not claim everything if it’s stolen.
89. Get to know the new people. You don’t want to get left behind just because you’re not physically in the office.
90. Go to office Zoom parties. While they may be optional, they’re strengthen your working relationships and make things more fun.
91. Stay in touch with your boss. A daily phone call or text is enough to let them know you’re still there and working.
92. Throw a holiday party for you and your colleagues who work from home on Zoom. It’ll be a fun break.
93. Take sick days even if you’re working from home. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean your brain power won’t be weakened.
94. Ask if the training that happens in person for other employees can happen for you online. You don’t want to get left behind.
95. Tell people when you’re available, because they can’t see you. Let them know via email you’re ready to work.
96. Sound extra positive emailing coworkers you don’t see every day. If they don’t understand your syntax, you may come off as rude.
97. Don’t joke around with colleagues you don’t know. If they don’t understand your humor, they’ll be very confused and may report you.
98. Send donuts/coffee to the office to remind the team of your existence. You may not be there in person, but you’re working just as hard as them.
99. Use the perks of working from home. Spend ten minutes prepping a meal that will take two hours to slow cook. You’ve got time.
100. Don’t get too down on yourself if you get distracted. It happens to everyone. Just pick up your feet and do the extra work.
101. Go for a walk when your workday is over to simulate an ending routine. Pretend it’s your commute of waiting for the bus.
102. Place a pillow on your chair and behind your back. It’s comfier and helps with your posture.
103. Facetime with someone else also working from home. It’ll make you feel like you have coworkers and will keep you on your toes.
104. Tell your company what your working hours are. Keep them strict so that you don’t receive work emails outside of work hours. Don’t accuse your boss of time theft, but don’t let them get away with it either.
105. Understand that you may not be able to rise in the ranks from home. It can be difficult to form those connections, so you’ll have to try extra hard from home.
106. Be extra nice to coworkers. Sometimes they can be envious of your ability to work from home, so don’t let them talk poorly about you at work.
107. Work outside if weather permits. The fresh air will give you extra oxygen to work more productively.
108. Use LinkedIn to your advantage. Since you’re working from home without coworkers, network online and make your own.
109. Save on food, because you can. You aren’t forced to eat out every day, so take advantage and save for retirement. It’s also healthier.
110. Get in touch with your relatives. You can’t call them up when you’re at the office, but now that you’re home you can on your breaks.
111. Find a friend who’s good at IT before your system crashes. If your computer breaks down, they’ll be your only hope. It’s always good to have your support network ready to access before the problem hits. Don’t lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.
112. If you’re working from home for yourself, make sure to do all the proper paperwork. Then, if you go out of business, at least you can apply for unemployment insurance.
113. Get in the mindset of an entrepreneur, even if you’re not. Huge businesses have been built in basements out of sheer will and no fancy office.
114. Get your laundry done while you work. It takes five minutes to put it in, and five to take it out. Use it as your break. You could also water the plants!
115. Reach out to others who aren’t sure how to work from home. They may need guidance. Share ideas!
116. Shower in the morning if you normally do on weekdays. Don’t act like it’s a weekend. It’s a work day.
117. Take advantage of the extra family time. Instead of getting coffee on your break, you can ask your daughter how school was.
118. Order in food once a week so you don’t burn out on cooking. If you can afford it, support your local businesses.
119. Make enough food at lunch to eat at dinner. This way, you’ll cut down on cooking time afterwards and will have extra “me” time.
120. Go for a walk and do some work in a park. If you don’t have a laptop, try to do some work on your phone. There are lots of great programs for this.
121. Make sure you drink enough water throughout the day. When you’re at home, you may not feel like you have to take care of yourself, because everything is readily available, but that’s how you become dehydrated.
122. Set a task reminder on your phone so that you can manage your time better. If you’re used to a boss telling you what to do, your phone is your new boss.
123. Don’t sit at your kitchen table when you’re working, if you have the option. Dedicating a space just for work will help get you in the zone.
124. If you have a room with a door, close it. Shutting out distractions from the beginning is easier than telling your loved ones to leave you alone.
125. Ask your partner to trade massages on your breaks. Hand massages work wonders for typing.
126. Light a candle to get the room in the right essence. It’ll remind you of studying and put you in the right mindset to finish your goals.
127. Play classical music in the background to help you focus. Music without lyrics is great for both studying and working from home.
