How to Work From Home Like a Boss

Maybe you have been thinking of asking your boss to allow you to work remotely a few days a week. Or, perhaps you have been mulling over the idea of using your free time to start freelancing in the hopes of becoming your own boss.

Whatever the reason, more professionals than ever are deciding to skip the commute and give remote work a try.

Are you hesitant? Perhaps you’re not sure how to manage distractions, or what you would need to have a productive day. We asked the Upwork Facebook community for their best tips for working from home and the overarching themes became clear:

• Limit distractions
• Have a routine and a plan
• Treat the time you dedicate to work the same way you would if you were in an office.

Here’s a look at some of what they had to share.

Start the day on the right foot

Creating a morning routine can energize you for the day ahead.

“A morning routine can be really helpful to get your day started. Have a breakfast, go for a walk or work out, grab your morning coffee before you start working. Having a clear list of priorities can help you ‘walk one or two extra miles’ every day. A tool like Trello can help you keep that list up to date. Also, a good chair, a seamless wifi signal, and lots of natural light can set the base for an undisturbed workflow. Don’t forget about hourly breaks and drinking lots of water. These are good for your health!”
— Csuszner Ferencz

“In the early morning you don’t have to hurry so use this time wisely: Wake up early, go to the gym, drink a cup of coffee, and think of your plans for upcoming day. Listen to ambient music while you work and take your work seriously. Make sure you have a proper working place where no one is disturbing you. Leave aside funny YouTube videos, Facebook, unnecessary phone calls/chats while you working. Separate your working time from your resting time. Reward yourself with coffee breaks, walks, etc. Find time to travel once in awhile. You’re lucky because you can work from any part of the world!”
— Alexander Pongo

“Self-care and a great morning routine can really help you kickstart the day and set the tone for your work. Wake up, take a shower, have breakfast, and as tempting as it is to hang out in your PJs, get dressed! When you are diligent and disciplined in self-care, you’ll find that these practices translate to your projects as well.”
— Liz Van Staeyen

Create a Distraction-free workspace

Whether you set yourself up at the kitchen table or at a desk in a designated space, finding a space where you can avoid unnecessary distractions is a must.

“Have a designated space for work. Preferably someplace with a door. While it’s nice to sit on the porch swing and work, sometimes you need a place to shut away the dishes and laundry so you can really focus.”
— Angela Gingerich Brown

“The most important thing is the ambience. Even if you are at home you need to keep an office-like environment. It will give you a sense of professionalism even at home.”
— Abhishek Choudhary

“Remove every distraction (ex. phone) and work in intervals: 30-45 min work, 5-15 min break. And if you’re prone to distractions on your PC, use a tool to block time-drain sites. You don’t want to spend an afternoon looking at cat gifs, do you?”
— Марио Цинцароски

“Tell your family and friends that even though you’re not working from an office it doesn’t mean you’re available. Interruptions should be left for urgent matters only.”
— Er Shahzad Gori

“Many people like the idea of working from home if they have children, as the idea is that you will save money on daycare. However, in order to really be productive in a day, it is important to either line up part-time daycare or even a regular sitter to come during the day so you can focus. A client who hires you will be able to tell from your finished product if you were distracted or were unable to stay on task because of interruptions from your littlest fans! I have a daughter who is school aged but two foster children who are one and three, and I have them in part-time daycare. This way, I know I can focus on work on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and can schedule assignments on those days.”
— Sara Jamison Haley

Create a schedule

Proper scheduling will keep you on-task and on-time. This also means taking time for breaks. Burnout is a real thing and we need to be cognizant to avoid it.

“Discipline and a well-planned schedule are two important factors. This will avoid procrastination, thus enabling you to finish projects on time and ensure client retention and possibly referrals.”
— Yhang Rhea

“Remember to REST. Have your to-do list, put some deadlines on it, and take it one step at a time. Don’t be afraid to take a couple of hours away from your screen and do something that relaxes you: A light snack, going out alone or with friends, a quick nap. You will be more productive with a little ‘me time’ every day.”
— Maria Perez

Working remotely doesn’t have to be at home

For those who may struggle to separate home and work life when they occur in the same place, there are solutions to help you create a great workspace.

“I built an office pod in my backyard removed from the house. It makes my day so efficient and I am not paying rent like I was before. Clients can visit and it is perfect.”
— Kelly Robinson

“Get a hot desk at the nearest coworking space.”
— Kenji Shimizu

The great tips don’t stop here!

“Since it depends on different matters like environment, work time with client(s), high-speed Internet connection, electricity availability (applicable for countries like where I live…), and a bunch of other things, it’s hard to tell [which] specific best tip [might] work for anyone. My tip is to READ ALL THE GREAT COMMENTS that are posted by top rated successful freelancers around the world.”
— Md Mamunur Rashid

What is your best work from home tip? Tell us in the comments below!

Editor’s note: Responses edited for grammar, spelling, and clarity. The statements above are those of their authors and do not constitute the views or opinions of Upwork.

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