5 Simple Changes That Made Me Actually Productive Working From Home

I spent my first year working from home in chaos. Meetings from bed. Lunch at my desk (when I remembered to eat). Laundry pile growing into a sentient being. Sound familiar? Then I made five small changes that completely transformed how I work. None of them cost money. None of them required a home renovation. They just worked. First, I started getting dressed. I know — "wear real pants" is basic advice. But hear me out. I'm not saying business casual. I'm saying change out of what you slept in. Put on a clean t-shirt. Swap sweats for joggers. This tiny act signals to your brain: we're doing work now. Second, I made my workspace uncomfortable to leave. My desk has a giant water bottle, good lighting, and a phone charger. Everything I need is within arm's reach. Every time I got up "just to grab something," I'd end up doing dishes or having a 20-minute conversation with my dog. Third, I blocked "fake meetings" with myself. I put focus blocks on my calendar every single day. 2-3 hours minimum. Non-negotiable. People can see I'm busy. I protect that time like it's a call with the CEO. Fourth, I embraced the shutdown ritual. At 5:30 PM, I close my laptop and say out loud: "The workday is complete." Then I physically leave my workspace. Without a commute to decompress, you need a different signal that work is over. Finally, I stopped trying to replicate the office. The office has watercooler chats and ambient noise. Home has different strengths. I take walking meetings on my phone. I do deep thinking in the morning when no one's online. Remote work isn't worse than office work — it's just different. Small changes compound. You don't need to overhaul your life. You just need a few good systems.