128. Eat a large breakfast, because you can. Use the extra time you have in the morning to get extra energy in the form of calories.
129. Set up a cooking timer and try to beat your records of how fast you can work. Like studying for the LSAT.
130. Give yourself a chocolate for every goal you meet. Keep the goals list low, so that you don’t gain ten pounds
131. Sing songs as if you’re performing to an audience. This will raise your dopamine levels and allow you to work harder.
132. Don’t spend your breaks staring at the computer. If your job is electronic, your eyes will need a break. Buy a nice painting and stare at that.
133. Ask your employer what their expectations are if your work is different at home than it is in the office. Maintain communication to make sure needs are being met.
134. Ask your employer what office equipment is being provided. Are they giving you a work laptop or expecting you to provide one on your own? Make sure to get compensated for consumables you use at home. (Printer paper, etc.)
135. If you work extra hours, let them know. They won’t be able to tell if you stay late now, so you’ll have to email them when you’re done for the day to show you did extra work.
136. Get some office plants to keep around you. You get to look at them, water them, and breathe in their extra oxygen. They also lower stress.
137. Make sure you don’t have distractions when on a Skype or Zoom meeting. They may not care once or twice, but if it keeps happening, they’ll question your professionalism. Avoid silly backgrounds. To you they’re funny, to your boss their childish.
138. Start working from home once or twice a week to start. This way, you’ll get acquainted with it instead of doing it all at once. Try to avoid going full-time working from home right the start. You need time to acclimate.
139. Learn what your work style is. If you like to work in spurts, take lots of breaks. If you like to work consistently, pace yourself and take fewer breaks.
140. Make adjustments even if you didn’t think you’d have to. You may have studied well to One Direction in college, but now you may need to put white noise on in the background. People change.
141. Invest in comfortable working shoes. You won’t feel like wearing dress shoes, but a comfy shoe will make you feel more professional.
142. Get a back roller to keep beside your working area. Stretching out your back muscles will do wonders for your state of mind.
143. Turn a fan on if you need some white noise. It’s more common than a white noise machine in a pinch.
144. Play a wakeup song you know will get you in the mood to get ready. You’ll eventually end up hating this song, but it’ll work in the beginning.
145. Drink coffee as soon as you wake up, then go back to sleep for fifteen minutes (on a timer). Either you’ll naturally wake up energized or your timer will get you up, but in both scenarios, you’ll be raring to go.
146. Buy a timed coffee machine. You can set a timer for when you want your coffee to be ready, so you can rise awake to the scent of coffee.
147. If your children are bothering you, try showing them what you’re working on. If they understand your task, they may be more inclined to respect your working time.
148. Ask for help if you need it. Everyone isn’t expected to be completely disciplined right away. Ask for tips from a trusted co-worker. Especially if you know one that’s experienced at working from home.
149. Pack your lunch beforehand if you normally do. Then, you won’t have to spend your lunch break cooking and can relax while eating your lunch.
150. Being alone can be daunting. It’s often underestimated as a minor inconvenience, but it can take a psychological toll. Make sure you still get some human interaction.
151. Stepping away from work is important for productivity. You don’t work the entire time you’re in the office, so take breaks to help your mental flow.
152. It’s common to feel the need to overcompensate to prove something from working from home but be careful not to drain yourself with no breaks.
153. If you liked to work in different spots around the office, from conference rooms to lobbies, try it at home. Try moving to different areas if it works for you.
154. If you need to do some deep thinking, find a nice quiet place to be alone with your thoughts. Silence is better for thinking.
155. If you need to do busy work, have some noise in the background. This way, you won’t get sidetracked.
156. Preserve some places to be just for relaxing. That way, when your workday is over you can destress comfortably in a separated space.
157. Don’t start earlier just because you don’t have a commute. Use this extra time to hang with your friends, family, or yourself.
158. Set boundaries before you work with your family. Don’t let them bother you throughout the workday unless it’s very important.
159. Set boundaries with your boss for when your time off is. You should have breaks of personal time even if you’re working from home.
160. Show your face in Skype meetings. It communicates what you’d like to better than just a phone call.
161. Create a discussion channel for the employees. If you miss joking around with your coworkers, make a place you can send memes and jokes.
162. Make a discussion board for work-related questions you may have. This way, everyone can collaborate as a team for work-related issues.
