Optimizing how you work from home not only gets you energized for more productivity, it also helps prevent burnout. To bring your best effort to each day, start fortifying your routine and workspace setup with these five work-from-home strategies.

  1. Contain the clutter. A feeling of disorder is draining and distracting, which has a way of overloading our brains. Even if you don’t have a dedicated work area, consider storing work-related materials in a designated spot or in a portable container for easy access. This not only allows you to start your work day with everything ready to go, it also keeps everything contained and on hand. At the end of the day, put everything away to signal the day is done.
  2. Add some green to your life. The health benefits of having plants around you are backed by science. A well selected plant for your workspace can bring increased productivity, reduced stress, and a sense of calm—three great things to help focus. If caring for a plant sounds like one more thing to do, just remember: The benefits of a biophilic workspace exceed whatever you might be imagining.
  3. Change your stimulus. For those times when you’re stuck on solving a problem, lacking the right creative energy, or feeling snippy about your day, get up out of your chair and move around. Even walking from your home office to another room can help. Better yet, go outside for some vitamin D uptake. By shifting your scene, breathing fresh air, or chit-chatting with a colleague, you’re able to jumpstart your brain and break through the stuckness.
  4. Set boundaries. Saying “yes” to every project, being an adrenaline-pumping multi-tasker, or taking on a “crazy busy” schedule aren’t so much of an occupational badge of honor as they are a path to burnout. Start setting boundaries—it’s an important aspect of self-care. Take control by understanding what is expected of you; limit yourself to projects that genuinely interest you. Your best self can only show up when you have the time, energy, and support to do so.
  5. Think in terms of health and well-being (yours). If you’re tired and stiff before noon, it might be time to re-think everything from your chair and monitor height to your room’s temperature and lighting. Nonstop slouching and squinting take their toll, and the long-term impact from poor ergonomics can’t be overstated. For home, it helps knowing how to properly set up your desk for optimal back and neck support. If new equipment isn’t an option, consider using books or reams of paper to heighten your monitor, or a pillow to support your lower back. Make the most of your daily space to give you the energy you need to be productive, creative, and happy.

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