How to Create a Work-From-Home Schedule That Actually Works
Over the past few years, remote work has become the norm for millions of people worldwide. Whether you're a freelancer, a solopreneur, or an employee, you can leverage technology to do your job from anywhere. The challenge lies in building a schedule that fits your lifestyle and peak productivity hours.
Let's say you want to start a side hustle from home, such as selling eBooks or printables. You could use a website creator to build and customize your store. After that, you'll upload your products, create content, engage with potential buyers, and so on.
These steps require your full attention, and you won't get things done if you're constantly distracted.
While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to remote work, you need to have a routine of some sort. Here’s why it matters and how to get started.
Why You Need a Work-from-Home Schedule
When you work from home, distractions are everywhere. Perhaps the phone rings, or a family member needs your help in the kitchen. Maybe you want to hit the gym or go out with a friend. Such things can interfere with your schedule, making it hard to stay focused.
In a 2020 survey of 2,038 employees who worked from home during the coronavirus pandemic, more than 60% of respondents said social media was their biggest distraction.
Around 53% admitted they were distracted by their smartphones, and 42% reported binge-watching videos during work hours. Other common distractions were gaming, news media, pets, online shopping, and family members.
These factors can hamper productivity, attention, and mental focus, resulting in diminished work performance. According to the University of California, Berkeley, most people need eight to 25 minutes or longer to regain focus after an interruption, depending on the complexity of the task they must complete.
A work-from-home schedule can make it easier to avoid distractions and get more done. This aspect alone can lower your stress levels, boost your confidence, and leave you with more time for the things you enjoy.
Other potential benefits include:
- Improved work-life balance
- Better self-understanding
- Higher efficiency
- Faster turnaround times
- Fewer errors
- Enhanced motivation
Adding structure to your work days can also boost your mental health. For example, you'll no longer feel worried about tight deadlines or complex projects spanning weeks or even months.
Create a Healthy Remote Work Schedule in 10 Steps
A well-structured schedule should outline the tasks you want to complete in a given workday. Better yet, think long-term and plan your to-dos for the entire week, month, or quarter, depending on the projects you're managing.
For instance, building and running an online business requires ongoing effort. But if you're working on short-term projects, such as writing five blog posts for a client, you can plan things day by day.
As a general rule, leave some buffer time for unplanned events. If you have a full plate and something unexpected comes up, you'll run behind schedule and find yourself juggling multiple tasks. This situation can create a lot of stress while increasing the risk of errors and missed deadlines.
Not sure where to start? Follow these steps to create a healthy work-from-home schedule.
1. Identify Your Peak Productivity Hours
Apple's CEO Tim Cook, Pinterest's CMO Andréa Mallard, tennis star Naomi Osaka, and other successful people start the day around 6:00 a.m. or earlier. This habit allows them to enjoy their morning routine and plan things out without feeling rushed.
While there's nothing wrong with waking up early in the morning, it simply doesn't work for everyone.
Our sleep-wake cycle and productivity are determined by our circadian rhythm, or the body's internal clock, which differs from one person to the next. That's why some people feel energized and productive in the morning, while others are night owls.
With that in mind, try to identify your peak hours—and plan your work around them.
First, track your energy levels at various points throughout the day for a week or longer. Take note of how you feel at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and so on. Consider using an app like Memtime, Emphasis, or Energy Level Tracker for more accurate insights.
Next, schedule mentally demanding tasks during your peak productivity hours. If, say, you're most productive between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., use this time frame to complete high-priority tasks or projects that require creativity and mental focus.
It's also a good idea to identify the time of day when you're least productive, such as between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Devote these hours to low-priority tasks, admin work, house chores, or things you enjoy, like taking a nap or going out for a coffee.
2. Minimize Distractions
While it's impossible to eliminate distractions, you can avoid and minimize them by making small lifestyle changes.
For example, consider using online tools like Freedom, AppBlock, or Stay Focused to block distracting websites and apps during your peak productivity time. Go one step further and put your phone in flight mode when you're working.
Another strategy is to check your email at set times throughout the day. Do the same with your social media—unless you must use it for business.
If you live with your family or other people, let them know when you're unavailable. Ideally, have a designated "work room," separate from the kitchen and living room.
What matters most is to block out your peak performance time for deep work. This means no phones, no house chores, no chit-chat, and no interruptions for a set number of hours per day.
3. Try the Pomodoro Technique
If you get easily distracted, use a Pomodoro timer to break your work sessions into smaller bursts.
With this method, you'll work for 25 minutes at a time—followed by a five-minute break. That's one Pomodoro. After completing four Pomodoros, take a 15-minute break.
The goal is to limit distractions, overcome procrastination, and work more efficiently. This technique can also improve your focus and motivation while reducing mental fatigue.
4. Start with the Most Challenging Tasks
Have you ever heard the expression, "Eat the Frog?" It refers to a productivity hack that involves tackling the hardest task on your to-do list before moving on to the next.
Let's say your tasks for the day include writing a 3,000-word blog post, doing research for a project, and reaching out to a client.
Start with the blog post, as it requires more time and energy than your other tasks. For optimal results, write it during your peak performance time. When you're done, take a break and then continue with the research and customer outreach.
This productivity method can help you beat procrastination and get the most out of your peak hours. Tackling the most challenging task first will also make other tasks seem easier, increasing your confidence and motivation.
5. Declutter Your Workspace
The environment you work in has a direct impact on your mood, productivity, and mental focus.