163. Download apps like Water Cooler or House Party to easily interact with coworkers in a casual setting. You’ll feel more like you’re at work. FaceTime is also great, although it doesn’t have any games or stress-reliving activities. Those are important.
164. If you work better with more sleep, sleep through your commute. Start later and work later and you’ll be home the same time as your commute would get you home.
165. Restrict work to a specific number of hours per day. Or else, you’ll keep working afterwards and will take up your personal hours.
166. Finish the more difficult tasks first. If you think a task will take longer than expected, get it over with early.
167. If your kids are home instead of daycare, you’re doing two jobs at once. If you can, find a babysitter to distract your kids while you work.
168. Don’t let outside stressors affect your work. If there’s nothing you can do about something, don’t overthink it.
169. Take breaks to close your eyes for a couple of minutes. Staring at a screen for so long will give a headache if you don’t give your eyes a rest.
170. Eat baby carrots with hummus to help you stare at a screen. The carrots will help your eyesight (vitamin A) and hummus is delicious.
171. Find a quick gym class online that you can do on your breaks. It’ll help divide your day into healthy sections.
172. Get an elastic band. Put it on your wrist and snap it every time you feel distracted. It’ll snap your thoughts out of it.
173. Focus on your task at hand. Decide that you want to focus on it for half an hour, then reward yourself.
174. Think of your focus as a muscle you can grow. If you try hard enough you can train yourself to get in the zone.
175. If you can focus in sports, use the same tactics to focus in your work. Get in the head space to win at your task.
176. Take a minute to sit down and calm your brain before your task. A small meditation circuit can stop your brain from getting distracted.
177. Put a stop sign on your door so your kids/family know you’re working. Take it down when you’re on a break or are done working for the day. This way they won’t disturb you as much.
178. Plan out your goals for the day, week, and month. Once you reach them, it’ll feel good to know you’re getting the same, or more, work done at home than in the office.
179. Turn off your email if you need to get a task done. If you’re in the groove of working, and have to stop to respond to emails, it’ll take your head out of the zone.
180. Make sure your workspace isn’t too warm, or you’ll start to feel sleepy. You don’t want to feel that comfortable working.
181. But at the same time, make sure your workspace isn’t too cold, or you’ll be distracted and uncomfortable. You can’t type if you’re rubbing your hands together to stay warm.
182. Take dance breaks with your family or housemate. This will bring back dopamine and stretch your body. It only takes a couple of minutes. If you don’t have a housemate, do a quick dance routine from YouTube. There’s lots of fun videos.
183. If you feel too distracted, take a break. Focus on your distraction for a couple of minutes, like responding to a text, and get it out of your system.
184. Your mind will lose focus over time. Once you realize this, you can help it by taking short breaks to reenergize.
185. If you’re listening to a conference, try doodling. It’ll help distract the fidgeting part of your brain so you can focus on listening.
186. Tap your foot while you work. It helps keep your boredom away and keeps your brain focused.
187. Eat plants to help increase your brain power. It’ll give you natural energy to get through the day.
188. Try not to eat sugar throughout the day. The energy will be burned through fast and you’ll be left with a sugar low.
189. Keep your personal problems in check. Try to live a happy life and you won’t be as distracted trying to get work done.
190. Eat some dark chocolate if you have a craving. It has components that increase blood flow to your brain.
191. Take iron supplements when you wake up. If your body is low on iron, you’ll feel like you’re going to pass out instead of work.
192. Drink caffeine, but not sugar. The caffeine will help you stay awake, but the sugar will provide no nutritional value and is just hidden to make it taste better. Try some black coffee. Don’t add ten scoops of sugar or five tablespoons of milk. That’s not coffee. That’s a dessert.
193. If you’re feeling stressed, caffeine will only cause you more anxiety. Be careful of how much coffee you drink if you’re jittery, as it’ll only get worse.
194. Try listening to opera/classical music to distract you while you work. Some people find the sound of rain is helpful as well. You want something to keep your subconscious busy.
195. Take Bacopa (a herb) to enhance your memory and concentration. It’s found in many brain supplement formulas you can take.
196. Don’t try to do multiple things at once. Your brain will get exhausted and you’ll lose pure concentration.
197. Don’t tackle multiple projects at once, or you’ll get stressed. Stress in the long-term reduces productivity.
198. Focus on your mental health above work. Since long-term stress can cause parts of your brain to shrink, it is important to keep your cool in a stressful environment.
