Is Working From Home Bad For Your Career?
22 May, 2025
How To Be Productive When Working From Home
22 May, 20251 - 2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- How to be productive when working from home.
- Why it is important to be productive when working from home.
- Where the latest jobs are and how to apply for them.
During the pandemic, working from home became the new way of life for many employees across the UK and now flexible working options are much more common in many workplaces. In fact, according to Statista, as of January 2025, around 16% of workers across Great Britain now exclusively work from home and around 62% of UK workers are able to regularly work from home if they opt to.
Working from home can sound like a dream - until the distractions start piling up and you’re getting behind on your work. Between the lure of daytime TV, unexpected household chores, and kids, pets and partners demanding your attention, staying focused and productive can quickly become a challenge.
To ensure that you thrive while working from home it just takes the right structure, mindset, and a few key habits. Whether you're navigating remote work for the first time or looking to refine your routine after months (or years) at home, boosting productivity doesn’t mean chaining yourself to your desk or working longer hours. It means working smarter, setting boundaries, and creating an environment that supports your focus and wellbeing.
Throughout this blog, we’ll dive into practical, actionable tips to help you take control of your workday, minimise distractions, and actually feel accomplished by the end of it.
Our top tips for being productive when working from home
If you find it difficult to work from home, here’s our top 5 tips to make your work life easier and more productive:
- Establish a designated workspace.
- Stick to a routine.
- Communicate with your team.
- Set boundaries for those around you.
- Take advantage of not needing to commute.
Establish a designated workspace
If you regularly work from home, a designated work area is one of the first things you should set up in order to separate your home and work life in your mind.
Not only will this allow you to keep your work belongings tidy, it will also create a specific area for working so that this does not take over your whole house.
When choosing which area of your house to work from, you should consider how many distractions there will be and how much general noise surrounds that area.
Whilst there is nothing wrong with some background noise such as a radio, it is probably not a good idea to use a room with a TV in it, as this could be too distracting and result in you being less productive than usual.
It is also advised that you keep your work area as tidy as possible, just because you are at home and not in the office, you should maintain the same levels of tidiness. We all know the phrase, tidy house, tidy mind!
Some people may also choose to replicate exactly what their office setup looks like. If you have a picture or ornaments on your desk, you may want to add them to your home office
for familiarity.
Stick to a routine
As well as a designated work area, sticking to a daily routine will also make working from home easier and it is likely to increase your productivity.
Your routine should start from when you get up in the morning to when you clock off in the evening. Setting a daily alarm is important and eating a healthy breakfast every morning will help you to fuel the day ahead.
Whilst it may be tempting to stay in your pyjamas when working from home, getting showered and dressed, just as you would for the office, will also help you feel ready for the working day ahead.
Once you have started work, we would recommend that you stick to the same break and lunch times each day so that you have a clear structure and consistency during the working day.
You should avoid taking breaks at your desk, to create a clear separation between work and break periods. Try to get out of the house if you have the time or at least move to another room for a change of scenery. A brisk lunchtime walk can work wonders for boosting afternoon productivity and making sure you are not spending all day indoors.
Communicate with your team
Just because you are working remotely from the rest of your team, it doesn’t mean that you need to be completely cut off from them.
There are still plenty of ways to stay in touch and effectively communicate with your colleagues in order to be productive. Platforms such as Zoom, Slack and Microsoft Teams have become increasingly popular ways for colleagues to stay in touch with each other whilst working remotely. They are also an effective way to reach clients who may be situated at the other end of the country.
Not only is maintaining communication important for the needs of your company, but it is also important so that you don’t start to feel isolated. Loneliness could negatively impact your mental health and subsequently have an effect on your productivity and motivation.
Effective communication between teams who work remotely is the key to ensuring the business runs effectively, goals are met and everyone is on the same page.
Set boundaries for those around you
With many employees opting to work from home, for at least part of their working week, you may find yourself not being the only member of your household doing so.
If this is the case, it is important to set boundaries so that you do not become distracted from your work. You can politely ask that other members of your household do not disturb you during working hours.
If you have found yourself working from home with children in the house, arranging alternative child care could help you to concentrate and be more productive.
However, in some circumstances, childcare isn’t always readily available or affordable.
In these scenarios, we would recommend that you speak to your employer to explain your position and manage expectations. Most employers will understand that working parents have been placed in a difficult situation and they may be more flexible with your working arrangements.
Take advantage of not needing to commute
Even if you prefer working from the office and being surrounded by your colleagues, there are also many perks that come with working remotely. By removing the need to commute to work, you may find yourself saving money, whether this be on public transport or petrol. This money could be used to treat yourself or save for something important, such as a new car or family holiday.
For some employees, the commute to work can be the most stressful part of their day, especially if there are delays on the road or cancellations on buses or trains. Cutting out the commute can result in a better start to the working day and therefore set your day off on the right note and increase productivity.
Why is it important to be productive when working from home?
Remaining productive when working from home rather than the office is essential for ensuring that your professional performance is consistent and that you do not fall behind on work. Just because you are in the comfort of your own home, it does not mean there is an excuse to not to meet deadlines or that your normal work policies do not apply.
If your employer has allowed you to work from home, it means they trust that you will complete your work to a high standard and maintaining their trust is of utmost importance.
If an employer believes that the standard of work has slipped since allowing employees to work from home, they may reverse their decision on this and it might reflect badly on the overall success of a team or individual.
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Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
We operate in two sectors:
In eleven specialisms:
Healthcare, Social Care & Nursing
Corporate Functions & Business Support
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