Working from home sounds like a dream. No commute. No dress code. No office fridge thief stealing your gluten-free lunch.
But it’s not all sunshine and loungewear.
I’ve worked remotely for almost a decade — minus a two-year corporate detour with a hybrid model. As a celiac, the Czech office park cafeterias weren’t exactly designed for my digestive tract. So home office it is.
When I started working from home during university as a technical writer, I quickly realised weekends were slipping away into spreadsheets and Slack. Why? Because I had no clue how to work from home effectively.
Here’s what I learned — the hard way.
1. Wearing Pyjamas = Becoming a Swamp Troll
Let’s be honest: I spent my first year in pyjamas. And no, not the cute influencer kind. More like burnt-out-writer-in-a-romcom vibes. Think Princess Diaries pre-makeover.
I didn’t feel productive, professional, or even like a real person.
So I bought comfortable, non-judgemental trousers and a few t-shirts and hoodies that made me feel human. I’m not saying wear heels at your desk. But change your clothes. Every day. It’s psychological magic.
2. Working from the Sofa, Kitchen Table, or Bed Is a Trap
In our first apartment, I played desk roulette. I’d work from the bed, the balcony, the floor… basically anywhere except a real desk.
My productivity? Nonexistent. My back? A disaster.
Then came my budget Ikea trip. I had 50 euros, found a random chair my husband salvaged from the street, and voilà — my first home office.
Years later, I have a proper setup with a garden view, and it changed everything. You don’t need much, but you do need a space that tells your brain: “This is where the magic (and emails) happen.”
3. No Routine = Eternal Weekend Panic
At first, I loved the freedom. Until Saturday arrived and I had done… nothing. So I worked on Sunday. Then hated Monday.
Freedom without structure is chaos. Now, I start my day the same way: skincare, breakfast, clothes, coffee. And I finish my workday around the same time every day — yes, with breaks and lunch away from my laptop.
4. No Movement = No Energy
For a while, I only moved between my chair and the fridge. Spoiler alert: that’s not cardio.
Eventually, this sedentary lifestyle caught up with me — weight gain, fatigue, back pain. I got a treadmill for my home office and started running (and occasionally swearing while running). It helped more than I expected — physically andmentally.
5. Letting Work Leak Into Your Life
When your laptop is 3 metres from your bed, it’s tempting to check one more email at 10 PM. Or work just “a little” on Sunday. But that’s how burnout begins.
Set boundaries. Close your laptop. Log off Slack. Say no to “just one small task” at 9 PM. Your future self (and your spine) will thank you.
6. Forgetting Human Contact
Working from home can make you forget what your voice sounds like. After days of zero interaction, even the postman starts to feel like a social event.
I schedule regular calls — even just to chat. Join online communities, coworking calls, or message someone who “reacted with a thumbs up” three weeks ago.
You’re still part of the world — you just need to remind yourself sometimes.
7. Trying to Do Laundry During Deep Work
Multitasking during home office is a myth. You’re not being efficient when you’re switching between debugging and hanging socks.
Batch your chores before or after work — or embrace the occasional mountain of laundry with grace. Work deserves your full attention. So does rest.
Final thoughts
Working from home is a skill, not a default benefit. I learned to treat it like a craft — not a shortcut. With the right clothes, a designated space, routine, movement, and clear boundaries, I became not just more productive but actually happier at work.
Now I just need to remember where I put that hoodie I wore on every Zoom call since 2020.
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