Many of us have been in work-from-home (WFH) mode for quite some time now, but one of the most common questions I’m still asked is, “How can I remain motivated and productive while working from home?” (And by the way, readers, thanks for all your great questions and comments! I always appreciate your contributions.)

Granted, each of us has a different situation to deal with: Kids attending school on Zoom, pets craving attention, roommates inviting you to binge-watch daytime soaps, spouses/partners working (and talking on the phone) three feet away from you, big families crowded together in small spaces…even working alone in your home or apartment can be challenging, if you’re the type of person who prefers the noise and excitement of a colleague-populated office setting. Truthfully, every situation has its drawbacks. However, in this two-part series, I’m going to cover some tips for staying laser-focused (while not going batty!) if you’re among the millions of people (me included) who are currently working from home.

Know yourself

Are you a morning person, or a night owl, or that rarest of birds, someone who comes alive right after lunch? (If so, take a bow. You belong to the least common chronotype.) Take a moment to see whether you can figure out when you’re at your best. And then, if possible, schedule your most demanding tasks—the ones that require the most concentration, finesse, or endurance—during the time when your brain is alert and at the ready.

However, here’s a word of warning: don’t try and schedule all of your most challenging jobs back-to-back during your most productive time of day. You’ll burn yourself out too quickly. Instead, in between your essential tasks, stick in a few easier ones to give yourself a little break—ones that can be accomplished quickly (we humans derive joy and energy through achievement), or are maybe even fun to do—like calling your co-worker on her birthday, or writing a thank-you email to an employee. No one wants to move from “budget preparation” to “tax recording” to “annual report writing.” I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

Make a to-do list every day

To-do lists are awesome, and do you know why? Because they work! Every single time. (Unless your cat chews them up, which happened to me a few days ago—and I am not making up this story.) Creating a daily list of the things you need to accomplish keeps you focused and gives you a road map to start your day off productively—and to finish it with a sense of accomplishment. I’ve written about the magic of lists for many years, but allow me to review a few points…

There are some pretty complicated methods out there for creating lists, but my fave is the “just do it” method. Rather than worrying about whether “replace the printer ink” should take priority over “call President Biden” (spoiler answer: call the Prez first), just write out all the things you need to accomplish, and then, if there are a few “must do immediately” things on your list, flag them (with highlighting, an asterisk, or whatever) so that you know what’s most important. Yes, you could organize your list into categorical sub-lists, and then break them down into miniscule sub-sub-lists, but why bother? Over time, I’ve found that a simple list works beautifully—and most time management experts seem to agree with me. Don’t overthink the list; just write one out and follow it.

However, while in WFH mode, I do think it’s best to separate your work to-do list from your personal to-do list, and here’s why: when working from home, it’s super easy to get your work life and your home life all jumbled up together—a common-but-unfortunate practice that leads to a never-ending loop of to-do’s, followed by more to-do’s. Talk about discouraging. So rather than staring at a list that jumps from “do the laundry” to “balance the budget” to “buy dog food,” do your best to separate work from home. Here’s a quick hint: think of what your workday would look like if you were still heading into the office. Doing the laundry wouldn’t even be an option, would it? And buying dog food would be reserved for Saturday. Separate out these sorts of tasks, and you’ll become a happier, less harried list-ticker-off’er.

Personally, even though I’m surrounded at my desk by my iPhone, my tablet, and my laptop, I like writing out my to-do list. Yes, total old school, with a pen, on a real piece of paper. Why, you ask? Because I just love the act of physically crossing off what I’ve accomplished! It’s a little game I play with myself: at the end of my workday, I look at everything that’s been lined through, and I feel oh-so-proud and productive. Try it and let me know if you agree.

Create a dedicated “home office”

The pandemic has forced us into WFH mode for many months now—and it doesn’t look like things will change very soon. So, if you’re still working from one small corner of your kitchen table—the same table that must be cleared off before dinner is served—it’s time to create a real home office. Don’t panic and think “fancy wood paneling and recessed lighting!” I realize that you might not be able to find an entire room (with an actual door—what a luxury) to call your office, but if at all possible, find a place to carve out a space that’s yours and yours alone. A corner chair and side table in the living room. A card table, lamp, and kitchen chair that you’ve moved to the end of the hallway. (Both of these real-life examples come from former students of mine.) Once you have a space that doesn’t need to be converted back to “public use” after work hours, you can pick up right where you left off the day before, and you’ll find yourself to be much more productive.

That’s it for today. Look for “Part II” of this series on February 17th, where we’ll discuss structuring your workday, handling interruptions, and more. Stay safe, stay productive, protect yourself and others by wearing your mask and following social distancing guidelines, and I’ll see you soon. Happy Valentine’s Day!