199. Keep your working environment free of clutter. It can affect your ability to concentrate, even if you think you’re above it. Cleanliness is next to godliness. For cleaning tips, check out Marie Kondo’s book.
200. Most people hold their breath when they check emails especially. Don’t worry, you can handle whatever is about to be thrown at you. Don’t hold your breath.
201. Take breaks to practice yoga. This will link your mind and body together and can be extremely effective in helping reinstate concentration.
202. Remember to breathe deeply. Many people stop breathing when they concentrate, but that literally stops oxygen from going to your brain. Break up your workday with some yoga breathing meditation. Take some deep breaths. Concentrate on relaxing.
203. If you feel physical anxiety from work, remember to take breaks and do breathing exercises. You don’t want a stomach-ache to stop you from getting work done.
204. Gaze out a window occasionally. Just looking at grass for forty seconds can increase your concentration. No windows? Go for a walk. Even just 15 minutes in nature is great for morale.
205. If you don’t have a window, look at your desk plant for a minute. It’ll help relax you and remind you of the outdoors. This way, your entire life won’t feel like you’re stuck inside.
206. If you’re asked to complete more than one task, ask your boss which one they’d like to be done. If you have too many tasks, you’ll be overwhelmed. So, make them make the decision on which project is the priority.
207. Divide a specific time for each task. If you spend extra time on one task, you’ll be rushing to complete the next ones.
208. If you feel your mind wandering, get up and explore. It wants what it can’t have, so if you indulge in it, it’ll become satisfied. Stay away from the computer though. You don’t want to get sucked in to social media.
209. Don’t freak out if you aren’t working as well as you want to. Sit down, devise a schedule, and complete your tasks. Panicking will only take up more time and lessen concentration.
210. Use your brain for fun sometimes. Do a sudoku or crossword. It’ll remind you that working can be fun and using your brain is fulfilling.
211. Actively listen in conversations with people. Don’t try to always think of what to say, just respond to what you’re hearing.
212. Practice your social skills if you’re on your computer all the time. Face to face interaction is still important.
213. Talk to people within your business even if you work from home. Shoot them a message and network even if you can’t get direct facetime.
214. Find stimuli that are more than just screens (your phone) on your break. Your brain needs to get excited about real life moments as well.
215. Marie Kondo your desk space. Get rid of anything on your desk that doesn’t bring you joy (don’t throw out your work.)
216. Use highlighters on your notes for added benefit in memorization. Your eyes will catch these phrases better and help you remember.
217. Write down your tasks for each day in a binder. Even if your work isn’t fun, the way you organize it can be.
218. Set realistic goals on what you want to achieve for the day. If you set goals like “as much as you can” you’ll feel disappointed for not meeting an unrealistic requirement.
219. Put a purpose to every minute. If you’re working, work. If you’re relaxing, relax. Trying to do both results in unproductivity where you don’t get to do either.
220. Have a chat with your friend if you need help dealing with stress. Sometimes even just expressing yourself is helpful, they don’t have to say anything in return.
221. Write in a journal about the work issues you’re having, if they exist. This way, you won’t think of them the entire time and can mentally leave them on the backburner.
222. Join a blog that discusses working from home. Talking to strangers trying to do the same thing as you will give you a feeling of camaraderie.
223. Use online resources to help you work if you can. There are more apps than ever to help with any type of problem. If you’re already part of an online community (any type) ask them for tips. Someone in the group probably works from home.
224. If you’re doing research for a company, pretend it’s a school project. Go back to your old ways and recall how you used to function. Projects are a lot more fun than work.
225. If you must make a presentation at home, use Prezi. This online platform makes it easy to share your content, rather than having to save it as a PDF like PowerPoint.
226. If you must do a presentation online, practice first. Just saying what you’re planning on saying out loud first will help you decide if it sounds adequate.
227. If you’re doing a presentation, start out strong. Say exactly what you plan on doing before people on the other end fall asleep.
228. If someone asks you a question that stumps you in a presentation, say “That’s a good question.” It’ll give you time to think and recoup.
229. If you’re presenting, prepare for follow up questions. Present for your friends and family first and see which questions naturally arise.