Clutter, in particular, can affect attention span, increase stress levels, and cause emotional exhaustion. In some cases, it may lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Given these aspects, you'll want to declutter and organize your workspace regularly.
First, sort your pens, papers, and other items into categories. Decide what you want to keep, what to get rid of, and what to store in a different location. Only keep the items you absolutely need, such as your laptop, PC monitor, and phone charger.
If possible, digitize your notes and paperwork. This step alone can free up your space and reduce visual clutter. For instance, you can use CamScanner, AdobeScan, or Microsoft Office Lens to scan documents with your smartphone. Store the physical copies in a cabinet or drawer.
Similarly, you can replace sticky notes and to-do lists with note-taking apps like Google Keep, Evernote, or OneNote. These apps will sync your notes across multiple devices, making it easier to find what you need when you need it.
Next, wipe down your desk and other furnishings in your office room. Do it at least once a week to keep everything clean.
6. Avoid Multitasking
Juggling multiple tasks can diminish productivity by up to 40% while increasing the likelihood of mistakes. The reason is that our brain needs extra time to switch between tasks, which can impair executive function.
Not only does multitasking hinder productivity, but it may also affect work quality. In the long run, it can lead to stress and burnout, making it even harder to get things done.
One solution is to prioritize tasks based on their urgency or importance. Set realistic deadlines and use the Pomodoro method to stay focused on the task at hand. Alternatively, group similar tasks together and set a time to complete them.
7. Start Your Day on the Right Foot
The way you start your day sets the tone for everything that follows, including your work and personal endeavors. That's why you should create a start-of-day routine that makes you feel good.
For example, Thrive Global CEO Arianna Huffington meditates for 20 to 30 minutes every morning. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates starts the day by reading books, whereas American author Tony Robbins practices cold water therapy after waking up.
The whole point is to give yourself some extra time before jumping into work. Wake up 30-60 minutes earlier than normal and do something you enjoy. Go out for a run, do a quick yoga session, or enjoy your favorite smoothie.
Don't reach for your phone as soon as you wake up. Instead, drink a cup of coffee or tea, have breakfast, and stick to your start-of-day ritual.
8. Take Regular Breaks
Many people believe that breaks are unproductive, but nothing could be further from the truth. Taking regular breaks can actually boost productivity and mental well-being, leading to better overall performance.
For instance, adding short exercise breaks to your workday improves alertness, motivation, and executive functioning. Creative breaks, on the other hand, can enhance memory and elevate your mood.
Take a break to meditate or eat a healthy snack, and you'll feel less stressed when you return to work. Or call a friend on your break to get an energy boost.
Generally, it's best to take short breaks every hour or so. If you're busy over your head, give yourself a 10-minute break after completing a task or part of a project. Think of it as a way to recharge and keep your motivation up.
9. Plan Your Day the Night Before
As discussed earlier, it's best to plan your work ahead of time. However, there are situations where it makes sense to put together your to-do list for the day the evening before.
Let's assume you need to upload 50+ products to your site. This task may seem overwhelming at first glance, but it will become more manageable if you break it into chunks.
The evening before, think about how you want to approach it. For example, you could upload 30 products in the morning, take the afternoon off, and resume work later in the day.
Always take into account your non-work hours. If, say, you need to drive a friend to the airport at 3:00 p.m., plan your work around it the day ahead. Write everything down, brainstorm different scenarios, and then choose a schedule that allows you to meet your obligations without feeling drained.
This approach can help you allocate your time more effectively. When you wake up, you'll know exactly what you have to do. Plus, your mind is still in work mode at the end of the day, making it easier to plan things out.
10. Use Tools to Stay Organized
Keeping a work-from-home schedule can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling tasks and trying to stay focused. This is where tools like Flowlu can make a big difference. It’s a simple way to keep your tasks, projects, and deadlines in one place, so you’re not constantly trying to remember everything.
Flowlu lets you map out your work, track progress, and organize everything without the hassle. You can break big projects into smaller steps, set reminders, and even collaborate with others if needed. It’s like having an extra layer of structure to help you focus on what matters most, without overcomplicating things.
If planning your day or week feels like a mess, give it a try—it might just save you a lot of mental energy.
Get the Most Out of Your Work Day
Unless you have a fixed work schedule, you can manage your time however you see fit. Just make sure you don't spend it procrastinating or doing things that slow you down.
Remember that we all have the same 24 hours in a day, and how much you get done is entirely up to you.
Find your peak productivity time, tackle the hardest tasks first, and work in blocks to maintain your focus. Most importantly, limit distractions and have a plan in place. Set realistic goals and break large projects into manageable chunks that can be completed in short bursts.
It’s not always easy, but setting boundaries helps. Let your family know when you need quiet time and use visual cues like a closed door or headphones to signal you’re working. If possible, plan your work around quieter times in the household, like early mornings or after the kids go to bed. And don’t forget to carve out breaks to spend time with them—it makes the balance feel less stressful.
It’s okay if strict schedules aren’t your thing. Start with small, realistic goals—write down just a few tasks you want to get done each day. Use tools like Flowlu or even a simple notebook to keep track. Think of it less like a rigid routine and more like a guide to help you feel less scattered.
Of course. A flexible schedule works well if your day is unpredictable or if you prefer variety. Just set priorities for what you want to finish that day and give yourself time blocks to focus on those tasks. Being flexible doesn’t mean giving up structure; it just means you can shift things around if needed.
