Since 2013, I've worked from home. My work is writing for clients who've kinda appreciated my work. I have some thoughts on working from home.
Disclaimer: your mileage may vary. I earn fees. You earn salary. My fees are unpredictable. Your salary is certain. So how you look at work is fundamentally different. #YMMV
Routine. Routine is the single most important thing. WFH doesn't mean you slack around. Make a routine, stat. Follow it with discipline.
Example: instead of slacking around when you wake up, hit the gym, run, work out for an hour. Then meditate. That should take you till office open.
Work hard. Focus. Shut down email and mobile. Focus and get some solid work done. Unless you're in a team, on Slack, Whatsapp, etc. in which case balance your time between your work and team communication.
You may miss the guy in the next cubicle. You may miss a smoke break. You may miss general chit-chat, chai, coffee. It will put you off initially. Learn to adjust.
Get up from your chair, walk around, look out the window, go to the neighborhood pan-patti for a smoke break. Obviously don't make it a habit and waste time.
The pomodoro technique works for learning and it works for working too. Short breaks in between long work stretches. Cuts the occasional loneliness that you might feel.
I don't use music/headphones while working but feel free to use them. It seems people use headphones at work because they hate their colleagues. In which case you'll love WFH.
Build in time for a new habit like reading. If you have to spend time online, spend it reading the good stuff instead of wasting time on social media.
Office coffee sucks. So make your own coffee and use it as a break. This is a good time to try different coffees.
Take a good lunch break, sneak in a nap if you have time in the day. Siestas are underrated.
Go for an evening walk, jog, run, whatever. Just freshens you up for the last stretch of work. Or, wind up work for the day and then go for the walk, jog, run. Tire yourself out because...
SLEEP. The single most important routine that WFH provides for you. Get your sleep cycle in order. I'm not a believer of 3-4hrs sleep. (Also, read disclaimer).
To sum it up: get your routine in order and be disciplined. If you can get this done, I think there's a high chance that you'll be far more productive at home than office. Fin.