230. In a presentation, paste photos to keep the audience engaged. Lots of people are visual thinkers.
231. If you’re presenting in person, keep the word count to a minimum, but in an online presentation add more words. If people aren’t following along, they’ll need the extra resources.
232. If you’re presenting, try to keep the slide count as low. People will start to feel disengaged after 10 slides.
233. Add a joke to your presentation to connect with your audience. Professors put memes in their presentation for their students for a reason. Entertaining is important. People hate hearing a hard truth, unless it’s followed by a funny joke.
234. Use your best animated voice during a presentation. People don’t want to listen to a dull documentary. Make it an exciting thriller, no matter the subject. Your job isn’t just to inform, it’s to entertain and keep their attention.
235. Speak as slowly as possible in a presentation. Speaking quickly is a sign of nerves, so show your audience how confident you are.
236. Make eye contact with the computer if it’s an online presentation. You obviously can’t look people in the eye, but you shouldn’t be looking down at your papers the whole time.
237. If you’re trying to explain a difficult concept, see if you can explain it to a toddler. Smart people can explain complicated stuff to kids.
238. Add extra, personalized parts to your online presentation. If you’re just reading it and staying on script, it won’t feel natural or interesting. Throw in some anecdotes, jokes, stories, music, etc. Keep them interested in your presentation.
239. Try to be loud even if you’re doing an online presentation. You don’t want people, especially those hard of hearing, having trouble understanding you.
240. If you’re presenting online, don’t talk with your hands if you don’t normally. It’ll look obviously unnatural.
241. Try not to use the words “um” in a presentation. It’ll make it seem like you didn’t practice or that you’re nervous.
242. Make sure the online presentation works before you present it. Nothing looks less professional than technical difficulties.
243. Don’t forget to breathe if you’re presenting online. Many people hold their breath when they’re nervous.
244. Write down key words that will jog your memory throughout an online presentation. This way, you won’t have to read off the slides.
245. Apologize if you misspeak in an online presentation. If you’re wrong, admit it. Trying to dance around it never works.
246. If you’re researching new material, teach yourself how to learn. Once you learn one card game, it’s easier to learn another. The same works for basic concepts.
247. Try to have fun if you’re conducting an online presentation. This may be the only human interaction you’ll get.
248. Try to find value in the work you’re doing, even if it’s not enjoyable. It’s probably teaching you how to concentrate and persevere through boredom, which is a skill.
249. Focus on building your confidence if you’re uncertain of new material. That’s the first step in easily learning and mastering new content.
250. Always stay positive! Enjoy the alone time. Get to know yourself.
251. If you’re making an online presentation, pick a visually appealing template. Don’t be unprofessional.
252. Choose your font carefully when doing a presentation. Different fonts convey different meanings. Never use Comic Sans!
253. Use cool, subdued colors for an online presentation over flashy, childish ones. It’ll be less eye catching, but more professional.
254. If you’re writing emails to colleagues, get extra courteous. A simple smile emoji could brighten their day if they also work from home.
255. Practice your online presentation with a timer. If they’re supposed to be under fifteen minutes, make sure you’re not going over.
256. If you think you’re speaking too quickly in a presentation, try mimicking Barack Obama. A great presenter who speaks extremely slowly.
257. Take deep breaths and pauses during an online presentation. It’ll help people absorb more information.
258. If you’re on a conference call, go to a room by yourself. Having friends or family in the room can make you feel self-conscious.
259. Get a Bluetooth headset to easily respond to calls without stopping work. You can walk around and talk while researching on your phone.
260. Try recording how you sound on tape if you’re making an online presentation. This way, you’ll get to see what the people will hear and can make adequate changes.
261. Look around your screen as if you’re looking around the room in an online presentation. It’ll look like you’re looking at people’s faces.
262. Raise and lower your voice in an online presentation so it doesn’t sound monotone. Try to get everyone engaged. Ask questions. Get people to participate. People love to talk, so give them a chance.
263. Create an activity people can do at home if you’re making an online presentation. If you make your presentation interactive, it’ll be that much more compelling.
264. Practice what you’re going to say in an online presentation in front of a mirror. It’ll help you feel like you’re talking to someone and see how your hands move.
265. Dress the best, from the waist up. If you have to present, you have to look A+ on the top half, but can still wear sweats on the bottom half.
266. Prepare questions you want to ask the audience if you’re doing an online presentation in advance. Put them on the spot, not you.
