Working from home might seem fun from an outsider’s perspective, but there’s more to it than what meets the eye. It’s easy to “just quickly put a load of washing in” or to catch up on a couple of hours of sleep while a little robot moves your mouse so you appear available. While you need discipline, a routine also helps your mind from wandering to things that might not be as productive during your working hours.

It might be tempting to lie in bed until the very last minute when you work remotely. While indulging yourself on rare occasions is acceptable, we suggest you become more disciplined and get up at the same hour every day.

You don't have to get up early; simply set your alarm at whatever hour is reasonable and convenient for you. It sounds pretty cheesy, but when you work from home, routine is your best friend.

It would help if you established a boundary between your personal and professional lives.

Avoid signing in immediately - unless it's an emergency, your inbox and Slack messages can wait until you're ready to begin working. Try not to spend too much time idly looking around social networking sites. Reduce your screen time as much as possible, but keep in mind that you'll receive plenty of it while working.

People have long believed that the capacity to multitask was just something they possessed and that it was beneficial. As it turns out, neither of these statements is correct. Multitasking is not a skill humans are built for, and it is not something we should strive for. Multitasking really pushes us away from doing the type of solid work that we could do if we just concentrated on one activity at a time. As a result, you should endeavor to eliminate it from your vocabulary and aspirations.

Make a workplace for yourself in a different area of your house, or if you have limited space, find a position where you can work comfortably without noise and interruptions or where you’re not in clear view of some of your hobbies. Set a barrier that informs everyone in the house that the place you've designated as your home office is off-limits when you're working. This will limit distractions and help you be more productive.

After you've completed your housework, consider what you want to accomplish at work. Go over your to-do list and create reasonable goals for the day. Consider what needs to happen to reach your objectives and devise a clear approach. Keep the list as brief as possible to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Limit yourself to no more than five goals. Make your list visible on a whiteboard or in your daily planner so you can keep track of it throughout the day.

Make sure you don't become distracted by social media or push alerts in order to fulfill your realistic goals for the day.

During your productive period, block incoming messages and notifications, or use an app like Opal to totally limit your phone's access to apps. When it comes to restricting screen time, the SMART technique can be used. As a result, your screen objectives must be explicit, quantifiable, reachable, relevant, and time-bound.

Set a specific objective, such as "I will dramatically reduce my screen time." Instead, set goals such as "I will watch one episode of Succession every day" or "I will look through Instagram for 15 minutes before I begin my job."

There's nothing new here. We are all aware of the importance of exercising daily. So get moving and release those endorphins! Take a stroll, do gentle yoga, go to the gym, or enroll in an online class. It's basically up to personal preference but try to switch things up, so you don't get bored or complacent. Remember to also keep yourself hydrated during the day, especially after working out!

With all these tips, you can be set up for success in any work-from-home environment! All it takes is a little time management and a lot of discipline to get you doing your best productivity-wise! While there is so much more you can do, smaller things like taking your breaks outside or having lunch at the same time will help make your work-from-home life awesome!