5 Tips for Remote and Work From Home Professionals

Key wellness, self-care, and productivity strategies (5 tips)

Tip 1: Win the morning

• Create a consistent morning routine (avoid being rushed right before your first meeting).
• Build in quiet/focused time to get mentally and physically organized.
• Review your calendar and task list, then choose your 1–2 major priorities for the day.
• Example structure mentioned: early wake-up, meditation, plan the day, then handle family logistics before meetings begin.

Tip 2: Master your calendar

• Treat your calendar as a focus tool, not a “meeting battleground.”
• Block time for focused work (especially in the morning).
• Schedule lunch/break time as a defined block (walk, reading, short downtime).
• Add key personal commitments (e.g., kids’ activities) so others don’t schedule over them.
• Include buffers (10–15 minutes) to reduce stress and help prevent being late from overruns.
• Use booking/sharing tools to avoid endless scheduling emails, such as:
  • Microsoft Bookings
  • Calendly-style tools
• Add simple rules to protect your schedule (example given: no external meetings on Friday afternoons).

Tip 3: Create a dedicated work space—and keep it ritualized/clean

• Even without a separate room, create a “work mode” trigger for where you work.
  • Example: put the laptop in a bag, set it up on the kitchen table when working, and store it when done.
• Use a small token/talisman (or a simple setup ritual) to signal: “I’m at work now.”
• Keep the space clean and serene with a light routine (e.g., a weekly cleanup so Monday starts focused).

Tip 4: Invest in ergonomic seating

• Prioritize a good ergonomic office chair for health and comfort.
• Rationale given:
  • You’ll be sitting longer when working from home.
  • A poor chair can cause back soreness.
  • A quality chair can be costly but may last ~15 years, lowering cost-per-year.
• Ways to reduce cost:
  • Look for used/refurbished options (e.g., marketplaces or surplus from closed companies).

Tip 5: Close down your workday (mental shutdown ritual)

• Create a start and end ritual so you truly stop working.
• If evening calls run late, don’t instantly transition to family time with your “work brain” still on.
  • Suggested approach: shut down work apps, take a few minutes to breathe/pace/close things out.
• Goal: prevent “living at work” (late-night laptop checking, work creeping into sleep/hobbies).
• Benefit emphasized: you’ll be more present with family/roommates and more effective at work overall.

---

Presenters / sources

• Presenter: Unspecified (speaker is the video author; no name given in the subtitles).
• Tools mentioned (as sources/examples): Microsoft Bookings, Calendly.