In part one of this series, I shared 11 simple ways to start your work-from-home day strong. But getting a good start is only half the story. The harder part, in my opinion, is staying consistent, keeping your focus, and knowing when to switch off.
That’s what this post is all about. These 10 tips are the small, doable habits that will protect your energy, help you get through the day without burning out, and finally make it easier to shut your laptop and enjoy your evening guilt-free.
How to Protect your Energy and stay consistent when you WFH
01. Batch similar tasks together
If you’re switching from writing to email to meetings all within 30 minutes, your brain is constantly having to re-adjust. It will feel exhausting after a period.
Here is what to do Instead: batch similar tasks.
For example you can do all your calls back-to-back. Reserve a block for admin. Grouping work this way helps you move faster and think more clearly.
02. Mute non-essential notifications
We’ve all been there: You sit down to focus, and then your phone buzzes. Then Slack pings. Then your grocery delivery app reminds you of a deal.
Silence the noise. Turn off non-urgent notifications while you work. The world will still be there in 90 minutes — and you’ll have made actual progress.
03. Keep only 3-5 tabs open
If you’ve got 18 tabs open — and you’re toggling between them every 2 minutes — you’re not working efficiently. You’re spinning your wheels.
Try working with just one or two tabs open. Close everything else. The focus you’ll gain is worth more than any productivity app.
04. Set timers for housework
When you work from home, it’s tempting to throw in a load of laundry… then clean the bathroom… then vacuum the stairs.
Whilst it is not ideal, if you must, you need to set a timer so you give yourself a boundary. Depending on how busy your work is, set 10-20 minutes. Fold clothes, load the dish washer, put dinner in the slow cooker…anything on your to do list- then get back to work once the time is up
05. Get dressed (yes, really)
It’s so tempting to work in your pajamas — and some days, that’s fine. But if every day feels lazy, you’ll start to feel lazy too.
You don’t need a blazer, but a fresh shirt, clean face, and a little grooming helps signal to your brain: we’re on now. It helps more than you think.
06. Start and end your day with rituals
At the office, your commute marked the start and end of work. At home? There’s no clear “off” switch.
Create rituals. Light a candle when you start. Play music when you wrap up. Shut your laptop and walk away. Your brain craves these boundaries.
07. Take a real lunch break
When working from home, there’s no office buddy saying, “Wanna grab lunch?” So you skip it. Or you snack all day and call it a meal.
But skipping lunch kills your energy — and long-term, it affects your health too. Make time to eat a real meal. Step away from your screen. You’ll come back sharper and steadier.
08. Move your body, even briefly
Sitting all day isn’t just bad for your body — it dulls your brain too. When you feel foggy, tight, or grumpy, that’s often your cue to move.
Stretch. Walk around the block. Do 10 jumping jacks between Zoom calls. Movement refreshes your mind and resets your focus.
09. Separate work time from home time
The hardest part about working from home? Stopping. You can always do “one more thing.”
Protect your evenings. Set a shutdown time — 5pm, 6pm, whatever works — and hold it. Let your evenings be yours again.
10. Be kind to yourself on off days
Some days will be off. You’ll feel distracted. The kids will interrupt. You’ll have zero motivation.
And that’s okay.
Just remember to have a reset tomorrow, and don’t beat yourself up for being human today.
Final Thought
Working from home can be empowering, flexible, and freeing but only if you build the right habits around it. Start small. Pick 2 or 3 of these tips to try this week. Let them grow with you.
Key takeaway? Productivity isn’t about doing everything. It’s about doing what matters, with energy, and intention.
