Whilst working from home adds flexibility to the day and eliminates time spent commuting, the physical distance from your usual workplace and the association with home being a place to relax, means it can be difficult to reach the full potential of remote working.

We share five top tips to help you achieve your goals when working from home.

1. Begin the day as if you are going to the office

Prepare yourself for the day by sticking to your usual morning routine. Exercise, shower and have breakfast in the same way you would if you were going into the office. This positive start will lay the foundations for a productive day.

2. Establish an office space

Most people work for around eight hours during the day, it’s worth dedicating a few minutes beforehand to create yourself a quiet and comfortable place to work. Wherever possible, set yourself up with desk and office chair that allows for good posture, avoid sitting on your couch or your bed as you may begin to feel too relaxed and lose concentration.

3. Plan your day

There is no need to have an hour by hour plan but disciplining yourself to stick to a specific start time, lunch break and end of day will help you remain productive in the hours you are working.

Outlining a clear structure to your day will help to keep you on track with deadlines and prompt the mental association you have with going to work.

4. Keep in touch with people

Working from home can become a little lonely, especially if done frequently. Prioritise speaking to your colleagues throughout the day, modern technology (tools such as Skype and Facetime) allows us to stay connected very easily, there really is no excuse for not touching base with your team. Invest the time you have saved by not commuting into some human interaction.

5. Set expectations with your friends and family

The people you live with can be a distraction, it’s sensible to remind them that even though you are physically at home, you are mentally at work and your responsibilities remain unchanged. Have a clear conversation about when you are happy for them to communicate with you, if you have a dedicated office room, a simple door policy (open when you are free and closed when you cannot be disturbed) is an easy way to set boundaries.