267. If you’re in a bad mood working, try watching a funny video to lighten your mood. Five minutes will make a huge difference.
268. Don’t forget to eat healthy. You probably need less calories if you’re working from home.
269. Paint your toenails on your break. This is the perfect time to let your feet rest as you relax and work from home (only top half matters, remember).
270. Set up a foot soak while you work. Put a tub of hot water under your desk and get a relaxing soak as you work on your computer.
271. If you’re doing an online presentation, use simple transitions between slides. Dissolving font is not professional no matter how you spin it.
272. If you’re presenting online, add a video to concisely explain a subject. This will let you have a small break.
273. Use charts and visuals in your work if you’re preparing a report. These will help your clients and bosses understand the material and impact.
274. Organize a work from home squad. Get other people who work from home to come over and have your very own coworkers. Maybe set up a FaceTime group but mute it so you don’t get distracted. Even just seeing people can be encouraging.
275. Train your body how to de-stress like an athlete. Try to work yourself up, then touch the back of your neck and try to calm down.
276. Let out your emotion if you’re stressed. Take five minutes to cry and you’re stress levels will decrease.
277. Go for a ten-minute walk around the block every couple of hours and don’t think about work. When you come back, it’ll be like a fresh start.
278. Determine which part of work is stressing you out. Once you figure that out you can learn how to deal with it. Creating a plan of action!
279. If your boss is stressing you out, talk to them about it. Explain your situation and how stress makes you less productive, rather than more.
280. If the workload is stressing you out, create an organized timeline. Doing ten percent of the work in an hour is a lot less daunting than an entire project in eight.
281. Try to physically laugh. If you like cat videos, find one. If you have a funny friend, facetime them. Your body automatically feels better after laughing.
282. Try to lower your heart rate. If you have a Fitbit or Apple watch, you can track this easily. If not, just feel your pulse and take deep breaths. It’ll help calm you down.
283. Visualize yourself working hard. Try to have a slightly out of body experience and watch yourself working with a passion. This will make you want to be like that.
284. Depending on what you eat, your stress will be higher or lower. If you don’t feel full, your brain automatically freaks out because it needs nourishment, from a basic point of view.
285. Buy as many plants as you can. Being in a room full of plants literally drops your blood pressure and triggers calmness.
286. Try to turn off screens at night if you’re on your computer all day. Too much screen time has been linked to depression, especially at night.
287. Find someone to cuddle. Cuddling makes you feel loved and your body produces hormones that will make you feel better almost instantly.
288. Make out with your significant other. Kissing releases endorphins and will decrease your stress levels.
289. If you’re stressed about starting work on time, make an active effort to wake up earlier. While it’ll be hard at first, the pay off will be worth it.
290. Work out before you start working. You’ll definitely be awake after an intense workout, especially if you’re someone who has trouble waking up.
291. Use a toothbrush to brush your skin. This may seem strange, but occupational therapists use dry brushes to soothe their patients. The physical touch will bring down your stress levels.
292. Chew gum. Getting out your frustration on a small piece of bubble gum surprisingly works. You can reduce stress hormones just from chewing.
293. Go on an errand. If you’re worried about something later in the day, like picking up groceries, do it now. Then, you won’t be thinking about it for the rest of the day.
294. Wish for your dreams to come true. If you close your eyes and think about your goals, it’ll help you understand and appreciate why you’re doing the work in the first place.
295. Count down from one hundred in your head. By the time you reach fifty, you’ll probably be bored of counting, but it’ll have calmed you down and lowered your stress.
296. Try grounding yourself if you’re freaking out. Name five things you see, four things you see, three things you hear, two things you smell, and one thing you taste. It’ll help stop an anxiety attack if one is coming.
297. Find someone to hug. If you don’t have anyone, buy a heated body pillow that will hug you back. It’ll feel just like a human but won’t judge your outfit.
298. Move back home. If you’re allowed to work from home, try moving in with your parents. You’d automatically have food, friends who love you (your parents), and entertainment at the ready.
299. Try to go away on the weekends. If you’re home for work every day, don’t stay at home on the weekends as well. You’ll become a homebody who never gets to see real people anymore.
300. Buy a rocking chair to work in. You can rock and improve your posture, as it will move your spine back and forth. Plus, the mild exercise of rocking releases endorphins and will improve your mood.
