Home office guide | How to stay disciplined while working from home

Office environments are designed for productivity, and that's why they're mostly distraction-free. Most companies ban social networking, video streaming, and other productivity hogs on their networks. This will not be the case when you work from home. Now, you have access to the entirety of the internet, and it comes with its fair share of distractions. Contrary to what the voice in your head tells you, you generally do not need to check Twitter/Facebook/Reddit for "work." If you think you lack the willpower to do so, some browser extensions might help. Block Site on Chrome and Firefox allows you to block certain websites for specific periods. If browser extensions don't do it for you, you might have to resort to more extreme measures like blocking websites from your router.

Another source of distraction will be your phone. Now that everyone is home, a lot of people will be active on their phones for longer than usual. The only phone that should stay near you is your company-provided phone, and that too only if it is essential for work. If possible, use a different number for work-related purposes on a different phone. It's best if your personal phone stays away from you. No, switching off all notifications and Do Not Disturb mode isn't nearly enough. I'd recommend that you put your device in a drawer or another room altogether.

A dedicated workspace will help you get in the proper headspace for work. This also has a lot to do with reducing the number of distractions. A quiet place with only you and your PC/laptop is better than lounging on your couch with the TV blaring in the background. If possible, pick an area of your house that has access to direct sunlight and a window. One of the disadvantages of working in an office complex is that you might not get much sunlight or fresh air, so you might as well get your dose of both while you can. It is also essential that your workspace is clutter-free. Take some extra effort to ensure that your equipment doesn't gather dust and don't leave things lying around. Treat your workspace as you would your office cubicle.

Your dedicated workspace must have only work-related elements. It means that you can't have your pets around because let's face it, they will distract you. Putting up a photo of your cat asleep next to your laptop titled "this is my WFH companion for today" might be an effective strategy to farm Karma on Reddit, but it is not a productivity hack.

Ideally, you should be practicing these even when you're working out of an office. Work is work, and it is not meant to be fun. It will tire you out, which, in turn, affects your productivity. Additionally, sitting in one place for extended periods is not ideal for your body. Usually, a fitness tracker would keep you covered in this regard. If you don't have one, set a one-hour timer on your PC with a note that reminds you to get off your chair. Some basic stretches and torso twists will be enough to get the blood pumping again. Walk around a little, refill your water bottle and take a breather. If possible, take a long gaze out of the window and focus on a distant object. It'll help reduce the strain on your eye muscles. It's also essential that you maintain a correct posture while working for extended periods. This rule applies to when you work from an office too.

Working from home means that you're (mostly) isolated from your co-workers. You'll realize rather quickly that a video conference doesn't quite have the same effect as an in-person meeting. This can be a bit disheartening for some. There isn't a one size fits all solution for this predicament. One can go about it in several ways, such as keeping in constant touch with your co-workers, increasing interaction with family and friends (only when you're off the clock), meditation, breathing exercises, motivational videos, etc. Lastly, avoid stress eating, or try to keep it to a minimum. Remember, we're all in this together and must work in tandem to ride through these tough times.