The era of working from home arrived in an instant. After decades of commuting to the office, suddenly Americans found themselves working from home. For many it has become a permanent arrangement. Here are six ways to make working from home (WFH) more sustainable.

1. Harden the Boundaries between Work and Home
   The challenge of separating work and home predate the pandemic, but WFH has made it even more difficult. Consequently, individuals need to draw a firmer line between work and home. This means creating defined work hours, rules about answering calls or emails during dinner and other family times, and limits on getting on the work computer at night.

2. Establish Some Family Rules
   Discuss with family the rules around respecting the boundaries between work and home. If children come home from school, set the parameters for interruptions. Perhaps, there is a 30-minute download about the day and then no more interruptions until after 6 p.m. Let children know that domestic responsibilities don’t change simply because a parent is WFH.

3. Set Up a Real Office
   When sudden changes happen, we tend to develop and stick with ad hoc solutions, which are almost always suboptimal. If WFH is permanent, then more permanent solutions are in order. Find a real office space in the house and buy a real office chair that will be kind to your back.

4. Take Breaks
   The working-away-from-home routine often involves a mid-morning coffee, lunch out of the office or even a short walk in an adjacent park; this shouldn’t stop simply because you’re now working in the home. So, schedule 15-minute morning and afternoon breaks to take a walk around the block or sit out in the yard. Lunch at the kitchen table may be convenient, but try to go to a local eatery for lunch several times a week. These are the pauses that refresh a spirit and mind.

5. Start Work Upon Waking Up
   Sounds like an odd suggestion, but spending the first waking hour reviewing emails or projects helps get the blood going, putting the body in a working mood. So, rather than casually getting ready for the day with a shower and breakfast, start the day with a little work, then move to a quick shower and breakfast before heading back to work.

6. Plan Out the Day
   While it’s an idea that works for any work situation, WFH makes it even more important to write a list at the end of each day of what needs to be done the following day. That way, work can start immediately, with the comfort of knowing that the day’s priorities were fully thought through.

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