4 ways to ruin your productivity, health and relationships while working from home

Until recently, working from home was primarily the domain of freelance creatives, digital nomads, solopreneurs, remote sales pros and offsite customer service reps.

Of course, COVID-19 has now made WFH a mandatory proposition for many of us—for who knows how long? After many years of WFH experimentation, I’ve learned—and continue to learn—what’s effective and what fails miserably.

Informed by my trials and many errors, here are four pitfalls to avoid:

1. Never clock out.

Even if you’re a “breadwinner,” you don’t get a “whenever” work pass that excuses you from the functioning and maintenance of the household. This “always-on” mindset is not fair, and it’s not healthy for you or those around you.

It’s crucial to establish healthy boundaries for your working hours. If you manage employees, set reasonable scheduling expectations for your team. Never clocking out is the quickest way to burn out.

2. Make it clear that your priorities are the priority.

“Listen up, family. My work schedule and focus take precedence over everything else in this house.”