I work from a home office, so I know firsthand the struggles to maintain focus to get real work done. It turns out that I'm not alone. In a study of people working from home, being able to stay motivated and prevent distractions at home accounted for 2 of the top 5 reasons peopled struggled in 2021. Not being able to unplug was the number one reason people struggled when working from home.

I've learned that productivity when working from home is a simple equation for me: discipline and consistency. But it's not always that simple! There are a lot of systems in place to make my work-from-home-equation work for me.

If you are shifting to telehealth, working remotely, or new to working at home, productivity essentials will help with your success.

We've got productivity insights and expert tips from successful dietitians to boost your productivity when working remotely or working from home.

Productivity Essentials for Working From Home

1. Create an Inviting Work Space - That also means don't invite others into your workspace when you are working (especially small family members)! Unless they are helping you work. Designate a dedicated workspace to help you think in a quiet space for a block of time. Limit distractions from home when you can.
2. Create a Work From Home Routine - Just like you would in your old office. You get dressed for work, you arrive at work, you work, you take lunch, you work some more, and then you leave work! You might have noticed that you aren't doing laundry at the office. That might help you when working from home, too. Block out times to work when you are most productive and block out other times to take care of the house.
3. Stay Connected with Co-Workers or Collaborator - I need to remind myself that staying connected doesn't mean just commenting on other people's social media posts while "working!" But it does mean to stay connected with colleagues. If you are simply working away from an office, then communication with your manager and co-workers is paramount to your success. You need to stay on track with the team. You need to let them know that you are still just as awesome as you were when you worked in-person. If you are like me, running a nutrition business from home, then it means networking and collaborating with other dietitians and professionals to stay relevant, to market yourself, and to continue to learn everyday. It's easy to let several days slip into weeks of not reaching out to others when you work from home. Have a plan to reach out and connect with others everyday.

22 Work From Home Tips To Boost Your Productivity

I asked lots of successful dietitians and nutrition professionals, who also work from home, to share their productivity secrets.

Their tips for success ranged from work space to mental space, with lots of practical tips to keep you on track for success.

Here's what they said:

