Connect with us

Success Advice

How to Turn Working From Home Into a Success

Published

on

Image Credit: Unsplash

If you’re stuck working from home and would like to maximize your productivity and efficiency so you can achieve the results you so desperately crave, sign up for the free 90-Day Master Class hosted by the founder of Addicted2Success.com, Joel Brown.


The current global battle against coronavirus has forced millions of people across the globe to self-quarantine in their homes. Many companies are adjusting to the situation by switching to remote work in order to minimize health risks. Unfortunately, many people have actually lost their jobs and are forced to look for new ones online. While for some of us remote work sounds like a dream come true, for others the downsides outweigh the perks. 

If you are lucky enough to be able to work from home but you’re not used to it, here are some tips on how to stay motivated:.

1. Set up a home office 

When you’re stuck at home, there aren’t many ways to change the scenery between work and leisure time. What you can do to create a work atmosphere in your home is have a designated workspace. Start by finding a place with plenty of natural light. Ideally, it should be a separate room where no one else is allowed during work hours. Your home office should look as similar as possible to an actual office. You need a comfortable chair, a desk, and a good lamp to create the ultimate work from home environment

All distractions, such as magazines and TVs, should be out of sight. Moreover, make sure your office supplies are organized and your desk is tidy. Clutter creates disorder and disorder affects your productivity in a negative way. 

2. You still need a morning routine

There is something about putting on a suit, making your way through the heavy traffic, and talking to your co-workers in the elevator. Remote work is a weird thing. It creates an illusion that you’re not really working. Your morning routine is very different these days. You just wake up and turn on your computer, skipping all the steps in between. It seems amazing, but be careful – it’s a trap! Remote workers tend to relax more than they should. 

Depending on what you do, your schedule can be more or less strict. Staying up late, waking up late, and not being active from the start can be detrimental to your productivity and self-motivation. If your boss still makes you get up early and gives you short deadlines, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The fact that you’re already in your office makes it easier to oversleep.

No one says you can’t wear casual clothes and sleep a little longer (since you aren’t going anywhere) but don’t stay in your PJs and skip your morning shower. Set an alarm, get up, take a shower, get dressed, and have breakfast. Maintaining a morning routine will make you feel more grounded. 

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” – Marcus Aurelius

3. Take regular breaks

Try to plan your day realistically. You need to work but you also need time to recharge. There are two types of remote workers – those who forget to take breaks and those who take too many breaks. No supervision and too many distractions are some of the biggest challenges of remote work, which is why you need to be very disciplined while working from home. 

Use your alarm clock to remind you when to take regular breaks and when to go back to work. The lunch break is your vital mid-day break that should be part of your everyday routine. For some additional routine, plan a lunch menu for the whole week and cook in the evenings. 

4. No reason for social distancing in the virtual world

Even if you’re an introvert, working from home because of quarantine may trigger stress and anxiety due to a lack of social interaction. A sudden switch from spending most of your time in close proximity to your colleagues to being all by yourself can be overwhelming. That’s why it is particularly important to stay connected. 

Staying in touch with your colleagues, friends, and family can do wonders for your mental wellbeing and productivity in times of trouble and uncertainty. Fortunately, modern technology makes it easy to stay in touch in real time. With so many instant communication channels to choose from, you don’t have to feel so lonely at home. 

“Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose.” – Guillermo Maldonado

5. Take care of your mental and physical health

When working from home, achieving a good work-life balance is not easy, as the line between work mode and non-work mode often gets blurred. Work can be therapeutic during this period. What else would you be doing? Your favorite books and TV shows can be a great pastime in quarantine but only if consumed in moderation. 

After a few days with nothing to do, many people get bored and lethargic even under normal circumstances. When you add complete isolation with nothing but bad news coming from the media, work can be a helpful distraction.

Once you’re done working, it is very important to leave your designated workspace to mentally disconnect from work. Do some activities together with your family. You can play board games, watch movies or cook together. Take this opportunity to clean your home and organize your closets. Don’t forget to exercise.

Working from home is likely to take a toll on your body unless you make an effort to stay in shape. Physical activity invigorates not only your body but also your mind. Additionally, take some alone time for meditation and limit your news intake. Although staying informed can save your life in these trying times, this type of information should be taken in moderation and only from trusted sources. 

Share some tips with us about how you stay productive assuming you work from home! We want to hear from you!

Debra Patterson is a freelance writer and online Spanish teacher from Maryland. She’s also a wife and a mother of two teenage girls. As a writer, she has been collaborating with moving and storage companies for almost a decade. She can help you plan your next relocation like a pro and recommend the best movers in your state. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for her family, playing with her pets, and watching old TV shows with her husband.

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

Published

on

Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

Continue Reading

Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

Published

on

leadership tips for new CEO
Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

Published

on

Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

Continue Reading

Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

Published

on

entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
Image Credit: Midjourney

When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

Continue Reading

Trending