1. "It's important to set boundaries with loved ones at home. When you're working, you're working. It keeps "business" time separate from "personal" time and makes it easier to stay on tasks throughout the day. - KeyVion Miller RDN, LD/N The Miller's Kitchen
2. "I try to turn off all alerts on my phone and computer so I can focus on the task at hand. I also dedicate specific days to non work activities like food shopping and cleaning so I don’t get caught up in thinking about non work stuff I need to get done." Jeanette Kimszal, RDN, NLC JK Nutrition Consulting www.jeanettekimszal.com
3. "Limiting task switching is big for me. I try to set work hours and get anything non-work related done before or after. Email can be a big distraction too. I try to schedule specific times to check email to prevent being reactive throughout the day." - Jenna Gorham, RDN The RD Link
4. "Clear out mental and physical clutter. Growing your mindset allows you to work without so much fear and imposter syndrome holding you back. Having a clear office space makes your work more enjoyable and focused." - Holly Larson, MS, RDN, www.hollylarsonwrites.com
5. "Time blocking works really well for me and ALWAYS committing by adding tasks to my calendar. Also having a good PM tool to break down each task into smaller manageable action steps so I have clarity before embarking on any piece of work which reduces procrastination and helps my productivity." - Nevine El-sherbini, Dietitian
6. "Know when you are most productive/creative. For example, I am most creative towards night time so I tend to do 'lighter tasks' during the morning (such as chores, house work, grocery shopping, errands) and then I work more on my business at night. I use Google Calendar and Asana to keep me organized. And I always break up my work day with a walk (or two) outside for some fresh air & sunshine." - Marissa Case, RDN healthcarebusinessuniversity.org
7. "Time blocking". - Mandy Hicks Yeary, RDN/LD, DCQ Consulting, Inc
8. "For me it's all about routine. I treat working from home as if I was working an outside job - I am up at the same time each day and get ready as if I am leaving the house and most importantly, I put tasks on my schedule every day (as a business owner there is always something to work on!). I also have a separate office space in my home so that I am not distracted by other things and it serves as a way to disconnect at the end of the day to shut the door on that room." - Marissa Mekelburg MS, RDN, CLT, HHP www.wholisticworks.com
9. "I have a productivity timer that helps me stay on task while working and then allows me to schedule breaks throughout the day". - Amanda Ciprich, MS, RD, www.t1dnutritionist.com
10. "I love finding other dietitians who want to share 'co-working' time with you. I learned it from Jennifer McGurk, RDN, CDN, CEDRD-S — having a dedicated hour where you’re all focusing on your own goal for just that hour is super helpful! Additionally, scheduling out my calendar to time block what I do (and do not have time for). When I estimate how long something is going to take, I add a buffer of 5-10 minutes. And this helps me set realistic expectations of what I can and cannot accomplish in a day! - Leah Tsui, MS, RDN www.leahtsuinutrition.com
11. "Plan your work around your life, instead of the other way around! This could mean getting up earlier to work, or working later in the evening if your kid has an appointment, or it could mean working on Sunday instead of Monday (if your work allows) if you have multiple family/personal appointments or important things. Another perhaps more obvious one that I have found helpful none the less: plan out deadlines, and stick to them!" - Christine Milmine, RDN plantpoweredyou.com
12. "Making a schedule and sticking to it! Blocks of time to finish all tasks." - Amy Mentrikoski, RD, NutriSense
13. "I put noise cancelling headphones on and listen to a Deep Focus channel/music on YouTube." - Penny Wilson, PhD, RDN Dr. Penny Wilson
14. "Having a designated work space!" - Jill Merkel, RD Jill Merkel Nutrition
15. "Schedule block, make time for play and make play a regular part of your work flow! Get regular NEAT activity!" - Amanda Liptak, RDN, CA Nutrient Rich Life
16. "Designate a specific work space. Create a weekly/daily schedule. Set a time to take a lunch break and a walk break. Remember to stay hydrated (tough to do when working - but we know hydration can help you stay focused. Make a to-do list at the beginning of your work day. Write (and cross off) things you do that might not have been on your to do list to start! Don’t beat yourself up if you get a little distracted. Many people who work in an office spend plenty of time distracted! Focus on what you do get accomplished." - Dannielle Jascot, MS, CNS, CDN, Inspire Health and Wellness
17. "I follow the same schedule as I would in an office. I get dressed. I carry my food and water to my desk like I would in an office. I set hours in which I do not attend household duties." - Meghna Pandit, The Nutrigood
18. "If your job allows flexibility with your schedule, use it to find out when you are most productive. I’m much more productive at home in the late afternoon and evening than earlier in the day." - Emily Dongvillo, RD
19. "Telling other members of your household if the door is closed, its for a reason. Work life boundaries. Make sure to setup desk/video so if someone pops in or does opens a door they aren’t on camera." - Amy Lucas, MBA, RDN, LD Nutrition In Motion
20. "Setting a weekly work schedule, having a separate work space where household chores and distractions aren’t visible, noise canceling headphones, hiring childcare, getting dressed and ready for work even if nobody is going to see you." - Sophia Marie
21. Discipline! - So this is my master tip. I need discipline. I strive to push through the uncomfortableness of getting real work done when I would rather be solving a word puzzle, or checking the news (entertainment news maybe?), or defrosting my freezer. When I say real work I mean work that will generate revenue directly or indirectly.
    
22. Consistency - And the last tip is also from me. Consistently, daily routines, and checklists are my secret allies when working at home in an unstructured environment. I need to consistently tackle a few tasks that move me towards my goals. Lots of checklists.
    

Conclusion

I feel more motivated to work more efficiently just reading all these expert tips! We would love to hear what your favorite tip is or what system you use to work from home more productively.

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About the Author

Stacey Dunn-Emke, MS, RDN, is the Founder Owner of NutritionJobs and an established dietetic career expert. She helps steer dietetic and nutrition professionals to a successful job search process with the top-ranked dietetic job board platform, NUTRITIONJOBS. Stacey is the author of The Dietetic Resume Guide and numerous dietetic career action-ables. She gives the tools to create a modern standout dietetic resume to land that job interview, help with job interview prep, and with creating All-Star LinkedIn profiles. Stacey has interviewed and hired many dietitians and in running NutritionJobs since 2000, she has reviewed thousands of dietetic resumes. She works closely with dietetic hiring managers and recruiters to know what standout resume elements land a job interview.

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